WASHINGTON – The Science Coalition (TSC) released the following statement after President-elect Biden announced the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy would be elevated to a cabinet-level agency:

“We are encouraged by the Biden administration’s decision to elevate the Office of Science and Technology Policy to a cabinet-level agency, emphasizing the need to put science at the forefront of public policy decisions. This move is just what our country needs to match the moment. As the pandemic rages on and vaccines and treatments are developed at a record pace – thanks to years of fundamental research that laid the groundwork for these discoveries – the importance of science cannot be overstated.

“We congratulate Eric Lander on his nomination to OSTP Director and urge the Senate to prioritize his confirmation hearing to continue this important work. We look forward to working with the incoming administration and the leaders of OSTP to prioritize science and its critical role in addressing public health crises, supporting economic growth and recovery, and cultivating the next generation of STEM leaders.”

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About the Science Coalition

Established in 1994, The Science Coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of more than 50 of the nation’s leading public and private research universities. It is dedicated to sustaining the federal government’s investment in basic scientific research as a means to stimulate the economy, spur innovation, and drive America’s global competitiveness.