05.27.22

Durbin, Romney, Casten, Calvert Call For Robust Research Funding in Final Competition Bill

In a letter to USICA and America COMPETES Act conferees, the lawmakers call for robust research funding for non-EPSCoR states like Illinois

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) and U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-6) and Ken Calvert (R-CA-42) sent a bipartisan letter to Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and House-passed America COMPETES Act conferees urging the lawmakers to oppose provisions in USICA that would allocate a high, fixed percentage of future research funding at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE) based on the Established Program to Stimulate Competition Research (EPSCoR). EPSCoR is a federal-state partnership program designed to enhance the research capabilities of states that receive less than 0.75 percent of NSF funding every five years. Illinois is not an EPSCoR state.

If the provisions are included in the final bill, existing research programs and construction projects in Illinois would be disrupted and smaller universities based in non-EPSCoR states that receive a small portion of NSF funding, including those in Illinois, would be put at a significant funding disadvantage.

“As you know, provisions in the Senate passed USICA would set aside 20 percent of the total NSF budget for EPSCoR states as well as 20 percent of funds authorized for DOE and the NSF Directorate for Technology and Innovation. We strongly oppose such provisions, which would leave behind emerging research institutions in non-EPSCoR states. Arbitrarily walling off a sizable percentage of a science agency’s budget from a sizable majority of the country’s research institutions would fundamentally reduce the entire nation’s scientific capacity and damage the research profiles of existing institutions – contrary to the goals of both USICA and the COMPETES Act,” wrote the lawmakers. 

“For the United States to maintain and expand its innovation leadership, developing the total pool of research enterprises is essential. We must prioritize fostering scientific talent and developing new technologies. If large portions of science agency budgets are off limits to these institutions, innovative research in our states would be compromised. We urge you to ensure that the final bill broadens participation in our world-class research ecosystem and to support policies that elevate research in EPSCoR and non-EPSCoR states alike,” they concluded.

“We support efforts to ensure broad participation in research and innovation across the nation. Research agencies such as the NSF and DOE need the flexibility to support institutions of all sizes in their efforts to spark discovery at all levels,engage students in cutting-edge research and build up local and regional innovation economies,” said Gerald C. Blazey, Vice President for Research and Innovation Partnerships at Northern Illinois University.

Joining Durbin, Romney, Casten, and Calvert on the letter are U.S Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Richard Burr (R-NC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Nanette Barragan (D-CA-44), Joyce Beatty (D-OH-3), Anthony Brown (D-MD-4), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Steve Cohen (D-TN-9), Jim Cooper (D-TN-5), Jim Costa (D-CA-16), Charlie Crist (D-FL-13), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12), Mike Doyle (D-PA-18), Jake Ellzey (R-TX-6), Dwight Evans (D-PA-3), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-3), John Garamendi (D-CA-3), Glenn Grothman (R-WI-6), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO-4), Jared Huffman (D-CA-2), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7), Derek Kilmer (D-WA-6), Andy Kim (D-NJ-3), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-1), Rick Larsen (D-WA-2), Al Lawson (D-FL-5), Andy Levin (D-MI-9), Mike Levin (D-CA-49), Ted Lieu (D-CA-33), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA-47), Elaine Luria (D-VA-2), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-8), Kathy Manning (D-NC-6), Jim McGovern (D-MA-2), Jerry McNerney (D-CA-9), Peter Meijer (R-MI-3), Grace Meng (D-NY-6), Gwen Moore (D-WI-4), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL-7), Grace Napolitano (D-CA-32), Joe Neguse (D-CO-2), Dan Newhouse (D-WA-4), Donald Norcross (D-NJ-1), Jay Obernolte (R-CA-8), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ-9), Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ-10), Scott Peters (D-CA-52), Katie Porter (D-CA-45), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), David Price (D-NC-4), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8), Deborah Ross (D-NC-2), David Rouzer (R-NC-7), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD-2), Bobby Rush (D-IL-1), John Sarbanes (D-MD-3), Adam Schiff (D-CA-28), Kim Schrier (D-WA-8), Brad Sherman (D-CA-30), Mikie Sherril (D-NJ-11), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-8), Bryan Steil (R-WI-1), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Mike Thomspon (D-CA-5), David Trone (D-MD-6), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), David Valadao (R-CA-21), Susan Wild (D-PA-7), Nikema Williams (D-GA-5), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-5).

USICA will authorize more than $100 billion over five years to support breakthrough scientific discovery and technological innovation in 10 key areas that are vital to building an innovation economy and winning the good-jobs race for the 21st century. The bill increases funding for National Science Foundation activities. Durbin pushed for this funding authorization, and has supported increased scientific and biomedical research funding over the past six years in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

A copy of the letter can be found here and below:

 

May 24, 2022

Dear Chair Cantwell, Chair Johnson, Ranking Member Wicker, and Ranking Member Lucas:

As the Conference Committee convenes to reconcile the America COMPETES Act (H.R. 4521) and the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) (S. 1260), we write in opposition to provisions which would hamstring future research funding at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Energy (DOE) with a high, fixed allocation through Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) activities.

As you know, provisions in the Senate passed USICA would set aside 20 percent of the total NSF budget for EPSCoR states as well as 20 percent of funds authorized for DOE and the NSF Directorate for Technology and Innovation. We strongly oppose such provisions, which would leave behind emerging research institutions in non-EPSCoR states. Arbitrarily walling off a sizable percentage of a science agency’s budget from a sizable majority of the country’s research institutions would fundamentally reduce the entire nation’s scientific capacity and damage the research profiles of existing institutions – contrary to the goals of both USICA and the COMPETES Act.   

For the United States to maintain and expand its innovation leadership, developing the total pool of research enterprises is essential. We must prioritize fostering scientific talent and developing new technologies. If large portions of science agency budgets are off limits to these institutions, innovative research in our states would be compromised.

We urge you to ensure that the final bill broadens participation in our world-class research ecosystem and to support policies that elevate research in EPSCoR and non-EPSCoR states alike.

Sincerely, 

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