July 2015

AERA, along with more than 250 industry, higher education, scientific, and engineering organizations, have signed on to a call to action titled “Innovation: An American Imperative,” which urges Congress to enact policies and make investments that ensure the United States remains the global innovation leader

The statement includes seven items on which Congress should act, including:

•  Renew the federal commitment to scientific discovery;
• Make permanent a strengthened federal R&D tax credit;
• Improve student achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;
• Reform U.S. visa policy;
• Take steps to streamline or eliminate costly and inefficient regulations;
• Reaffirm merit-based review; and
• Stimulate further improvements in advanced manufacturing.

This call to action comes at an important time, as the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee begins to work on a reauthorization bill for the National Science Foundation, under the looming threat of sequestration.

Related:

• “NSF Spending Bills Move Forward,” AERA Highlights, June 2015
• “House Action Further Threatens NSF Autonomy, Funding,” AERA Highlights, May 2015