American Chemical Society releases 2017 advocacy agenda

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2017 — As the Trump administration and the 115^th Congress begin, the American Chemical Society (ACS) strongly encourages bipartisan solutions to the most significant technical and scientific challenges facing our country. The Society’s highest priorities fall into three broad categories, with more detailed thoughts outlined in individual policy statements.

Strengthen the U.S. innovation infrastructure: Invention and innovation are the heart of America’s economic competitiveness and the source of advances that benefit humanity. A strong innovation ecosystem requires support and maintenance at all levels. ACS seeks public policies that assure the U.S. government’s investment in basic scientific research is predictable and sustained in order to provide the raw material for innovation, to incentivize U.S. firms to commit to robust research and development programs, and to foster the next generation of STEM professionals to guarantee our long-term competitiveness.

Related ACS statements: Science and Technology in the Budget, U.S. Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Science Education Policy, A Competitive U.S. Business Climate (including tax and intellectual property policy)

Ensure scientific integrity and the role of science in the public policy arena: The government both supports the scientific enterprise and relies on scientific information to fulfill its obligations to serve the public. To ensure that accurate, reliable scientific information is available to all stakeholders, scientists must be able to fully contribute to the development and dissemination of scientific information without fear of reprisal for their work. ACS seeks public policies that sustain the role of expert peer review in evaluating scientific opportunities, protect scientists from political interference in the scientific process, and help government bodies obtain and integrate scientific assessments into policy development and implementation.

Related ACS statements: Peer Review, Ensuring Access to High-Quality Science, Scientific Integrity in Public Policy, Chemical Risk Assessment and Regulatory Decision Making

Advance science that benefits society: Some science-intensive issues rise to a level of particular importance due to their impact on human and environmental well-being. As a scientific society and leader on science policy issues, ACS advocates for solutions to complex issues on which we can offer our specific expertise. Given the threat posed by climate change and the central role chemistry must play in addressing it, ACS seeks public policies that mitigate the impact of climate change and forestall its worst effects, enhance our ability to produce energy economically and efficiently, and promote sustainability as a core component of the chemical enterprise.

Related ACS statements: Global Climate Change, Energy Policy, Sustainability and the Chemical Enterprise

The Society’s comprehensive policy priorities, the individual public policy statements and related materials are available at www.acs.org/policy.

ACS is committed to forwarding these advocacy goals during the new Congress and Administration, and looks forward to working with our national leaders in a bipartisan manner to advance our country’s interests.

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With nearly 157,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.