ACS Urges Protection of Research Funding in Debt Ceiling Negotiations

May 17, 2023

Dear Speaker McCarthy, Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, and Minority Leader Jeffries:

As you negotiate on a solution to avert a potential economic catastrophe from failing to raise the debt ceiling, we urge you to protect research and development (R&D) funding as part of any final agreement.

Founded in 1876, the American Chemical Society (ACS) is one of the world’s largest scientific organizations with over 185,000 members. We work to improve people’s lives through the transforming power of chemistry and to advance the broader chemistry enterprise for the benefit of all people.

We are concerned by proposals to limit or cap discretionary spending limits, especially proposals to reduce discretionary spending to the FY22 level, then grow 1% annually for a decade. Strong and consistent support for chemistry and other R&D efforts is vital to our nation's global competitiveness, productivity, defense capabilities, public health, and energy and environmental security.  As we have witnessed from the Budget Control Act of 2011, non-defense discretionary (NDD) is below 2010 levels when adjusted for inflation and population growth. Those budget limits put undue restrictions on the driving role that innovation and technological advancements have in the engine of economic growth. Scientific R&D provides the fundamental knowledge and discoveries to address pressing challenges and seize future opportunities.

Furthermore, such proposed spending limits undermine previous Congressional assurances through the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 to increase investment in critical science programs to address national and global challenges and to continue American scientific innovation and leadership.

Therefore, we call on you to reject consideration of proposals that would limit investment in vital R&D programs. We appreciate your attention to this matter and urge you to consider the broader ramifications of constraining R&D funding.

Sincerely,

Anthony Pitagno, Senior Director
Government Affairs
Office of the Secretary and General Counsel         
American Chemical Society