FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2024 — The American Chemical Society (ACS) anticipates collaborating with the 118th Congress and the Biden administration to enhance support for chemistry research. Seeking innovative solutions in STEM education and workforce development, ACS encourages robust funding for scientific research, investments in marginalized communities, sustainable chemistry and climate change mitigation, as well as adherence to peer-reviewed science in domestic and global policies.
Support Research Funding
ACS will continue to remind Congress that the fiscal year 2024 spending levels will impact the trajectory of research in fiscal 2025 and beyond. Strong and consistent support for chemistry and the broader research enterprise is vital to the U.S.’s productivity, defense capabilities, public health, and energy and environmental security. Congress should maintain the nation’s lead in scientific innovation by adhering as closely as possible to the funding amounts authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Related ACS policy statements: Science and Technology in the Budget, U.S. Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Elevate STEM Education and Workforce Training
ACS continues its long-standing support for expanding and improving effective STEM education programs at all levels (K-12, undergraduate, graduate and continuing education), creating opportunities for problem solving-based education for everyone in both formal and informal settings, and reviewing and updating education, training, workforce and immigration policies. This will ensure that the U.S. has a diverse, mobile, highly educated, and innovative workforce capable of growing the economy and supporting U.S. enterprises and jobs. ACS hopes to work with Congress on legislation including the Advancing Research in Education Act, A Stronger Workforce for America Act and other bipartisan proposals that seek to achieve these goals.
Related ACS policy statements: Science Education Policy, U.S. Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Support Immigration, Scientific Collaboration and Academic Study
It is in the best interest of the U.S. that scientists and students can access efficient and easily navigable visa and immigration programs. Immigration policies should align with the following principles: Enable companies and universities to hire top talent from around the globe at competitive wages; enhance the retention of U.S.-trained, foreign-born workers, providing increased return on investment; foster a vibrant and world-leading, U.S.-based scientific community, promoting improved competitiveness; and improve the cultural fluency of U.S. companies, allowing them to be globally competitive.
Related ACS policy statement: Visas for Immigration, Scientific Collaboration, and Academic Study, Freedom of International Scientific Exchange
Advance Sustainability and Climate Change Mitigation
ACS strongly urges Congress and the Biden administration to take bold action to address climate change. A plethora of evidence points toward rising global temperatures and broad negative effects for humanity and the environment. Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are necessary if the U.S. is to mitigate current and future impacts. To advance these objectives, ACS encourages increased spending on climate science and research, domestic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and focused spending on adaptation.
ACS believes helping to improve the sustainability of the chemistry enterprise should be a goal of policymakers. Building on the passage of the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act, Congress and federal agencies should embrace green and sustainable chemistry as a priority in programming and funding. ACS continues to advocate for the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy Office of Science, and National Institute of Standards and Technology to implement dedicated programs to support green and sustainable chemistry.
Related ACS policy statements: Global Climate Change, Energy Policy, Sustainability and the Chemistry Enterprise
Ensure Access to High-Quality Science
ACS supports universal access to the results of scientific research via publishing models that are wide-reaching and ensure the integrity and permanence of the scholarly record upon which scientific progress is based. ACS strongly opposes unfunded mandates placing constraints on authors or the research enterprise — or interfering with the ability to fulfill ACS’ mission as a provider of indispensable information to the world’s community of chemistry professionals.
Related ACS policy statement: Ensuring Access to High-Quality Science
For more information on ACS public policy priorities and advocacy, visit www.acs.org/advocacy.
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The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
To automatically receive press releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.
Note: ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.
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