CERF has signed on to two multi-organizational letters urging Congress to reject the Administration-proposed cuts to science funding in their Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) appropriations process. The letters, led by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), were in response to the the release of the full President's budget on 23 May 2017, which proposed drastic research funding cuts, including an 11% cut to NSF, a 32% cut to NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) and the elimination of the National Sea
Grant College Program, a 44% cut to the EPA's Science and Technology budget, and a 15% cut to USGS. More information on the impact of the President's budget on science funding can be found on the AAAS website.

The letters stress the leadership role that the U.S. plays in innovation, and the importance of research to the U.S. economy. The AIBS letter notes that, "over the past 50 years, roughly half of our nation's private sector economic growth has resulted from research and development." Research and development improve public health, safety, and quality of life; create public and private sector jobs; and spur economic growth. The letters applaud the long-standing bipartisan support by Congress for science funding, and encourages Congress to continue this support in the FY18 appropriations. 

Read the full letters here: 
AIBS FY 2018 Multisociety Science Letter
AAAS Multi-organization Letter FY 2018 Research Budget