AIBS has provided testimony to the House Appropriations Committee regarding fiscal year (FY) 2027 funding for biological research programs within the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The testimony reads, in part:
We encourage Congress to provide new funding to the Smithsonian Institution in FY 2027, including at least $60 million to the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) with robust funding to support scientific and curatorial work. We urge Congress to provide the USGS with $1.85 billion in FY 2027 and preserve its Ecosystems Mission Area. We further request that funding for Science Applications within USFWS be sustained in FY 2027. Lastly, we request that Congress provide EPA Science and Technology with at least $876 million in FY 2027.
Robust federal investments in scientific research and monitoring that improves our understanding of biological diversity and ecosystem function must be a priority, urged AIBS, noting that the agencies funded by this appropriations bill are centrally involved in conducting, supporting, and using this scientific research. “Shrinking budgets and workforce for these agencies will strain our ability to address national challenges and remain a global leader in scientific discovery and innovation,” argued AIBS.
Read the testimony submitted to House appropriators. A similar letter will be submitted to the Senate.
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