We are writing to urge you to provide the highest possible fiscal year (FY) 2021 allocation for the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittees, at least equal to the FY 2020 allocation and sufficient to fully fund the basic and applied research programs in the CJS portfolio.

The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) appreciates the opportunity to provide testimony in support of appropriations for the Smithsonian Institution, United States Geological Survey (USGS), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for fiscal year (FY) 2021.

Congress has started debate on funding levels for federal programs for fiscal year 2021. Please show your support for the National Science Foundation (NSF) by asking your Representative to sign a letter in support of funding the agency at $9 billion in 2021.

Washington, DC - The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is pleased to announce that Corinn Rutkoski and Renee Collini have been selected as the 2020 AIBS Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award (EPPLA) recipients. The EPPLA recognizes graduate students in the biological sciences who have demonstrated leadership skills and an aptitude for future professional success working at the intersection of science and public policy.

The White House released the President’s Budget Request for fiscal year (FY) 2021 on February 10, 2020. The budget proposes large cuts for science for the fourth consecutive year. The $4.8 trillion budget framework calls for cuts to most federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

On behalf of the undersigned scientific societies, we respectfully urge you to extend the period during which you will accept public comment on the proposed changes for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The AIBS Public Policy Office has released its annual report for 2019. Read about our achievements in science policy.

Chloe Kontos
Executive Director
Joint Committee on the Research Environment
National Science and Technology Council
Office of Science and Technology Policy
The White House
Via: JCORE@ostp.eop.gov

Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
U.S. House of Representatives
H2-359 Ford House Office Building
Washington, DC 20024

The Departments of the Interior and Commerce have unveiled significant changes to the regulations that implement the Endangered Species Act (ESA), altering how the law will be enforced in the future. The revisions will make it easier for regulators to delist species from the endangered species list and remove automatic protections for threatened species.