In Support of the National Science Foundation's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research

Floor Speech

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Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). For decades, the EPSCoR program has been instrumental in supporting groundbreaking research and development in states that don't receive a majority of federal science funding. 28 states and territories benefit from this program, including my home state of Kansas.

Nationwide, EPSCoR has inspired a generation of STEM professionals and created new opportunities for student researchers to succeed. Through its most recent award, the Kansas EPSCoR program has been researching microbiomes in our water, plants, and soil to enable more sustainable food production and lasting ecosystem protections. This federal funding has also allowed recipients to launch an internship program, a summer course for high school teachers, and more. From the University of Kansas to Haskell Indian Nations University, students and faculty that benefit from EPSCoR will help ensure that the United States leads well into the future when it comes to science, sustainability, and life-saving research.

As the House and Senate consider legislation to make our nation more competitive, bolster our supply chains, and boost domestic manufacturing, I urge the inclusion of robust funding for the EPSCoR program. In 2020, EPSCoR states received just $190 million in federal funding--only two percent of the NSF's budget. Increasing dedicated EPSCoR funding to 20 percent of the NSF's budget, along with the large investments in research and development we are considering, will spur innovation in underserved communities without sacrificing support to states that have historically received high amounts of federal science funding.

Student researchers in Kansas and other smaller states have so much to offer. I urge my colleagues to continue supporting them, their work, and the EPSCoR program with increased dedicated funding in the America COMPETES Act.

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