SETAC North America Advocacy on the Gold Standard for Science and Federal Grant-Making
Recognizing the importance of collective advocacy, SETAC North America has joined two recent coalition letters to policymakers. These efforts reflect the society’s commitment to ensuring that environmental policy decisions are informed by the best available science.
In response to the 23 May Executive Order on “Restoring the Gold Standard in Science,” several scientific societies collaborated through the United Science Alliance and issued a letter to Michael Kratsios, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy for the White House. The letter underscore a vital point, the gold standard for science exists, and its success is demonstrated in every facet of American life—from the development of life-saving vaccines and the journey to the moon to the technological revolution that powers our modern economy. The signatories expressed readiness “to engage in constructive dialogue with the Executive Office of the President, Congress, and all relevant federal agencies” in support of defining the Gold Standard.
In response to the 7 August Executive Order on “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking,” several societies spanning different fields of scientific and medical research organized a letter to Congress to express concerns and request. The letter urges Congress to:
- Ensure that independent peer review remains the cornerstone of the scientific grant-making process so the most meritorious proposals are funded under this and future administrations.
- Ensure that federal research funding remains insulated from short-term political pressures by directing science agencies not to amend the terms and conditions of discretionary grants to permit termination for convenience.
- Work with the scientific community, including groups like the National Science Board, to evaluate current practices and recommend measures to support a broad portfolio of grant recipients.
Learn more about SETAC advocacy efforts. For more information, contact [email protected].