National Postdoctoral Association

April 11, 2013

Sequestration is in place, but it doesn't have to remain.  The President's 2014 budget would increase funding for non-defense research and development, including funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), and would increase the National Research Service Award (NRSA) entry-level stipend to $42,000, while allowing for a $1.8 trillion reduction in the nation's deficit over 10 years.  

Please write to the appropriations committees (follow the links below to see the lists of members) and to your Senators and Representative expressing your support of the President's budget for non-defense research and development:

Senate Appropriations Committee

Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

House Appropriations Committee

House Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

It is especially important to write to your Senators and Representative if one of them serves on an appropriations committee or subcommittee.

Thank you for your support of postdocs and research!

--The NPA Advocacy Committee

--The NPA Executive Committee

 Suggested Message

[Date]

Dear [Senator or Representative] [Insert Last Name],

Re: 2014 Budget

I am writing today in support of the President's 2014 Budget for the United States Government, specifically to ask that you support the appropriation of funds at the levels proposed for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other non-defense research and development.  Sequestration must end before untold damage is done to the U.S. research enterprise and thus to the health and welfare of U.S. citizens. 

[INSERT personal message about how lack of funding would affect you. For example: As a Postdoctoral Researcher at X University, I am currently working on X research. My job position here is dependent on federal funding and any cuts in funding would jeopardize my current position, my research work, and my future career in research.]

I urge you to support the appropriation of funds for the President's 2014 budget for non-defense research and development.

Sincerely,

[Insert your name and full mailing address]