Contact Your Representative
Since the beginning of the year, the university research community has faced unprecedented upheaval and challenges. The new administration and 119th Congress are eager to reshape how and what scientific research the federal government funds. It is critically important, as they have these funding and policy discussions and make decisions, that we make Congress aware of the impact and importance of our programs. The importance of helping them understand what our programs do and how they benefit their states and districts is crucial to ensure our continued growth and success. Included on this page is a tool to help you communicate the positive benefits our programs create. You’ll find an email template and a directory of congressional contacts that you can use below.
Dear [staffer name],
My name is XXXX and I’m from [city, state].
My research (or I am a member of a research team that) is supported through the [NSF EPSCoR/NIH IDeA] program and focuses on [description of research]. I am writing you about the [EPSCoR/IDeA] program to explain its importance to [state] and what it has meant to my research on [research subject] personally.
The [EPSCoR/IDeA] program supports research infrastructure and opportunities in states that have traditionally received less federal research funding, like [state]. The peer-reviewed and merit-based awards provide opportunities for research in (state) that would not otherwise exist. This benefits [city], [state] and the country. This work drives innovation and economic development in [state] and benefits our economic and national security.
The program has been crucial to the development of the necessary research infrastructure so that [state] can contribute to the science and innovation research enterprise in the U.S. For all these reasons, I hope the [Senator/Member] will support this important program going forward and ensure that the funding Congress has appropriated for the [EPSCoR/IDeA] program is being allocated to grantees by NSF and NIH.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the EPSCoR/IDeA programs, please reach out to me.
Thank you for your time and consideration.