ASA Connect

 View Only

  • 1.  Federal Research Funding action alert

    Posted 02-18-2025 18:41

    Dear ASA Members, 

    I write to encourage ASA members in the US to engage with your elected officials in Washington regarding recent changes to federal research funding agencies: https://cossa.org/action-center/take-action/#/43. This portal provides a template message that you can personalize and send directly to your elected representatives in Washington (based on your home address) in just a few minutes. 

    Recent changes affecting our research community include significant modifications to indirect cost reimbursement policies, staffing cuts at federal research agencies, and holds on grants and contracts. While members may have varying views on these developments, it's important that our representatives hear directly from researchers about how these changes impact our work. 

    If you choose to reach out, please consider the following: 

    • Personalize the message to reflect your own experience and perspective. 

    • If you are in academia, consult with your university federal relations team, who are actively engaged on these issues and may have specific guidance for communicating with your Congressional delegation. 

    • If you are in government, please use personal resources only for any advocacy (i.e., personal email address and personal computer during your personal time). 

    These action alerts provide an efficient way to make your voice heard. For those interested in more extensive engagement with Congressional offices, consider reaching out directly to science or health staffers for your representatives and senators. I can provide their contact information: spierson@amstat.org. You might share your perspective and, if interested, request a meeting for you and colleagues in your state/congressional district. 

    I encourage you to share this action alert with your networks, particularly colleagues in industry and in states with Senators and Representatives in the majority. 

    Thank you,  

    Steve 



    ------------------------------
    Steve Pierson
    Director of Science Policy
    American Statistical Association
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Federal Research Funding action alert

    Posted 02-22-2025 09:39

    Dear ASA Members,

    I write to remind you of the convenient, fast portal to write to your members of Congress regarding federal research funding: https://cossa.org/action-center/take-action/#/43. Let me also make you aware of a few others to take advantage of:

    For those interested in more extensive engagement with Congressional offices, let me ask again that you consider reaching out directly to science or health staffers for your representatives and senators. I can provide their contact information: spierson@amstat.org. You might share your perspective and, if interested, request a meeting for you and colleagues in your state/congressional district. ASA staff can support you with such messages and meeting with staff.

    Please also consider urging your members of Congress to prioritize support for federal research funding through their appropriations portal process. Research!America has a helpful explainer here: https://www.researchamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FY26-NIH-Appropriations-Request-Resource.pdf. Please contact me for any questions or assistance.

    For those of you doing social science research, consider coming to Washington, DC March 24-25 for COSSA's Social Science Advocacy Day: https://cossa.org/event/2025-social-science-advocacy-day/. The ASA will cover travel expenses for two ASA members. Please contact me for details on ASA support.

    Let me also make you aware of the following: 

    • Research!America survey: Impact of NIH Indirect Costs Cap; Research!America is collecting real-world examples through March 3 on how recent executive orders have affected health and medical research to share with Congress and the Administration

    Please make me aware of other opportunities to share with the ASA community. Finally, below are some of the news stories share with us about cuts to NIH F&A costs and research support. 

    Thank you, 

    Steve

     

    https://www.statnews.com/2025/02/19/trump-funding-freeze-grad-student-postdoc-acceptances-paused-nih-research/

    https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2025/02/19/federal-funding-uncertainty-prompts-hiring-freezes



    ------------------------------
    Steve Pierson
    Director of Science Policy
    American Statistical Association
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Federal Research Funding action alert

    Posted 02-25-2025 20:19

    Representative DeLauro of Connecticut has set up a form for people to report impacts on funding freezes:
    https://delauro.house.gov/constituent-services/2025-federal-financial-assistance-freeze
    "If you are or anticipate experiencing any difficulties accessing federal funding or benefits, please use the form below to provide the Office of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro with more information on how you, or your organization, are impacted. "


    Please share widely!



    ------------------------------
    Tim Hesterberg
    Staff Data Scientist
    Instacart
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Federal Research Funding action alert

    Posted 03-17-2025 06:45

    Dear ASA Members, 

    I write again to encourage ASA members in the US to engage with your elected officials in Washington regarding recent changes to federal research funding agencies, federal statistical agencies, or STEM education: 

    These sites provide a template message that you can personalize and send directly to your elected representatives in Washington (based on your home address) in just a few minutes. 

    While ASA members may have varying views on these developments, it's important that your representatives hear directly from constituents about how these changes impact our work. If you choose to reach out, please consider the following: 

    • Personalize the message to reflect your own experience and perspective. 
    • If you are in academia, consult with your university federal relations team, who are actively engaged on these issues and may have specific guidance for communicating with your Congressional delegation. 
    • If you are in government, please use personal resources only for any advocacy (i.e., personal email address and personal computer during your personal time).  

    You can also contact your representatives directly through their websites or by calling their offices. The following instructions are from the ASA Science Policy and Advocacy page:

    1. Call their offices. You can find contact information on the House of Representatives website (or enter your ZIP code at www.house.gov/representatives/find) and Senate website.
    2. Use the contact feature on your senators' and representative's websites. See Option 1 for accessing these web pages.
    3. Request a meeting in a district/state office or in Washington: Meeting requests are typically handled through the member's scheduler, whose name and contact information can be obtained by calling the member's office. See "Keys to a Successful Hill Meeting."

    Since the fiscal year 2025 budget is now concluded, Congress will begin in earnest the consideration of the FY26 budget. I encourage you to also submit appropriations request to your elected officials using this Research!America guide: https://www.researchamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FY26-NIH-Appropriations-Request-Resource.pdf.

    Thank you for taking the time to make your voice heard. I will continue sharing additional advocacy opportunities. I encourage you to share this action alert with your networks, particularly colleagues in industry and in states with Senators and Representatives in the majority. 

    Thank you,  

     Steve



    ------------------------------
    Steve Pierson
    Director of Science Policy
    American Statistical Association
    ------------------------------



Related Content