Science on the Hill

Posted by on July 29, 2025
Senator Maria Cantwell stands and speaks at a podium while gesturing.
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, delivered remarks at the STAC reception in Washington DC.

ESA Executive Director Catherine O’Riordan, Director of Public Affairs Alison Mize and Public Affairs Manager Mayda Nathan recently attended an event on Capitol Hill highlighting the importance of federal support for R&D. Hosted by the Science and Technology Action Committee (STAC), the event featured Members of Congress (MoCs), leaders from academia and the scientific community and industry experts as speakers.

It’s pretty remarkable to see the bipartisan support for science from current members of the House and Senate. We heard remarks from the MoCs followed by stories from researchers who communicated in simple, understandable language to explain why research benefits all sectors of the economy and nation.

The appropriations cycle to pass an FY26 federal budget is ongoing. Increasing research funding continues to be a central focus for ESA staff throughout this process.

Dr. Chris Nomura, VP for Research & Economic Development at the University of Idaho, described the critical research being conducted in a broad array of fields at institutions like his.
Representative Jim Baird (R-IN), a member of the House Science Committee, also spoke about the value of research.

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