In a House floor Special Order on Tuesday, Congressional Democrats decried President Trump's cuts to scientific and medical research.
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00:00Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
00:12Tonight I rise with my Democratic colleagues, frankly, to call out dangerous and draconian
00:21anti-science agendas of this current administration.
00:28Since day one, this administration has unleashed chaos on our national scientific enterprise,
00:37undermining our competitiveness, undermining health safety, the dignity of research and
00:45how it is conducted, and it is coming at a time that will, frankly, move our country
00:53in the wrong direction, and it will cost us.
00:57In just over 100 days, we have seen the firing and rehiring and firing of experts, illegally
01:07impounded congressionally authorized and appropriated research funding, jeopardizing the future
01:15of our STEM student pipeline, and frankly, an entire chilling effect has been created
01:22across our scientific research enterprise.
01:26And for the science enthusiasts watching at home, allow me to clarify that, yes, we
01:35support our national scientific research enterprise, our National Science Foundation, our National
01:42Institute of Standards and Technology, and in this country, we also have a National Institute
01:48of Health, and some of us are old enough to remember when we passed a DARPA for health
01:56research, ARPA-H, Advanced Research Projects in Health, and while much of my remarks will
02:04be dedicated towards our hard-nosed scientific research funding, I do want to make mention
02:13of what it means to have our health sciences under attack right now as well, because doctors
02:22and researchers, particularly in the medical fields, are feeling extraordinary pain.
02:28These aren't just talking points, this isn't just fear-mongering, this is the cessation
02:34of scientific research, health research, special projects dedicated towards combating
02:42cancer, pilot projects being halted just in the middle of their ongoing, and it is a blow
02:52to patients, and it is a blow to medical researchers and physicians.
02:58And so my colleagues tonight are going to join me in speaking about the anti-science
03:05agenda that is under full swing in the United States of America and what it means, and tonight
03:12I'm going to speak about Michigan.
03:15I'm going to speak about the harm of this chaos and the anti-science agenda that it
03:22poses to the incredible state of Michigan.
03:27The state of Michigan known for its manufacturing prowess, and yes, we have great healthcare
03:32institutions as well, but we are known as the place that has put the world on wheels
03:40for our best-in-class workforce, and of course for the beauty of our Great Lakes.
03:45We are known as a place that has the most number of FIRST Robotics teams in the nation,
03:52we are a hotbed and a place that people come to, businesses come to, to expand, to grow,
04:00and to tap into our engineering talent.
04:04And you can't have a shop floor without research and development.
04:08You can't have the incredible manufacturing and the incredible innovation without the
04:14scientific research and development.
04:16It is about problem-solving, and I know this from my time in the Obama administration.
04:21I know this from my time working in a scientific research lab, that that innovation takes place
04:28on the shop floor and in the heart of Michigan's manufacturing capabilities.
04:34And we're so proud of public-private partnerships.
04:37We're so proud of how the government can provide seed funding through the National Science
04:45Foundation, support for our National Institute of Standards and Technology through the Manufacturing
04:50Extension Partnership Program.
04:53And yes, my friend Mike Coast, the former leader of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology
04:58Center, Michigan's MEP, and I are overdue for a conversation because he is ringing the
05:04alarm bell about what these cuts will do for Michigan, and what this means.
05:11And so I saw and know this story also from my growing up and from my upbringing, and
05:19what it means to have a strong and vibrant manufacturing economy that is intertwined
05:26with the nation's scientific research enterprise and appropriated dollars.
05:32I have visited, my friends, over 250 unique small businesses, small manufacturers, innovators,
05:41entrepreneurs, training centers.
05:44And the innovation story is powered by Michigan's incredible workforce, our hardworking men
05:51and women, those large concentrations of engineers that we have from Grand Rapids to Flint to
05:58Saginaw, Lansing, and of course all over southeast Michigan, from Detroit to Macomb County and
06:06throughout Oakland County.
06:08All of this goes hand in hand, from the lab to the shop floor to the classroom to the
06:13tinkering in your garage or in Michigan, because we do have those cold winters in your basement.
06:20People are innovating, and they are designing, and they are doing.
06:24And to see a headline like I have right here before me that I woke up to on a Saturday
06:32morning that the National Science Foundation is canceling more than 400 STEM grants.
06:39What does that mean for Michigan?
06:41What does that mean for our schools that are not fully funded?
06:45What does it mean when we are competing on the world playing field?
06:49We need to have these scientists.
06:51We need to have these technologists.
06:53We need to have the engineers and the mathematicians.
06:56The student pipeline is absolutely essential, Mr. Speaker.
07:01And because of this Trump-Musk anti-science agenda undermining the symbiotic relationship
07:11and threatening Michigan's future in advanced manufacturing, environmental protection, and
07:16next-generation mobility technologies, newsflash, we had 40-plus new factories being built and
07:23developing in Michigan just last year alone.
07:28But chaos continues to set us back.
07:31These aren't false threats.
07:32They're now our realities.
07:34It's blow after blow, and it's self-inflicted chaos at a time when we don't need it.
07:41When it's not going to work for Michigan, and it is not going to work for this country.
07:47My friends, Michigan is a national leader in public university research, with nine public
07:55institutions in the great state of Michigan ranked as top-tier research university, what
08:02we call R1 research university.
08:05And we have also R2 universities all ranked in that top nine.
08:10This is also including Oakland University, which is located in my district and where
08:15my parents met and is part of my origin story.
08:18And they have a very robust engineering department that relies on these National Science Foundation
08:24grants, basic scientific research, technology readiness one through nine.
08:29What does that mean?
08:30We need to have basic scientific research.
08:33We need to have the scientific method, of course, dictating and governing how we conduct
08:39research in the United States of America.
08:42We have University of Michigan, Michigan State University, that recently just came forward
08:48with what it would mean to see these grants and the relationship between our universities
08:55and our government shrink.
08:57And in fact, that was also, I hold this up, in the Detroit News, that the MSU president
09:03has spoken about the partnership between research universities and government-driven innovation.
09:10We need these things.
09:11Wayne State University, same thing.
09:14Michigan Technological University, same thing.
09:17They conduct over 90% of the state's academic research, totaling more than $3 billion.
09:24We want to compete.
09:26We want to be a driver of the moonshot of this century.
09:32And so every day, Michiganders reap the benefits of these universities, these small businesses,
09:39the entrepreneurs, the small business innovation research grants.
09:42I walk out my door and people are practically coming up to me saying that this is where
09:48they want to grow and go.
09:51And the STEM talent that is so Michigan-critical to all of us, and so the economic impact of
09:58just the three largest research institutions of nearly $24 billion to the state of Michigan.
10:06This is personal for us, and this is very real.
10:10Where tomorrow's breakthroughs are going to begin, breakthroughs that our automakers
10:15are going to rely on, breakthroughs to compete in the global marketplace, and also to win
10:23on the battlefield.
10:25We are in a race for technological and, frankly, innovation dominance.
10:34And these cuts that have come through from the stroke of a pen in an Oval Office have
10:42sincere and grave and real results that are harmful.
10:50And as a lawmaker, I choose to use my time, yes, to continue to craft the legislation
10:56that I'm so proud to see making its way through the Science Committee on quantum, on reauthorizing
11:04NSF and NIST.
11:06And we hope that colleagues will join us and pass those bills.
11:09But today, we use our voices to call out the harms of an anti-science agenda, the setbacks
11:17it means for equity, the setbacks it means for disadvantaged students, for women and
11:22for students of color, what this means for our manufacturers who rely on the diversity
11:28of a fully educated, skilled, and trained workforce, something that I see happening
11:34every single day in my incredible home state.
11:38And it's that grit that Michiganders bring to everything that I know will get us through.
11:43And it's with tremendous honor, Mr. Speaker, that I sit and stand with my colleagues tonight
11:51as we speak out.
11:52And I would like to, at this time, yield to my incredible colleague from the Commonwealth
12:01of Virginia for as much time as he may consume for tonight's special hour.
12:07And thank you so much, sir, for leading with me tonight.
12:11Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
12:12And thank you, Congresswoman Stevens, and all the members here today to stand up for
12:17science and innovation.
12:19Science is a matter of profound significance for many Americans.
12:23It's a matter of life or death, whether they realize it or not, because it is the responsibility
12:27of this body to be stewards of our country's future and leave this country better than
12:32how we found it.
12:34And that means recognizing the pivotal role of science and innovation, both the people
12:38as well as the funding, and how it plays a role in making our country great now and in
12:43the future.
12:44And standing up for science is more important than ever right now because the reality is
12:48this administration has declared a war on science, doge funding cuts, firing contractors,
12:55firing scientists and innovators, trying to chase others out.
12:59For decades, America has been a leader in science and innovation, but this leadership
13:03is not our country's birthright.
13:05It has been earned over the years through an unwavering commitment to science and innovation.
13:09And make no mistake, our adversaries are watching closely at the work that we're doing and everything
13:14that's happening right now.
13:16And they want to undermine and replace our leadership in science and innovation.
13:19And we are at risk of being outrun on AI, quantum, and so many other critical technologies
13:25and innovations.
13:26And instead of helping us maintain our global leadership, this administration is slashing
13:30funding to our science agencies and firing federal scientists.
13:33The president is proposing a $4.9 billion cut to the National Science Foundation, and
13:39on top of that, over a billion dollars in grant funding.
13:42This administration has already terminated that.
13:44And at least $100 million in grant funding was cut from universities just in my state
13:48of Virginia alone.
13:50Investments in science and innovation have fueled our economy and started entire industries,
13:54given us healthcare breakthroughs, fortified our national defense, reinforced our leadership
13:59in the world.
14:00And make no mistakes, these firings and cuts to science and innovation will hurt every
14:04single American.
14:06They will make us less safe, less healthy, and less prosperous.
14:09Now, I have the honor of representing Northern Virginia, one of the most scientifically advanced
14:14communities in the country.
14:15And many of the folks who have been cut or fired or who have seen their funding go away
14:20are subject to these cuts, and they've seen harassment and intimidation and firings.
14:26And they are losing the ability to help Americans stay safe and stay healthy.
14:30And what's happening is there's a brain drain of science and technology innovators in our
14:34country because of these cuts.
14:36One of my constituents is a graduate student in astrophysics.
14:39She's pretty smart.
14:41But their research funding is at risk of being cut right now.
14:44And folks like her are wondering, should I stay in the science field?
14:47These cuts are destroying our nation's pipeline of scientists, technologists, and innovators.
14:53A teacher from my district has been dismayed that the president plans to cut the NASA budget
14:57by 24%.
14:59This will end educational programs that get students excited about scientists.
15:03We want to go to Mars?
15:04Who's going to take us there?
15:05It's going to be the ingenuity and the expertise of the American people.
15:08And the cuts are not just limited to NASA and the National Science Foundation.
15:12They're cutting healthcare research as well.
15:14A woman in my district said that her son has a disease for which NIH was researching a
15:18cure.
15:19Well, recent cuts, you can kiss that cure goodbye right now or any hope of her son getting
15:23that.
15:24Because right now, there's so many cuts that we are not solving the problems in healthcare
15:27that we need to to keep our country healthy.
15:30There's another person, her son had congenital blindness and NIH was searching for a cure
15:35to that.
15:36Her son's funding is on the chopping block as well, as well as the people who are doing
15:38that research.
15:39Another biomedical researcher in the district said it perfectly, quote, the NIH, the FDA,
15:44and CDC and NSF are making discoveries now that will be the foundation for solutions
15:49needed in the years and decades ahead.
15:52We won't even know what we missed with some of these cuts.
15:56And we will know what innovations we could have made, but for these cuts.
16:00I want to end by saying that I'm pretty sure these firings and cuts to science and research
16:03aren't really about waste, fraud and abuse or government efficiency.
16:07Because if they were, and if this administration actually cared about efficiency, we'd they'd
16:12know that a funding to science and technology and innovation doubles or triples the investment
16:18back in economic activity, not to mention all the lives and research that are saved
16:22and all the people who are kept healthy and safe by this research.
16:26This does not have to be partisan, does not have to be controversial in any way.
16:29I want to call on all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand up for science,
16:34research and innovation.
16:35Because standing up for science means standing up for the health, safety and prosperity of
16:39every American.
16:40I yield back.
16:41Well, great.
16:42Thank you, Mr. Superman, a freshman, new member to the Science Committee and to this very
16:51body.
16:52And as we can tell, he is already leading in an extraordinary way.
16:57And now we have another gentleman who is well past his freshman term, but also from
17:02the Commonwealth of Virginia, Mr. Byer, who I would like to yield to.
17:08Thank you very much.
17:09Thank you for putting this together.
17:10Ms. Stevens, I really appreciate it.
17:12And Mr. Speaker, thank you.
17:14I rise today in strong opposition to the Trump administration's attack on our scientific
17:18workforce and on science, specifically at the National Science Foundation, located a
17:24few blocks from my home.
17:25Today, my colleagues and I introduced a resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the
17:30National Science Foundation.
17:32We should be enormously proud to support the work of the NSF.
17:36Since 1950, the National Science Foundation has helped the U.S. lead the world in science.
17:42It supported the research and key investors that helped catalyze the Internet, advanced
17:46technology for MRI machines, for 3D printing, for artificial intelligence.
17:51We created American Sign Language, detected gravitational waves that developed laser guide
17:56surgery and much, much more.
17:58It's been a cornerstone of our scientific education in the United States, providing
18:02support from elementary and pre-kindergarten right through the Ph.D. level.
18:07NSF's prestigious awards draw researchers from across the world to come to the United
18:12States to do the work to study and, best for us, often to stay.
18:16The same incredible talent is under attack by this president, who is not only recklessly
18:21removing our best scientists from the federal workforce, but also defunding science and
18:26the scientific research at our nation's premier institutions.
18:31These are exactly the people who create our America's future.
18:35In a skinny budget request, the president proposed a $5 billion cut to the National
18:40Science Foundation, including $1 billion in STEM education and workforce programs.
18:45If that budget request is enacted by Congress, this will be a death knell for our innovation
18:49economy and for America's future.
18:52I've already been alarmed by the workforce cuts the Trump administration has made in
18:57past months.
18:58We're losing our best and our brightest.
19:02Some might find jobs in the private sector, but many are likely to be poached by other
19:07countries.
19:08We hear again and again that many countries are trying to recruit our best and brightest.
19:12And I personally, because of the cuts, have heavily impacted my home.
19:16I've had hundreds of constituents, thousands, fired or coerced out of the federal workforce
19:22by the toxic environment that DOGE is intentionally creating.
19:26These are professionals who have dedicated their talent, their lives, and their scientific
19:29expertise to make sure that the National Science Foundation is advancing the most cutting-edge
19:34innovative research proposals.
19:37The last thing we should be doing is losing that talent.
19:40I'm also deeply alarmed at the canceled grants and funding at NSF and our other scientific
19:45agencies.
19:46The Trump administration has cut more than $1 billion in awards this year.
19:50Many of these grants were terminated for no reason by the administration.
19:55One patriciously egregious example was an award on improving the effectiveness of teaching
20:00students how to do computer science.
20:03Really?
20:04At a time when we need to increase our domestic AI and STEM-focused workforce, we need students
20:09to be familiar with the AI systems of tomorrow so they can contribute to our continued leadership
20:14in tech.
20:15Mr. Speaker, I keep looking for examples in history of this retreat from knowledge.
20:21There were the England's Luddites in the early 19th century who fought the use of new
20:25textile technology.
20:27There was Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976, when intellectuals and scientists
20:33were labeled the Stinking Old Ninth and were sent to re-education camps in the countryside.
20:40For 75 years, the National Science Foundation's help kept the U.S. at the forefront of science
20:45has made us the envy of the world.
20:48The NSF can claim 268 Nobel Prize winners, and yet now we have a president and administration
20:55that is anti-science and anti-progress.
20:58NIH, NOAA, NASA, the CDC, EPA, and, tragically, the National Science Foundation.
21:05Just as we have made investments in projects that are pivotal in artificial intelligence,
21:09quantum, and other leading areas, now is the time that we stop investing in our future.
21:15This is what the Trump administration is doing.
21:18I join my administration today to stand up for science, to oppose the administration's
21:22attacks on the National Science Foundation, and to fiercely champion our investment in
21:28science and knowledge for the generations to come.
21:31With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back.
21:33Well, thank you, Mr. Byer, and for your great leadership, always, in the Congress, and for
21:40your continued dedication to education as you are getting a degree in artificial intelligence.
21:47We also have another very degreed member of Congress, Dr. Bill Foster, who I have been
21:53so proud to serve alongside for many years in this chamber, and, of course, for many
21:58years on the Science Committee, where we pass a lot of bills together.
22:01And with that, Dr. Foster.
22:05Thank you, Congresswoman Stevens and Congressman Subramanian, for organizing this such an important
22:11topic now.
22:13As Congress's sole Ph.D. physicist, I spent 25 years of my life, before coming to Congress,
22:20working at a Department of Energy, Office of Science-supported laboratory.
22:25We were smashing protons and antiprotons together to make particles that have not been around
22:29since the Big Bang.
22:30I'm proud to have been on the team that discovered the top quark, the heaviest known form of
22:34matter, where we worked with scientists from all over the world who came to America because
22:39we had the best equipment and the best experiment and the best scientists, and they wanted
22:44to collaborate.
22:45All of this is at risk.
22:47Amidst the Republican assault on science, I'm going to focus my remarks tonight mainly
22:53on the NSF.
22:55On May 10th, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the National Science Foundation.
22:59Today, together with my fellow representative, Don Beyer, Jay Obernolte, Scott Franklin,
23:05and Haley Stevens, we introduced a House resolution to celebrate that anniversary.
23:11The resolution highlights the importance of the NSF to our nation's research enterprise
23:15and the workforce it supports, totaling roughly 350,000 students, teachers, scientists, entrepreneurs,
23:23researchers, including 268 Nobel Prize winners to date.
23:28The NSF is a cornerstone of American innovation and foundational for continuing basic research
23:34discoveries.
23:35We hope this work continues for decades to come.
23:38Support for federal science agencies like the NSF have led to new and unexpected research
23:43directions that would not have been possible without federal funding, and that's why it's
23:48important that we recognize the role that NSF-funded basic research plays in the discoveries
23:54driving the next generation of scientists.
23:57This includes funding for AI, for cybersecurity, supercomputers, fusion, energy, space, ocean
24:03exploration, black holes, semiconductors, and last but not least, the internet.
24:09In addition to basic research, the NSF also funds many educational programs supporting
24:14the next generation of scientists, perhaps in the fullness of time, its most crucial
24:19mission, because it enables the careers to move forward in science of these young people
24:25who have shared my fascination of science.
24:29Over the past 75 years, the NSF has stayed true to its mission to, quote, promote the
24:33progress of science, to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare, and to secure
24:39the national defense.
24:41And underpinning this has been its commitment to a merit-based and peer-reviewed grant process
24:47that has ensured that good science is consistently prioritized and free from political interference.
24:54The NSF has had an exemplary 75 years, and I look forward to its progress in the next
24:5875.
24:59So, how are Republicans celebrating this anniversary?
25:03By slashing the budget by a factor of two and muzzling the science.
25:08Unfortunately, the Trump administration has failed to see the importance of this federal
25:12investment in science for our country's future.
25:15The president's FY26 budget proposes cutting the NSF budget by 55 percent, including fundamental
25:21research, education, and broadening participation efforts.
25:26Other agencies have been impacted by the funding cuts—NIH by 37 percent, NOAA by 24 percent,
25:33the EPA by 54 percent, NASA's science arm by 46 percent, and the Department of Energy
25:39Office of Science by 14 percent, among many others.
25:43Long-term, these cuts will have detrimental impacts on scientific and technological innovation,
25:48and cause irreparable damage to our global competitiveness.
25:52So this discussion could not come at a more important time.
25:56As a result of Trump's directives, all grant funding for the NSF is now halted, and existing
26:01grants are under review for termination.
26:04I led over 100 of my fellow members in a letter to the administration opposing this unconstitutional
26:10grant freeze, which is in direct opposition to Congress's appropriations.
26:15These measures come after canceling over 1,000 NSF active research grants last month,
26:22with another 344 more grants canceled recently in the third consecutive round of Friday terminations.
26:30Why Friday?
26:31Well, Friday traditionally is the place that you reveal actions that you're ashamed of.
26:37I wonder why they put it on Friday.
26:40In addition to freezing all grants at the NSF, the agency instituted a 15 percent cap
26:45on indirect cost rates for colleges and universities, where many of our future scientists receive
26:52training and participate in research experiences early in life that can spark their curiosity.
26:58Many of these grants across many agencies are impacting STEM education across the career
27:03pipeline.
27:04In addition to stopping research discoveries, these cuts will lead to the loss of STEM talent,
27:09which places the United States at a permanent competitive disadvantage.
27:14President Trump's budget also proposes eliminating NASA's Office of STEM Engagement, which will
27:19significantly deter young talent from participating in STEM programming and impair our nation's
27:25ability to lead scientific fields.
27:28In yet another Republican assault on STEM education, which seems to be a theme of their
27:33The U.S. Geological Survey, the federal hiring freeze led to the termination of a summer
27:40internship program for undergraduate students.
27:43The National Association of Geoscience Teachers, USGS, Cooperative Summer Fellowship Program
27:49had been running since 1965, matching undergraduate students with mentors and projects at the
27:55agency.
27:56Through this program, talented student interns benefit from working with well-established
28:02scientists and gain valuable research experience at a well-known science agency.
28:07This experience can spark their curiosity in science and may set them up for long-term
28:12research careers, assuming, of course, the budget is not slashed there as well.
28:17Altogether since 1965, around 3,000 interns have contributed to the scientific projects
28:24and research areas of importance to the USGS and NAGT to promote high-quality Earth education.
28:33Programs like this allow students to contribute to our country's scientific achievements,
28:37energy resource development, and economic prosperity.
28:41But this year, 39 prominent young geoscientists will not have that opportunity.
28:47So what does this mean for the scientific workforce?
28:51The recent departure of NSF Director Sethuram Panchanathan, known to all of us as Dr. Punch,
29:01was when he left the NSA.
29:03It was a really notable negative milestone for this administration's actions.
29:08It is a significant loss when we lose such dedicated and talented public servants who
29:12are leaving the federal government workforce not as happy campers.
29:18And everybody knows it.
29:20This follows workers like Dr. Peter Marks, one of the heroes of Operation Warp Speed
29:24and one of the lead scientists at the FDA.
29:27And there are hundreds of others, unfortunately, following their footsteps.
29:33To shed light on this issue, for example, this last March, together with my colleague
29:37Don Beyer, I led 37 House members in a letter to the Trump administration expressing our
29:42strong support for the agency and grave concerns for the firing of 168 workers at NSF.
29:49Unfortunately, the DOJs and the Trump administration have ignored this sort of appeal completely.
29:55This letter highlighted the importance of NSF funding to our country's leadership in
30:00cancer research, in energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.
30:05None of this work would be possible without program managers and experts who play central
30:09roles in granting funding decisions at the agency.
30:13A likely negative consequence of these actions to our country is that we will not only miss
30:18out scientific breakthroughs driving our country forward, but lose an entire generation
30:23of scientists who cannot complete their NSF-supported training and will abandon research careers
30:30altogether, or perhaps, as was mentioned, simply depart for countries abroad.
30:36So I want to assure NSF-funded researchers and staff that we're on your side, and we're
30:41supporting you, and you should keep coming to Congress to tell us about the direct impacts.
30:46And that goes for scientists in all fields throughout this country.
30:50It's our duty to ensure that, regardless of the political climate, the science remains
30:54at the forefront of our nation's progress and innovation.
30:58So I urge my sensible colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support efforts to increase
31:03the resiliency of our federal science agencies in the face of these growing threats from
31:08the administration and to continue supporting the U.S. research workforce.
31:13So congratulations again to the NSF on celebrating 75 years, and we will continue to fight for
31:19the agency's viability and for our nation's competitiveness, and by supporting all of
31:24you and all of our federal science agencies.
31:27Thank you, and I yield back.
31:31Thank you so much, Dr. Foster, as always, wise and important words.
31:38With that, I'd also now like to pass the floor over to Mr. Whitesides, new member of Congress
31:46from California and a leader in the field of science and space exploration.
31:55Thank you, Congresswoman.
31:58My name is George Whitesides, and I represent California's 27th congressional district.
32:02Before I was a member of Congress, I served as the chief of staff of NASA and later as
32:07the CEO of an aerospace company that created hundreds of well-paid jobs in the Antelope Valley.
32:12I have a degree in remote sensing and GIS.
32:15I grew up in a science family.
32:17My dad is a chemist and a professor, and I've worked on new and innovative ways to tackle
32:22our wildfire crisis, a growing threat that the people I represent know all too well.
32:28I know from firsthand experience that the United States is home to the smartest,
32:33most hardworking, most impressive minds of our time who have dedicated their lives to
32:39helping families across the country fight deadly diseases, predict and prevent natural
32:44disasters before they hit, and mount a challenge against our foreign rivals like China.
32:50But we can't continue this important work without our scientific institutions.
32:55Recently, our biggest scientific agencies have come under a full-scale attack, with
33:02the administration's proposed budget effectively annihilating the very science that keeps us safe.
33:09Programs that previously had broad bipartisan support, such as an Army Corps of Engineers
33:14water infrastructure fund, EPA's drinking water and clean water funds for states,
33:21forestry operations, energy utility assistance for low-income households, science and technology
33:28programs, and agricultural support are all on the chopping block.
33:34At NASA, satellites that allow us to understand weather patterns, monitor our changing climate,
33:40and track fires as they move and spread are at risk of being de-orbited.
33:46Employees in my home district who work at NASA Armstrong and JPL have no idea what their futures
33:53hold. NOAA, an organization that helps families across the country prepare for natural disasters
34:01like hurricanes and tornadoes, is being gutted from the ground up. The NIH, which works on
34:09groundbreaking cures for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's and heart disease, has supplied
34:14significantly fewer grants and awards to scientists than in previous administrations, effectively
34:21halting our work on critical medical advances. From February to April, the administration
34:27terminated nearly 700 grants across 24 NIH institutes and centers focused on subjects
34:35such as aging, cancer, child health, diabetes, mental health, and neurological disorders.
34:44We are not only losing the promise of progress and cures and climate technology, we are losing
34:51critical data that allow us to better understand the world we live in and respond to growing
34:57threats that we face, both foreign and domestic. That's why today I led my colleagues with similar
35:03scientific backgrounds to let the administration know exactly what will happen to our nation
35:09if they gut these science agencies. We sent a letter to the president drawing on our diverse
35:14backgrounds and constituencies to let him know exactly why science is a good investment for the
35:20future of our children and for our country. Make no mistake, we can always be better and more
35:26efficient, and these are ideals that we should all strive for. These are ideals that Americans
35:31fairly demand from their government, and we should all be working towards that challenge.
35:35When I helped lead NASA for President Obama, we constantly iterated and improved our existing
35:42systems because we knew how important it was to stretch the taxpayer dollar as far as it can go.
35:50But taking a sledgehammer and a chainsaw to entire institutions that allow us to stay safe
35:55and also remain competitive on the global scale is not only unwise, it's dangerous. The bottom
36:02line is that science is an incredible investment for jobs today and for the future of our country.
36:09So I'm going to keep fighting for the families across my district who need NASA satellites to
36:15know if their houses are going to be safe from fires, for seniors who need medical advancements
36:21to live long and healthy lives, and for red states and blue states that will be hit by tornadoes
36:27and hurricanes in the months and years to come. I'm here to stand up for families in my district
36:34and across the country who will be less safe and more at risk as a result of these cuts,
36:40and I'm here as an innovator and entrepreneur to stand up for science. Thank you, and I yield back.
36:47Thank you, Mr. Whitesides. How lucky the people are of California to have your representation,
36:52and how lucky are we in the United States Congress to have your expertise.
36:56And now another proven expert and leader and fighter and ranking member on the science committee,
37:04Congresswoman from North Carolina, Ms. Fouché. Thank you to my esteemed colleagues for organizing
37:11this special order hour, and thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in solidarity with my colleagues
37:17to stand up and speak out against the proposed budget and demonization of science and the science
37:25community. America is where we are today because of what we create, whether it's manufacturing,
37:34innovation, scientific and medical research, or technology transfer. All these fields require
37:41science and the millions of researchers and innovators who push American STEM and our
37:48nation's workforce to the forefront. These efforts are critical to my district, which includes the
37:56University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina Central University,
38:03Durham and Wake Technical Community Colleges, and so many new up-and-coming industry leaders in STEM.
38:12However, in total, the Trump administration has canceled nearly $20 million in NSF research grants
38:21to North Carolina as a whole. Take, for instance, an NSF-funded grant that was recently canceled
38:29in my district, North Carolina's fourth, that was aimed at addressing the lack of diversity
38:35in the engineering doctoral workforce and promoting the retention of students from
38:42underrepresented groups. Recent doctoral engineering attrition rates revealed a
38:48disproportionately high loss of students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM,
38:55like women, minorities, and people from rural areas. Researchers in my district were working
39:02to help us address this critical gap, funded by NSF, now canceled under the guise of being
39:09so-called woke. Still, the majority continues to conflate the need to bolster manufacturing with
39:17the destruction of our scientific institutions. We need to make things here at home, but does
39:24America really win if China does all the innovation? I like the idea of an America
39:32that supports domestic manufacturing and is a leader in innovation, not an America that does
39:40China's manufacturing work. But right now, because of the senseless cuts to NSF, NIH,
39:49and scientific institutions across the board, we are instead taking steps toward losing a
39:56generation of innovators and helping China lead global STEM innovation, not us. Thank you,
40:04and I yield back. Thank you, Congresswoman Foushee, and for your ongoing leadership for
40:11women in the sciences and for HBCUs that are also so important to our STEM scientific research
40:20enterprise. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to pass the floor over to Congresswoman
40:28from New Mexico, the great Melanie Stansbury. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to our
40:36hosts tonight. Donald Trump's war on science is putting our country and our economy in peril.
40:44From haphazard firings of federal workers who work on nuclear security and keep our food and
40:50medicine safe to firefighters and health care workers, I'm here to say enough is enough. As
40:58a proud woman in STEM and a bona fide science nerd, I cannot sit quietly as this administration
41:06jeopardizes the scientific advancement of this country. That is why I am here to say enough,
41:14enough of the lies about Project 2025 and its anti-science agenda, enough with the dismantling
41:21of the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and the National
41:26Science Foundation, enough with canceling grants for medical research and STEM programs
41:32that ensure our country stays safe and globally competitive, enough with peddling disinformation
41:39that jeopardizes the health and well-being of millions of Americans, and enough with hiring
41:46unqualified pundits, influencers, and political loyalists who peddle conspiracy theories and
41:54openly admit that no one should rely on them for advice. And you know who I mean.
42:02America is a leader in science and technology. We were the first in the world to send a man to the
42:09moon. We invented the polio vaccine and DNA sequencing. We invented the microchip, the
42:16internet, and GPS. Americans invented the airplane, the light bulb, television, and email, and we've
42:24fed the world with our innovations in food and agriculture. But over the last three and a half
42:32months, we have seen an unprecedented attack on our nation's science and technology. Programs gutted,
42:40projects halted, and the world's leading scientists and engineers fired for no reason.
42:48A budget delivered to Congress just a couple of weeks ago by the president
42:52that would cut over a billion dollars in science education and workforce programs that would slash
43:0030 percent of NOAA's budget and strip the Environmental Protection Agency of more than
43:05half of its funding. And that is why nearly 2,000 doctors, scientists, and researchers have called
43:13this administration a wholesale assault on United States science that threatens the country's health,
43:22national security, and economic development. But we are fighting back in Congress, in the courts,
43:29and in our communities, conducting oversight, voting no, showing up to agencies, supporting
43:35cases across the federal court system, and yes, getting loud in the streets because we stand with
43:42science. We stand with our scientists and our engineers and our innovators and our healthcare
43:48workers. We stand with our federal science and healthcare agencies. We stand with the people of
43:54this country who depend on that science and who depend on that innovation to keep us safe and
44:01fuel our economy because that is all of us. So I say to my fellow leaders in STEM, stay strong,
44:11stay in the fight. We are fighting with you and we will win. With that, I yield back.
44:18And we thank science nerds and enthusiasts for their work, just as Ms. Stansberry so
44:26nicely laid out. And with that, I would like to yield the floor to another great warrior for
44:34scientific research and funding and support for the manufacturing economy of this country,
44:42a leader in the Congress, Mr. Paul Tonko from New York. Thank you, Representative Stevens,
44:48for the kind introduction. Thank you, Representative Subra Munyam, for co-hosting
44:55this showcasing of supporters of science and tech in our economy and the investments that we can make
45:04in our government. You know, no nation can maintain its leadership status in the world
45:10without an investment made and an attention paid to science, technology, engineering, and math.
45:19It is essential that we grow that population of scientists, of engineers, who can then provide for
45:29the muscle of our innovation economy, to allow for that intellectual capacity of this great nation
45:35and the pioneer spirit of this nation to continue to foster this growth of product delivery that
45:43speaks to the quality of life of people across this great world. We as a nation have been a
45:49leader, I think, back to the humble beginnings of this nation. In the 1800s, there was a development
45:57of an eerie canal in upstate New York that is still looked to as perhaps the first
46:05tech corridor. The eastern mouth of that eerie canal is included in the geography that I serve
46:13in New York's 20th congressional district in the greater capital region.
46:18And along that canal, we not only provided for a great connection of a great ocean, the Atlantic,
46:24with the Great Lakes that inspired, Ms. Stevens, a westward movement into the midland of our
46:31country, into the states that border the Great Lakes. And with that came the development of a
46:40necklace of communities dubbed mill towns that became the epicenters of invention and innovation
46:47that inspired all sort of product delivery and responses to the needs of this world
46:53and impacted favorably not only the quality of life in our United States, but in nations around
47:01the world. And that whole history, that powerful statement of what can be created when we invest
47:11in our manufacturing, in our technology, in our science community is proof that we need to
47:18continue forward in that vein. Since January, Donald Trump and his political allies have
47:26launched a full-scale assault on America's scientific enterprise. Federal investments in
47:33science power nearly every aspect of our modern life. Medical breakthroughs, clean air and water,
47:41accurate weather forecasts, safe food, and real solutions to the climate crisis.
47:49But this administration, they've made their position painfully clear. They simply don't
47:56care. Instead, they are injecting partisan politics into research, censoring scientists,
48:02punishing experts, and pulling funding from projects that challenge their narrow ideology.
48:09They don't care about protecting communities from the climate disaster. And we're going to continue
48:14to write checks for disaster aid if we continue this ignoring of climate change.
48:23They don't care about preventing the next pandemic. We've learned that science became
48:30very much focused upon during the whole COVID crisis. And they don't care about making STEM
48:38more inclusive. And they certainly don't care if Americans suffer as a result.
48:44This isn't just wrong. It's a blatant attack on scientific integrity. Integrity in research is
48:53essential. Essential to scientific excellence and to maintaining the public's trust.
49:00That's why as an engineer and lifelong advocate for science, I've made it one of my top priorities
49:06in Congress to right the ship of American science policy. As part of that effort, I am indeed proud
49:14to lead the Bipartisan Scientific Integrity Act. And tomorrow, we'll be launching the Scientific
49:21Integrity Task Force to continue our fight to protect science from political interference.
49:28Hands off science. Let that pure product of research get delivered to those decision makers,
49:35those policy makers, and let us determine what those findings mean in terms of the need
49:42for additional policy and research advocacy. Let us do it in the purest sense. My district,
49:48New York's 20th, has felt the effects of these attacks firsthand. Over $715 million
49:56in National Science Foundation grants have been terminated. Terminated in New York's 20th
50:02Congressional District alone, including a $1 million award to the University of Albany's
50:07Project Sages. Project Sages was created to confront one of the deepest, most persistent
50:15inequities in science, and that is the under-representation of women, especially women
50:21of color, in faculty positions. This was peer-reviewed, data-driven, mission-critical science,
50:28and we need to make certain that we continue to build upon that. Cutting this program sends
50:33a clear message to a generation of researchers. You don't belong. And it doesn't stop there.
50:41Another canceled UAlbany NSF grant supported a collaborative study to improve public understanding
50:48of population science, especially around climate change, racial justice, and the rise of
50:54misinformation. The goal was to equip students and communities with tools to recognize and
51:01challenge the misuse of demographic data. Data increasingly weaponized to justify political
51:07extremism and division. Does that sound familiar? You bet it does. And SUNY campuses, the state of
51:16university system of New York campuses across the state, lost almost $2.5 million in NSF support
51:24for programs helping students of color succeed in STEM through research opportunities, mentorships,
51:30and academic support. These students are the future of a diverse and dynamic scientific workforce,
51:37and this administration slammed the door in their faces. Let's be clear. These cuts are not
51:45about efficiency. They are not about fiscal responsibility. They are rooted in racist,
51:50sexist, authoritarian ideology. I will not stay silent while extremists attack our scientists,
51:58our students, our universities, and our future. We are woefully underproducing
52:06scientists and engineers in our society. You can look at the growth of those communities
52:11in other nations, other continents. This country is woefully underproducing. We do not have the
52:17luxury of walking away from any one demographic of students out there based on gender, race,
52:24ethnicity to meet our goals. We cannot skip over any of those populations. We must stand up,
52:33stand up for science, stand up for equity, and stand up for the truth. And with that,
52:39Congresswoman, I yield back. Wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Tonko, and thank you so much for your
52:46years of leadership on the Scientific Integrity Act, still very essential legislation for this
52:52country. And what a profound honor it is to be with colleagues in this democracy sharing these views.
52:59And with that, we are so pleased to be joined by Congressman from California, Mr. Takano.
53:07Thank you to my colleagues, Ms. Stevens and Mr. Subramanian,
53:12for hosting this special order hour. Your leadership is much needed and we appreciate you.
53:18Mr. Speaker, I rise today, or Madam Speaker, I rise today because something is deeply wrong.
53:23The Trump administration is gutting our nation's scientific infrastructure and doing it with
53:27purpose. This isn't some misunderstanding or clerical error. It's an attack on research,
53:34on truth, on the people who have dedicated their lives to making our country stronger,
53:39smarter, and healthier. Thousands of scientists have been laid off.
53:44Grants approved by Congress are being withheld. Whole labs are shutting down. And now the
53:50administration wants to slash funding for the NIH, the CDC, the Department of Energy's labs,
53:57and the university partnerships that have built the modern American economy.
54:02They call this reform. It's not reform. It's a dagger to the heart of American innovation.
54:10Let's be honest about what's going on here. Elon Musk and the so-called Department of
54:14Government Efficiency are using the federal government to settle scores.
54:19Cancer trials? Not essential. National science databases? Too expensive. That's not policy.
54:27It's a crusade against expertise. Last month, I sat down with five undergraduate researchers at
54:32UC Riverside. They are doing remarkable work on everything from climate change to biomedical
54:38engineering. Their students are bright, their ideas are bold, and their funding is suddenly
54:44at risk. Not because the science failed, but because politics did. And while the fire researchers
54:52and other countries are sending job offers, excuse me, while we fire researchers, other
54:58countries are sending job offers. France, Germany, Canada, Australia, they're rolling out the red
55:04carpet for the scientists we are pushing out the door. And while we make it harder for international
55:10students, researchers, and the greatest minds around the world to come and bring their talent,
55:15other countries are offering funding, housing, and guaranteed lab space. One institute called it a
55:20quote-unquote once-in-a-century brain drain, brain gain opportunity. A once-in-a-century brain
55:27gain opportunity for other countries. This is what it looks like when a country value,
55:32when a country values science. And meanwhile, we are bleeding talent. As ranking member of the
55:39House Veterans Affairs Committee, I need to speak plainly. Our veterans are being hurt too. In
55:44Pennsylvania, doctors at VA hospitals warned that life-saving cancer trials were being shut down.
55:51I was told by the secretary, just like I rushed from that hearing, that they really weren't being
55:57shut down. But there's a lot of questions around what the status of these trials are. More than
56:04a thousand veterans at risk of losing access to treatments for head and neck cancer, kidney
56:09disease, and traumatic brain injuries. Some of these trials have not been restarted. In Pittsburgh,
56:15a study for veterans struggling with opioid addiction stalled out when a hiring freeze hit.
56:21In Los Angeles, all chemotherapy treatments almost stopped entirely before the VA reverse course.
56:26These are not just numbers. These are people. These are veterans. Veterans who stepped up for
56:31this country, now wondering why the country will not step up for them. We passed the PACT Act to
56:36expand care to those exposed to burn pits and other toxins. It was the largest expansion of
56:41veterans care in generations, making good on a promise to help those who served our nation.
56:46Now, it is being broken. And while all of this is happening, China is investing billions in biotech,
56:52AI, and clean energy. They are not just competing with us. They're outpacing us because
56:58they're not undermining their own scientists. While we fire, they fund. While we second-guess
57:06researchers, they fast-track them. We are not losing this race because we Americans are not
57:12capable. We are losing because we are allowing a government to sabotage them. Today, some of the
57:19National Science Foundation scientists who were fired may be watching from the gallery. Others,
57:24grad students, postdocs, public health experts, are tuning in from their labs and classrooms
57:29across the country. And to all of you, I want to say this. We see you. We value you. And we're
57:35not giving up on you. Because this is not about science. It is about who we are as a country.
57:42Do we invest in the people solving cancer? Or do we dismiss them as expendable? Do we
57:49stand by our veterans mid-treatment? Or do we tell them to wait until the budget looks better?
57:54Do we fight to stay at the forefront of discovery and innovation? Or do we hand the future to someone
58:00else? Mr. Speaker, I represent a region full of young people who believe they can cure disease,
58:06fight climate change, and explore the stars. What message are we sending them right now?
58:12We should be investing in their future, not pulling the rug out from underneath them. I urge
58:18my colleagues, reject these cuts. Reject this anti-science, anti-veteran agenda. Let us fight
58:25for the truth, for our researchers, for our vets, and for the country we still have a chance to
58:30become. Thank you, and I yield back. Thank you. And with about a minute left,
58:37we are going to have Mr. Subramaniam, who is such a leader, and we're so proud of you
58:45for helping with this special hour close us out. Thank you, Congresswoman Stevens. I'll keep it
58:50very short. A study a few weeks ago said that a 25% reduction in public support for science and
58:55research would correlate to a 3.8% drop in economic output. That's the same as the Great Recession.
59:01That's how bad it would be. And protecting science funding is not just about labs or some agencies,
59:07it's about preserving hope for families across the country, because these cuts are bad for our
59:11economy, for small businesses, for parents, children, teachers, patients, you name it.
59:17Our country cannot afford these massive cuts to science and innovation. We must reject these
59:21cuts and stand up for the health, safety, and prosperity of every American. I yield back.
59:26And we will continue to use our voices, and yes, to every scientific researcher,
59:32science student, and American wondering, we have your back. We will use our voices,
59:38and we will not be silent in the face of these cuts. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
59:42And we yield back from this special order hour.