Science & Technology Action Committee

Co-Chairs Houlahan, Bice Announce First BIOTech Caucus Legislative Endorsements

The BIOTech Caucus announced its first ever legislative endorsements, backing the National Biotechnology Initiative Act and the Biomanufacturing Excellence Act. Momentum is building to strengthen U.S. biotech leadership. More from @houlahan.house.gov & Rep. Bice🔗 houlahan.house.gov/news/documen...

Exclusive: Senators revive bipartisan AI innovation bill With foreign rivals investing aggressively in AI and emerging tech, lawmakers are searching for ways to reinforce the U.S. edge.

America’s competitiveness in the global technology race is back on the congressional agenda. Last week, a bipartisan group of Senators reintroduced the Future of AI Innovation Act, which would expand NIST’s AI standards work and strengthen R&D coordination. @axios.com⬇️ www.axios.com/2026/02/26/s...

STEM jobs are growing faster than non-STEM jobs in the U.S. Today, 36 million Americans—1 in 4 workers—are in STEM roles. Sustaining this momentum requires stronger education pathways and retention across the talent pipeline.

New analysis from the NSF NSB ⬇️ ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb2026...

How China’s College Boom Expanded Graduate Programs, Enrollment, and

China’s 1999 higher ed expansion boosted U.S. STEM growth. International student flows are tightly tied to American innovation and economic competitiveness. In order to maintain its innovation edge, the U.S. needs a plan. More from Stanford SCCEI 👇

sccei.fsi.stanford.edu/china-briefs...

EU looks to poach US scientists amid research funding cuts Paris announced grant awards to 46 academics, with 41 relocating from the US.

Europe, the UK, and China are actively recruiting U.S.-based scientists amid research funding cuts.

For America, this is a competitiveness warning: sustained funding uncertainty risks driving top talent and future innovation abroad.

Learn more in @Semafor.com ➡️ www.semafor.com/article/02/1...

Federal investment in science drives economic growth. A new @aau.edu report finds every $1 invested in R&D returns $5 in long-term economic growth. Learn more 💡 www.aau.edu/sites/defaul...

Thank you to Sen. Jerry Moran, @vanhollen.senate.gov Rep. Hal Rogers, and @meng.house.gov for laying the groundwork for final passage of the FY26 CJS bill. Cuts to NASA and NSF were limited, and we look forward to working with you on more robust research investments that safeguard U.S. leadership.

The federal government lost 10K+ STEM Ph.D.s in one year – a blow to innovation, public health, national security, and economic growth. Strong federal funding keeps this expertise in public service. More in @science.org ⤵️
www.science.org/content/arti...

Thank you to Sen. Susan Collins, @murray.senate.gov, Rep. Tom Cole, and @delauro.house.gov negotiating a bipartisan FY26 agreement that protects core science funding and delivers full-year certainty for agencies that underpin America’s economy.

@democrats-appropriations.house.gov

STAC Statement Thanking President Donald Trump for Signing the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act

6 Graphs That Show Who’s Really Winning the US–China AI Race From compute and talent to energy and revenue, six charts show where the U.S. leads China in AI—and why that lead could prove fragile.

AI competition isn’t just about who has the best models—it’s about foundations: compute, energy, talent, and sustained investment in research and innovation capacity. The U.S. leads on many measures, but the picture is mixed. More from @time.com ➡️ time.com/7358519/ai-c...

New NASA Artemis Payloads To Study Moon’s Terrain, Radiation, History - NASA NASA announced Tuesday the selection of three new science investigations that will strengthen humanity’s understanding and exploration of the Moon. As part of

NASA selected 3 new Moon science investigations under its CLPS initiative, leveraging U.S. industry innovation to advance Artemis. From 3D terrain mapping to subsurface drilling, this is what progress looks like when government and industry move forward together🌕 www.nasa.gov/news-release...

Full Committee Hearing - Assessing U.S. Leadership in Quantum Science and Technology

Yesterday's House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hearing sent a clear message: maintaining U.S. leadership in quantum will take sustained federal commitment and a strong bridge from research to real-world impact. More here 🔗 science.house.gov/2026/1/full-...

STAC's Statement on FY26 Labor–Health and Human Services–Education Appropriations Package

Sudip Parikh, CEO of @aaas.org and VAST Task Force member, shares how sustained advocacy is essential to maintaining and strengthening America’s science and technology leadership 🧪 bsky.app/profile/scif...

Pro-science Republicans are fending-off cuts to funding This year’s budget will probably restore much of what the White House sought to eliminate

New reporting from @economist.com highlights how lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are stepping up in Washington, but protecting today’s funding is only the starting point if we want to maintain America’s competitive edge.
www.economist.com/united-state...

Micron’s $100B investment reflects the impact of the CHIPS & Science Act in action. Strategic public investment in semiconductor R&D and manufacturing is strengthening U.S. supply chains, and marking a turning point for American industrial leadership. www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/belt...

In China, A.I. Is Finding Deadly Tumors That Doctors Might Miss

In China, an AI tool developed by Alibaba and supported by government-funded partnerships is detecting pancreatic cancer before symptoms appear – a breakthrough in tackling one of the deadliest cancers.

Investing in scientific discovery saves lives🧬⬇️

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/w...

Full Committee Hearing - Chemistry Competitiveness: Fueling Innovation and Streamlining Processes to Ensure Safety and Security

"We must create a domestic R&D environment that keeps pace with industry capabilities and promotes innovation right here in our communities." – Rep. Brian Babin at today's House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hearing. Read more: science.house.gov/2026/1/envir...

STAC's statement on FY26 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations legislation:

Vision for American Science & Technology

In our formal response to the White House Office of Science & Technology RFI on Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise, we emphasize that the U.S. is at an inflection point and a strategic framework already exists: STAC’s Vision for American Science & Technology (VAST) ⬇️ www.vastfuture.org

Merit review for a new era at NSF

This week the National Science Board released a report calling for updates to the NSF's merit review to strengthen fiscal accountability, broaden participation and ensure federally funded research delivers economic benefits while also maintaining scientific excellence. www.nsf.gov/nsb/updates/...

What the NDAA Holds in Store for Science Provisions on research security, grant policies, indirect cost rates, and more are packed into the latest version of the NDAA.

The final FY26 NDAA shows how central science & tech are to U.S. security – but sustained, predictable funding is what keeps our research ecosystem strong. With appropriations still uncertain, investment matters more than ever. Read more from @aip-publishing.bsky.social🔗 www.aip.org/fyi/what-the...

Full Committee Hearing - The Genesis Mission: Prioritizing American Science and Technology Leadership

“Firing world class scientists and pausing programs will hinder American innovation and our leadership in the world,” – @ross.house.gov at the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hearing yesterday. Now is the time to reinforce America’s S&T enterprise. science.house.gov/2025/12/full...

Students Advocate For More Science Funding A national student-led effort shows how early-career researchers are engaging Congress on federal science funding amid continued uncertainty over FY 2026 appropriations.

Young researchers are stepping up. SNAP’s nationwide district visits show how urgent science advocacy has become as FY26 funding hangs in the balance. When scientists share their stories, policymakers listen. Read more from @forbes.com➡️ www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...

Federal biotech commission calls for retooling of scientific research infrastructure A federal commission is calling for significant changes to the way the U.S. government funds and assesses scientific research.

A new report from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology makes clear: America stays competitive when we invest in S&T. Continued prioritization of early-stage ideas and stronger data + AI tools is essential for U.S. innovation. From @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/11/25/b...

Tech Future Requires More Than Capital Investment – DC Journal - InsideSources An announcement in August by the administration that it will take a 10 percent equity stake in Intel grabbed headlines, and rightly so. It signaled a

Important read on what it will take for the U.S. to stay competitive in science and technology. Investment in ideas, research, and talent—not just capital infusions—is what drives leadership. Full article from the DC Journal 👇
dcjournal.com/tech-future-...

"We urge you to protect the nation’s economic security and the well-being of the American people through robust funding of crucial scientific priorities."
Read the STAC co-chairs' letter in support of FY26 funding levels in the Senate CJS bill: sciencetechaction.org/wp-content/u...

NIH funding cuts have affected over 74,000 people enrolled in experiments, a new report says A new report finds over 74,000 people enrolled in experiments have been affected by the National Institutes of Health’s funding cuts.

NIH funding cuts halted 383 clinical trials this year, disrupting research across cancer, heart disease, and brain disorders. The U.S. needs a predictable R&D strategy and a strong research workforce to protect innovation and patient outcomes.
@apnews.com 🔗 apnews.com/article/nih-...

Congressional committee urges swift action on escalating Chinese threats Congressional committee warns of risks to the U.S. electrical grid and urges action against Beijing’s fast-growing space military capabilities and Taiwan threat.

A bipartisan report to Congress highlights how the US can face competition with China head-on by modernizing economic infrastructure, investing in emerging technologies, & strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.
⬇️Read more from @washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...