To the New Jersey Congressional Delegation

Dear Member of Congress:

As presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities throughout New Jersey, we write to convey the importance of federal research funding to our state and request that you support – and advocate for – robust funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) in FY 2025. 

NSF is the cornerstone of America’s scientific enterprise and the only federal agency charged with the promotion of scientific progress across all science and engineering disciplines.  The discovery science and engineering research funded through NSF’s rigorous peer review process underpins U.S. scientific leadership and international competitiveness and ensures continued economic growth by transforming novel ideas into new discoveries and productive enterprises.  NSF support for undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students also contributes to the creation of a strong STEM workforce that will lead the industries of the future.

In FY 2023, NSF awarded more than $189 million to entities in the state of New Jersey.  This investment, coupled with others made by NSF over several decades, has spurred innovation in a wide variety of fields that are important to New Jersey, including health care, manufacturing, national security, pharmaceuticals, and transportation.  In turn, these NSF-funded, New Jersey-rooted innovations have provided societal benefits to the nation as a whole.  According to the Society for Neuroscience, every dollar NSF invests in research funding generates two dollars in economic output.  In addition to funding fundamental research across the state, more than $20 million of New Jersey’s FY 2023 NSF funding was invested directly into STEM education efforts, which is vital to advancing the state’s knowledge economy.  

Congress has long recognized the crucial role NSF plays in advancing innovation, competitiveness, and national security, including through the passage of the bipartisan “CHIPS and Science Act”.  This legislation sought to enhance American competitiveness with China and other countries by dramatically increasing investments in basic research, and expanding and strengthening America’s R&D manufacturing capabilities.  Unfortunately, while that legislation authorized almost $16 billion for NSF in FY 2024, only $9 billion was ultimately appropriated.  This level of funding not only fell short of the ambitious vision laid out in the “CHIPS and Science Act”, it represents a five percent cut to the NSF budget from the previous year – an outcome that must not be repeated in FY 2025, if the U.S. wishes to remain a world leader in innovation and workforce development.  In a research funding vacuum, other nations will happily take our place. 

Federal research and innovation investments are vital to the success of New Jersey’s economy and institutions of higher education. It is also vital to maintaining America’s global economic positioning and ensuring our national security.  With your support, NSF can continue to fund the science, STEM training, and regional partnerships that have made the United States the envy of the world.

Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of New Jersey.

Sincerely,

Christopher L. Eisgruber, President, Princeton University

Jonathan Holloway, Ph.D., President, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Rev. Msgr. Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., Ph.D., President, Seton Hall University

Andrés Acebo, Interim President, New Jersey City University

Michael J. Avaltroni, President, Fairleigh Dickinson University

Michael A. Bernstein, Ph.D., President, The College of New Jersey

Dr. Joe Bertolino, President, Stockton University

Dr. Dale G. Caldwell, President, Centenary University

Gary B. Crosby, Ph.D., President, Saint Elizabeth University

Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D., President, Rider University

Nariman Farvardin, Ph.D., President, Stevens Institute of Technology

Merodie A. Hancock, Ph.D., President, Thomas Edison State University

Richard J. Helldobler, Ph.D., President, William Paterson University

Ali A. Houshmand, Ph.D., President, Rowan University

Cindy R. Jebb, President, Ramapo College of New Jersey

Dr. Jonathan Koppell, President, Montclair State University

Patrick Leahy, President, Monmouth University

Hilary L. Link, Ph.D., President, Drew University

Joseph R. Marbach, Ph.D., President, Georgian Court University

Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., President, Kean University

cc:       The Honorable Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director, National Science Foundation