FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | February 5, 2009

American Chemical Society praises House swift action on recovery package

Washington, DC. –– The American Chemical Society (ACS) praised the House of Representatives for its swift passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R.1), which includes a broad array of programs investing in basic scientific research, education, and infrastructure. The package is expected to be considered by the Senate soon.

ACS President Thomas H. Lane, Ph.D., said “ACS applauds the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s strong federal investments in research grants, science education, and scientific infrastructure. These science and technology investments will pay dividends in the short term through job creation and are also wise, strategic, long-term investments.”

ACS is particularly supportive of the bill’s provisions which provide a three-pronged investment in scientific innovation:

• Scientific research at agencies such as National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the National Institute for Standards and Technology, and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which will support jobs and innovation.
• Programs in science education that provide infrastructure, preparation, and resources to the teachers who are educating the next generation of innovators.
• Support for scientific infrastructure to repair crumbling national labs, improve our university facilities, and develop the cutting edge tools of the future.
• Robust investment in science research, education, and infrastructure are at the core of a strong economic foundation, and will ensure our nation’s competitiveness in the global economy, and ultimately, the quality of our future.

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