CRA Statements and Positions
Advocacy
Cuts to NSF and CISE Directorate Jeopardize American Leadership in Computing
The termination of 10% of NSF’s workforce—including major cuts to the CISE Directorate—jeopardizes U.S. innovation and competitiveness. NSF funds 80% of fundamental computing research, driving advances in AI, cybersecurity, and quantum computing. Weakening NSF will slow innovation, harm national security, and cede leadership to global competitors. Policymakers must act to reverse these cuts.
NSF Budget Cuts Would Put the Future of U.S. Innovation and Security at Risk
Recent executive actions have raised the potential for significant budget cuts and mass layoffs at NSF, putting the future of U.S. leadership in science and technology at risk. NSF funds nearly 80% of fundamental computing research, driving breakthroughs in AI, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and other critical fields. Cutting this investment would slow innovation, weaken national defense, and limit workforce development at a time when global competitors are increasing their commitments to research and development.
Six Leading Computing Organizations Call on Congress to Fully Fund the CHIPS & Science Act
AAAI, ACM, CRA, IEEE-USA, SIAM, and USENIX joined together to call on Congressional leaders of both parties to fully fund the research agencies contained in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022
CRA Statement Expressing Serious Concerns About Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Levels at the National Science Foundation and Other Key Federal Research Agencies
The Computing Research Association, representing more than 250 computing research organizations in academia and industry, has serious concerns about the significant cuts to Fiscal Year 2024 funding levels that have been approved for key Federal research agencies, particularly the National Science Foundation.
CRA Endorsement of H.R. 7710, the “Counter Human Trafficking Research & Development Act”
This legislation will create a National Counter Human Trafficking Research and Development Initiative at the White House, specifically within the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The initiative will be tasked with developing “anti-trafficking technologies and accelerate scientific understanding of human trafficking, including tools to better measure the prevalence of human trafficking and to detect and disrupt human trafficking demand.”
CRA Statement Applauding the Nomination of Arati Prabhakar to the Positions of Director of OSTP & the President’s Science Advisor
President Biden announced his intent to nominate Dr. Arati Prabhakar to the positions of Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and, once confirmed by the Senate, will also serve as Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. In this capacity, Dr. Prabhakar will also be, “the President’s Chief Advisor for Science and Technology, a co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and a member of the President’s Cabinet.” CRA applauds this announcement and released a statement.
CRA Statement Applauding President Biden’s Announcement of His Science Team
The Computing Research Association commends President Biden for his announcement today that the Presidential Science Advisor will be a member of the Cabinet for the first time in history. We applaud his commitment that “science will always be at the forefront” of his administration, and we look forward to working with the highly talented and qualified team of advisors he named. We are confident they will contribute a strong scientific voice to the myriad challenges facing our country.
Trump Administration Rescinds Foreign Student Visa Rule – July 14, 2020
The Trump Administration on Tuesday reserved course and rescinded its change that would have stripped visas from international students whose courses move exclusively online during the pandemic.
CRA Joins Science and Higher-Ed Community in Working to Reverse ICE Rule on Student Visa Holders That Could Force Hundreds of Thousands to Leave U.S. – July 8, 2020
CRA believes this policy is ill-conceived, cruel and will damage the U.S. research ecosystem greatly, perhaps for years to come. The uncertainty created by this policy, and by the other immigration policy decisions restricting other foreign students and researchers issued over the last several weeks, will certainly discourage more of the best minds in the world from studying and researching in the U.S., to our great detriment.
President’s Immigration Order is Latest in a Series Vexing Computing Research Community – June 24, 2020
On Monday, June 22nd, President Trump issued the latest in a series of immigration and visa related orders designed to limit the involvement of foreign students and researchers, particular those from mainland China, in U.S. research efforts. The order follows a series of other proposals and orders emanating from the White House and Capitol Hill that have raised the ire of higher-education, U.S. industry, and the computing research community over recent weeks.
CRA Statement on Presidential Proclamation Concerning Visas for Chinese Scholars in the U.S. – June 1, 2020
We oppose the banning of any foreign student or researcher unless there is clear evidence of their personal connection to wrongdoing. Indiscriminate large-scale banning of students and researchers from any particular country deprives the U.S. research enterprise of contributions by international scholars, most of whom are not involved in IP theft or espionage.
CRA Releases Statement on Reported Plans to Suspend or End the Optional Practical Training (OPT) Program – May 29, 2020
CRA opposes efforts to end or suspend the OPT program, which would cause great harm to an innovation ecosystem that continues to be a crucial part of our recovery effort.
