Six Leading Computing Organizations Call on Congress to Fully Fund the CHIPS and Science Act
Washington, D.C. – Today, six of the most prominent organizations in the computing, information technology, science, and innovation sectors — representing more than 400,000 professionals across U.S. industry, academia, and government — jointly urged Congress to fully fund the research agencies outlined in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.
In a letter addressed to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the coalition calls on Congress to appropriate critical funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and other key agencies driving technology and innovation.
The signatories — the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the Computing Research Association (CRA), IEEE-USA, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), and USENIX — emphasize the urgent need for continued investment in research and development (R&D) to ensure that the U.S. remains at the forefront of global technology leadership.
According to Tracy Camp, CRA’s Executive Director and CEO, this funding is crucial for maintaining U.S. leadership in emerging technologies:
“The nation’s leaders need to rise to this challenge. If the United States wants to be a world leader in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, high performance computing, and many other scientific fields, fulfilling the promises made in the CHIPS and Science Act is a vital step toward doing that.”
Camp added, “This is not a partisan issue; it must be an American priority. We need the nation’s leaders to put country above party and prioritize funding for these essential research agencies.”
Nancy Amato, CRA’s Chair of the Board of Directors, highlighted the dire consequences of underfunding federal research agencies:
“The nation is in serious danger of falling behind our competitor nations in several research fields, especially in the computing and IT fields. Without these vital investments in research, the United States runs the risk of falling behind and becoming a second-rate scientific power in the world.”
Amato also underscored the essential role of NSF:
“The National Science Foundation accounts for 78 percent of all Federal support for fundamental computing research at American universities. It is essential to the future of our field, essential for training the next generation of researchers who will make future breakthroughs, and essential to any national efforts around AI, quantum, high performance or high-end computing, and a host of other research fields.”
The letter emphasizes that investments in fundamental R&D foster innovative breakthroughs, drive job growth, and safeguard national and economic security amid growing global competition. However, cuts or flat funding levels in FY2024 and beyond could severely impact U.S. leadership in critical areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and high-performance computing.
The full letter and additional commentary from the organizations can be read here.
About the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022
The CHIPS and Science Act is a landmark law designed to bolster American competitiveness in critical technology sectors, such as semiconductor manufacturing, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. It authorizes substantial investments in federal research agencies essential to driving the next generation of innovation.
About CRA
The Computing Research Association (CRA) catalyzes computing research by bringing together industry, academia, and government. Our mission is to lead the computing research community, inform policymakers and the public, and advocate for a diverse, equitable, and socially responsible research environment. CRA’s membership includes nearly 300 North American institutions active in computing research, spanning academic departments, research laboratories, and affiliated professional societies. By uniting the computing research community, CRA advances the field and supports the future of computing through collaboration, advocacy, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Media Contact
Matt Hazenbush
Director of Communications
Computing Research Association
mhazenbush@cra.org
