Skip to main content

Federal Relations

Advocacy Correspondence Archive (2013-2020)

 

2020 Correspondence

  • Letter from the Coalition for National Security Research urging Congress to adopt the funding levels in the House FY 21 Defense Appropriations bill for Defense science and technology research programs. (December 3, 2020)
  • Letter from the Energy Sciences Coalition thanking Congress for its strong, bipartisan support of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science in the FY 21 appropriations bills, and urging Congress to appropriate at least $7.05 billion for DOE Office of Science. (November 30, 2020)
  • Letter from the Coalition for National Science Funding urging Congress to finalize FY 21 appropriations legislation and appropriate at least $8.548 billion for NSF, as reflected in the House mark. (November 20, 2020)
  • Letter from Chancellor Daniel Diermeier to the Department of Homeland Security opposing proposed changes to international student and scholar visas. (October 26, 2020)
  • Letter from Interim Chancellor and Provost Susan R. Wente and Incoming Chancellor Daniel Diermeier to all eleven members of the Tennessee congressional delegation urging Congress to provide at least $26 billion in additional funding to support the research enterprise and temporary, targeted federal safe harbors to address the ramifications of COVID-19. (June 24, 2020)
  • Letter from the Coalition for National Science Funding to the House and Senate Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations recommending $9 billion appropriated in FY 21 for the National Science Foundation. (March 11, 2020)
  • Letter from Interim Chancellor Susan R. Wente to Tennessee's nine Members of the U.S. House of Representatives expressing Vanderbilt University's views on H.R. 4674, the College Affordability Act. (February 27, 2020)
  • Letter from Friends of IES, a coalition of organizations committed to supporting the essential role of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), to the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies, requesting $670 million for IES in FY 21. (February 25, 2020)
  • Statement from the Energy Sciences Coalition thanking Congress for its strong support of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science in FY 20, and urging Congress to appropriate at least $7.4 billion in FY 21. (February 19, 2020)
  • Statement from the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, which represents patient groups, scientific societies, research institutions, health professionals, educators, and industry, recommending at least $44.7 billion for the National Institutes of Health for FY 21. (February 12, 2020)

2019 Correspondence

  • Letter from Vanderbilt University Interim Chancellor Susan R. Wente and Vanderbilt University Medical Center CEO & President Jeffrey R. Balser to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., urging Congress to complete work on the FY 20 appropriations bills as soon as possible and to provide sustained, steady growth in scientific research, student aid and public health. Similar letters were sent to each member of the TN congressional delegation. (November 20, 2019)
  • Letter from more than 600 colleges and universities urging Congress to act now to pass bipartisan legislation providing permanent protection for DACA recipients. (September 16, 2019)
  • Letter from the Energy Sciences Coalition to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in support of reauthorizing ARPA-E. (August 1, 2019)
  • Letter from the Office of Federal Relations to Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) outlining the university's programmatic priorities for FY 20. (March 18, 2019)
  • Letter from the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research to the House and Senate Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittees, recommending at least $41.6 billion for the National Institutes of Health for FY 20. (March 18, 2019) 
  • Letter from the Student Aid Alliance to the House and Senate Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittees, thanking the members for their support of student aid programs in FY 19, asking that the statutory budget caps for FY 20, 21 be increased, and that student aid funding remains a priority in preparing the appropriations bill for FY 20. (March 18, 2019)
  • Letter from the Coalition for National Science Funding to the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations recommending the budget caps be raised and $9 billion appropriated in FY 20 for the National Science Foundation. (March 14, 2019)
  • Letter from Friends of IES, a coalition of organizations committed to supporting the essential role of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), to the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies, requesting $670 million for IES in FY 20. (March 14, 2019)
  • Statement from the Energy Sciences Coalition thanking Congress for its strong support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science in FY 19, urging that the non-defense discretionary budget caps be lifted, and supporting $7 billion for the DOE Office of Science in FY 20. (March 11, 2019)
  • Letter to House and Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittees thanking members for significant funding in FY 18 & 19, and supporting $400 million for the Department of Energy's ARPA-E in FY 20. (March 13, 2019) 

2018 Correspondence

  • Letter from Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos calling on Tennessee's nine congressmen in the House to oppose H.R. 4508, the PROSPER Act. (June 7, 2018)
  • Letter from the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research to the House and Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee, recommending at least $39.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health for FY 19. (April 26, 2018) 
  • Vanderbilt University FY 19 appropriations programmatic priorities, revised to reflect final FY 18 funding levels. 
  • Statement from the Energy Sciences Coalition to Congress, supporting the $353 million provided to ARPA-E in the FY 18 spending bill and recommending $375 million for FY 19. (April 16, 2018)
  • Letter from the Coalition for National Science Funding to the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations, thanking them for the increase in science funding for FY 18 and recommends an appropriation of $8.45 billion for FY 19.  (April 12, 2018)
  • Statement on the Fiscal Year 2019 Funding for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. (March 30, 2018)
  • Letter from Friends of IES, a coalition of organizations committed to supporting the essential role of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education & Related Agencies, requesting $670 million for IES in the FY 2019 Labor, HHS, Education & Related Agencies appropriations bill. (March 27, 2018)
  • Letter from the Office of Federal Relations to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., outlining the university's programmatic priorities for FY19. (March 9, 2018)
  • Letter from Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos and 48 of his colleagues calling on congressional leadership to modify or eliminate the endowment/net investment income tax enacted as part of H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. (March 7, 2018)
  • Letter from public and private presidents/chancellors across Tennessee urging Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., to support a permanent legislative fix for the DACA program. (Feb. 14, 2018)
  • Letter from various businesses, scientific and engineering societies, and universities across the U.S. urging both House and Senate leadership to reach a bipartisan budget deal and to make investments in science and engineering research by increasing the 302(b) allocations. (Feb. 6, 2018)

2017

  • Letter from Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos to Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., expressing concerns with H.R.1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. (Nov. 13, 2017) (Similar letters were sent to all other Tennessee Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.)
  • Letter from AAU Presidents and Chancellors including Vanderbilt University's Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos to Congress requesting immediate Congressional action to establish a permanent legislative solution for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. (Sept. 7, 2017)
  • Letter from universities, scientific societies and associations urging Congress to reject the Administration's proposals to cut funding for programs that invest in science and technology. (May 24, 2017)
  • Letter from the SEC Presidents and Chancellors to Members of Congress who supported the FY 17 Omnibus Appropriations spending package, thanking them for their support for NIH and Pell Grants. (May 17, 2017)
  • Letter from the Office of Federal Relations to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., outlining the university's programmatic priorities for FY18. (March 17, 2017)
  • Letter from universities and scientific societies to President Donald J. Trump, urging the administration to rescind the executive order on immigration. (Feb. 10, 2017)
  • Letter from universities to Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly, expressing concern about the executive order's impact on students and scholars. (Feb. 3, 2017)
  • Letter from university presidents to President Donald Trump,  voicing opposition to the Administration's Executive Order on visas and immigration. (Feb. 2, 2017)

2016

  • Letter from Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., thanking Congress for passing the 21st Century Cures Act. (Dec. 6, 2016)
  • Letter from Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center to Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., expressing support for and urging Congress to pass the 21st Century Cures Act. (Nov. 29, 2016)
  • Letter from the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research thanking House and Senate appropriations leadership for their continued support of the National Institutes of Health, and urging them to provide the agency with the Senate-proposed funding level in FY17. (Sept. 7, 2016)
  • Letter from Padma Raghavan, vice provost for research at Vanderbilt University, to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.,  expressing support for his efforts to reauthorize the E-COMPETES legislation. (July 19, 2016)
  • Letter from Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos offering support for Rep. Daniel Lipinski's, D-Ill., efforts to reduce administrative burdens on researchers and university administrators. (July 19, 2016)
  • Statement from the Coalition for National Science Funding expressing appreciation for the introduction of S. 3084, the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act. (July 6, 2016)
  • Letter from the research community opposing provisions in the FY 17 National Defense Authorization Act that would restrict funding for Department of Defense medical research. (June 1, 2016)
  • Letter from the Coalition for National Security Research to House appropriators expressing concerns about the proposed reduction in funding for Defense basic research in FY 17. (May 23, 2016)
  • Letter from the research community expressing opposition to a provision in the Commercializing on Small Business Innovation Act of 2016 (HR 4783) to increase the SBIR set-aside. (May 10, 2016)
  • Letter from the Coalition for National Science Funding requesting more funding for the National Science Foundation in FY17. (March 21, 2016)
  • Letter from the Office of Federal Relations to the Tennessee delegation outlining the university's programmatic priorities for FY17. (Feb. 29, 2015)
  • Letter from the leaders of institutions in the Southeastern Conference thanking Congress for their strong support of federal investments in research and education. (Feb. 11, 2016)
  • Letter from the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research thanking members of Congress for supporting the FY16 omnibus spending package and including investment for medical research conducted and supported by the National Institutes of Health. (Feb. 11, 2016)
  • Letter from the Coalition for National Security Research urging Congress to provide additional funding for  Defense S&T program and basic research. (February 2016) 
  • Letter from the Energy Sciences Coalition urging Congress to provide funding for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. (Feb. 24, 2016)

2015

  • Letter from the Friends of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) expressing concern about the future of AHRQ given the proposed termination by the House Appropriations Committee and the proposed 35 percent cut to the agency's base budget by the Senate Appropriations Committee for FY 16. (Oct. 22, 2015)
  • Letter from the research community opposing the significant funding decrease proposed for the Institute of Education Sciences proposed by the House Appropriations Committee for FY 16. (Sept. 10, 2015)
  • Letter from the Association of American Cancer Institutes, in support of H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act. (June 19, 2015)
  • Letter offering strong support for the National Institutes of Health funding provisions included in the 21st Century Cures Act. (June 19, 2015)
  • Letter from the Office of Federal Relations to the Tennessee delegation outlining the university's programmatic priorities for FY16. (March 10, 2015)
  • Letter from the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research advocating for an increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health in FY16. (March 3, 2015)

2014

 

  • Letter from the Coalition for National Science Funding congratulating Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, on his appointment as chairman of the House Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. (Dec. 2, 2014)
  • Letter from the Energy Sciences Coalition urging support for funding the Department of Energy's Office of Science. (Nov. 25, 2014)
  • Letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., requesting prompt action to confirm Franklin M. (Lynn) Orr, Jr. and Marc Kastner who were nominated to serve as Under Secretary for Science and Energy and Director of the Office of Science at the Department of Energy. (Nov. 25, 2014)
  • Letter from the Energy Sciences Coalition urging support for critical scientific research supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Science and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy. (Nov. 25, 2014)
  • Letter from the Coalition for National Security Research urging Congress to pass an FY2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill that includes strong investments in the U.S. Department of Defense Science and Technology accounts. (Nov. 20, 2014)
  • Letter from the Student Aid Alliance urging support for student aid programs in the FY15 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. (Nov. 17, 2014)
  • Letter from the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research urging Congress to pass final omnibus spending legislation before the end of the calendar year to restore funding for the National Institutes of Health to pre-sequestration levels. (Nov. 12, 2014)
  • Letter from the Coalition for National Science Funding requesting more funding for the National Science Foundation in the FY2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill. (Nov. 12, 2014)
  • Letter urging strong support to make cancer research and biomedical science a national priority by providing funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute in FY 2015. (May 29, 2014)
  • Letter urging support for university-­based research and education. (April 28, 2014)
  • Letter from the Office of Federal Relations to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., outlining the university's programmatic priorities for FY15. (March 19, 2014)
  • Letter from Coalition for National Science Funding expressing concerns with H.R. 4186, the Frontiers in Research, Science, Technology (FIRST) Act of 2014. (March 12, 2014 )
  • Letter from the Coalition for National Security Research expressing concerns about the potential relocation of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research from its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. (Jan. 29, 2014)

2013

  • Letter from United for Medical Research urging support for eliminating sequestration and supporting medical research at the National Institutes of Health. (Nov. 14, 2013)
  • Letter urging support for continuing funding for Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy. (June 26, 2013)
  • Letter from the Office of Federal Relations to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., outlining the university's programmatic priorities for FY14. (April 1, 2013)
  • Letter from Ad Hoc Group-led community to all Members of Congress expressing concern about the impact of continued cuts to National Institutes of Health. (Feb. 11, 2013)