January 25, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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APS Commends President Obama's Commitment to Robust Funding of Scientific Research

State of the Union Address 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Physical Society (APS), the nation's largest organization of physicists, takes special note of President Obama's speech last night that basic scientific research and innovation are crucially intertwined and have led to new technologies, jobs and industries for America.

The President rightly stated that investment in research and innovation has yielded huge dividends for the nation.

"Support the same kind of research and innovation that led to the computer chip and the Internet, to new American jobs and new American industries," he urged Congress.  He further underscored the importance of research and innovation by stating that it was imperative that Congress not "gut these investments in our budget."

APS recognizes that the nation must tighten its fiscal belt in the face of mounting debt, but the Society also states that we must make research and innovation a priority to foster economic growth and sustainable job creation.  For more than half a century, robust funding of science and technology has provided the foundation for innovation and economic growth in our country. Innovations such as the Internet, GPS, MRI and laser have transformed the way we live and work, creating better lives for all Americans. 

To build a better America, one that enhances our national security, global competitiveness and energy security, APS strongly encourages bipartisan support for making research and innovation national priorities.  Together, they constitute a proven strategy for economic growth and sustainable job creation.