January 26, 2011

APS Commends President Obama’s Commitment to Investment in Scientific Research During State of the Union Address

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 increasing scientific research and innovation and improving education are crucial to our nation’s long-term economic growth.

The President rightly stated that, in order for the U.S. to remain globally competitive, the country must “out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world.”

APS agrees, as the President also stated, that deficit reduction is essential to strengthening the nation’s economy and to ensuring a good standard of living for future generations of Americans. However, predictable and sustained federal investments in research and education are critical to keeping the U.S. competitive in the face of increased global competition.

For more than half a century, new investments in science and technology have 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 and jobs for all Americans.

As Congress begins a robust debate on how to reduce the deficit, APS strongly encourages bipartisan support for greater investment in scientific research—a proven strategy for economic growth and sustainable job creation.