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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHERS ACT
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HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 14, 2020
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I am joined by my
colleagues, Representatives Lucas, Beyer, Garcia, Lipinski, Bonamici,
Tonko, and Cohen, in introducing the Supporting Early-Career
Researchers Act.
Our nation's research enterprise is reeling from the unprecedented
disruptions caused by the COVID-19 crisis. To slow the spread of the
virus, universities across the country have been forced to cancel in-
person classes and shut down campus operations. And today, six months
into this crisis and with no relief in sight, universities are once
again faced with impossible decisions about the upcoming academic year.
I want to thank universities for their commitment to doing their part
to slow the spread of the virus and for their commitment to ensuring
the safety of their students, faculty, and staff. In the absence of
clear guidance or a national strategy from this Administration,
universities have stepped up to donate personal protective equipment,
reconfigure laboratory space and equipment for COVID-19 research,
institute social distancing measures, transition to remote education,
provide for testing and contact tracing, and accommodate the needs of
international students.
These actions, while laudable, have come at a cost. The full extent
of the financial loss incurred by universities during this crisis is
unknowable at this point. Recent surveys of university presidents
conducted by the American Council of Education reveal that short- and
long-term financial viability are pressing concerns. And, in order to
stave off catastrophe, many universities have instituted hiring freezes
and cancelled new faculty hires.
I am deeply concerned about the disappearance of STEM job
opportunities and the potential long-term consequences for our STEM
pipeline. For established researchers, the COVID-19 crisis has severely
limited their access to their laboratory space. But for early career
researchers, these disruptions come at a critical juncture in their
research career, threatening to derail their career path.
Even in normal times, postdoctoral research positions provide little
job security, with most postdocs employed on two-year contracts. Now
that the research job market has severely contracted, postdocs find
themselves in a truly precarious position. Many of them may be forced
to abandon their career path altogether in order to support themselves
and their families.
The Supporting Early-Career Researchers Act establishes a $250
million postdoctoral fellowship pilot program at the National Science
Foundation. This program would provide a much-needed bridge to help
early career researchers weather this storm and prevent a permanent
loss of STEM talent our nation can ill afford. I look forward to moving
this bill quickly and working with my colleagues on the Appropriations
committee to ensure it is funded.
____________________