For Immediate Release April 17, 2014

Contact: Michelle Bretscher 614.225.6908

Columbus Chamber Joins New National Business Coalition on Federal Research

Columbus, OH Recognizing that cuts to federal research budgets threaten innovation and economic growth, the Columbus Chamber today announced that it has joined with 32 other Chambers of Commerce to date from across the country to form Business for Federal Research Funding, a new coalition advocating for strong research funding growth in the federal budget. Federal investment in research is fueling the creation of jobs in the Columbus Region, said Michael Dalby, president and CEO, Columbus Chamber. Partners like Battelle Memorial Institute, Chemical Abstracts and the top research university in the country, The Ohio State University, help keep our business community competitive in the global economy. The FY15 budget appropriations process is now underway. Beginning with this process, the coalition will argue that the federal accounts which are responsible for dispersing research funds should receive funding increases. These increases should be at a steady rate above inflation each year. The coalition will focus these increases on key agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Departments of Defense, Energy and Homeland Security. The federal government has played a major role in funding research efforts that have led to significant scientific breakthroughs and new technologies, from the Internet to communications satellites and defenses against disease. Nearly 60 percent of funding for basic scientific research in the United States is provided by the federal government. Innovations that flow from universitybased basic research are at the root of countless companies, products, technologies, innovations and jobs. In 2013, in response to the budget standoff in Washington, Congress enacted across-the-board sequestration cuts that included reductions in research spending. The recently enacted FY14 budget provided an important measure of relief to research accounts by partially restoring those cuts, yet the road ahead is still challenging. Inflation has eroded the purchasing power of research funding gains made in the past decade, and funding levels for FY15 will be determined within a discretionary spending cap that is set to increase by less than 0.2 percent over FY14. This will not enable the level of funding necessary to maximize research investments. Business for Federal Research Funding represents a strong cross-section of the nations business community, with broad geographic diversity among its members. Coalition members seek to bring increased focus on the critical impact that federal research dollars have on the longterm growth prospects of the nations economy. The Chambers who make up Business for Federal Research Funding will engage in lobbying and advocacy efforts with members of Congress and the Administration; use communications activities to raise awareness among key business and government stakeholders, and the general public; and coordinate strategy to maximize the collective impact of efforts to increase federal research funding. A full list of coalition members is below and available online, along with additional information about Business for Federal Research Funding.

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Business for Federal Research Funding Members: Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce San Diego Chamber of Commerce San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Bridgeport Regional Business Council The Business Council of Fairfield County Georgia Chamber Greater Des Moines Partnership Topeka Chamber of Commerce Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce The New England Council Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce St. Louis Regional Chamber Fayetteville Regional Chamber Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce MID Jersey Chamber of Commerce Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Columbus Chamber of Commerce Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce CEO Council for Growth Greater Providence Chamber Texas Association of Business Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Greater Richmond Chamber Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce ### About the Columbus Chamber The Columbus Chamber provides connections, resources and solutions to help businesses thrive. Founded 130 years ago, the Columbus Chamber has evolved to become the largest business services organization and primary advocate for the Columbus Region business community. Leveraging a customized, consultative approach to support members that range from small businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises, the Columbus Chamber is helping to grow the Columbus Region economy one business at a time. For more information, visit columbus.org. AL CA CA CO CT CT GA IA KA KA KA MA MA, RI, CT, VT, NH, ME MI MN MO, IL NC NC NC NE NJ NY NY OH OK PA PA PA, NJ, DE RI TX TX VA VA WI