Advocacy Corps Meets with Senator Schumer’s Staff to Advocate for Federal Research Funding

Members of Stony Brook University’s Advocacy Corps recently met virtually with U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer’s Long Island (LI) Regional Director Adam Hornbuckle and LI Deputy Regional Director Joselyn Mejia, an SBU alumna.

During the meeting, Advocacy Corps thanked Senator Schumer for being a longstanding champion of science research and urged the Senator to prioritize the timely passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) federal appropriations bills to ensure researchers across the nation, including those at Stony Brook, have the stable and predictable funding needed to continue their groundbreaking work.

The group’s primary focus during the meeting was to emphasize the need to avoid a full-year continuing resolution (CR), a scenario that would extend current funding levels into the next fiscal year. While CRs avoid a government shutdown, they have significant drawbacks, particularly for research and development initiatives. The Stony Brook students stressed that a CR would severely hamper research progress, making it difficult for universities to plan projects and for researchers to pursue long-term goals. Without the assurance of full appropriations for critical science and technology programs, researchers face uncertainty and disruption, especially when it comes to large, complex projects that require substantial, predictable funding.

In addition to urging the Senator to work with his congressional colleagues to pass FY25 appropriation bills, the Advocacy Corps made a strong case for robust FY26 federal funding. They called for increased support for science agencies including the Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Energy (DOE), noting the research these agencies fund is critical to ensuring America’s national security, economic development, and global leadership in research and development.

As budget discussions in Washington continue, the Advocacy Corps remains committed to advocating for Stony Brook researchers to have the resources they need to keep pushing the boundaries of science and innovation. Stony Brook Advocacy Corps is organized by SBU’s Office of Federal Relations, which works closely with the New York congressional delegation, federal agencies, and the Administration to advance the federal priorities of Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Medicine.