National higher education and research groups have written to the Hill to urge inclusion of $26B in the next recover package to cover research impacts. The APLU, AAU, ACE, AAMC letter states that "supplemental funds should be used:
- to cover requests for research grant and contract supplements (i.e., cost extensions) due to COVID-19 related impacts, including the need for additional salary support and/or research related ramp-up costs associated with a particular grant, contract or cooperative agreement;
- for emergency relief to sustain research support personnel and base operating costs for core research facilities and user-funded research services until such time facilities reopen and research activities return to pre-pandemic activity levels; and
- to fund additional graduate student and postdoc fellowships, traineeships, and research assistantships for up to two years. Graduate students who could not complete their degrees due to pandemic related impacts should be given priority for graduate fellowships and other forms of support so they can complete their research and degrees. This would greatly aid new doctoral degree recipients and postdocs needing additional time to complete their research and stay employed."
