Yesterday, thirty U.S. Senators joined in a bipartisan letter to leadership calling for $26 billion in relief for federally funded research projects, impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, in the next relief package. The effort was led by Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) and mirrors an effort in the House that was supported by 182 representatives last week.The $26 billion would provide for cost supplementals for research grants and contracts, emergency relief to sustain research support personnel and base operating costs for core research facilities, and additional graduate student and postdoc fellowships, traineeships, and research assistantships.

The Senate and House are expected to develop the next phase of COVID-19 relief legislation over the course of this month.

Markey Press Release