1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

Colleges and universities are under attack. As a constituent, I urge you to do everything in your power to defend our institutions of higher learning. Universities like Tulane and LSU foster growth and innovation and produce the next generation of leaders and professionals. They are key to our democracy and attacks on them are illegal, unconstitutional, and Un-American. President Trump's policies have hurt universities and colleges. This is bad for the people of Louisiana. It must stop and you must stand up against it. First, threats to slash research funding harm the bottom line and halt crucial innovation. We rely on medical and scientific research for health and well being and it must be nurtured and protected. Second, attacks on academic freedom and free speech must be stopped. The removal and deportation of students for expressive political speech protected by the First Amendment is unacceptable. All individuals in the United States enjoy the right to Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression. The actions of the Trump administration hurt the United States and give America's critics ammunition to show we are not the home of free expression. It is also stupid as it will chill talented foreign students from accepting positions at U.S. universities. Third, the attempts at dismantling the Department of Education and shifting the massive portfolio of student loans to a small ill equipped agency will cause financial chaos for students and universities. It also undermines Congressional authority. Fourth, the unconstitutional attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility must stop. These attacks are viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment. They also compromise research that focuses on diverse populations and this will hurt your constituents. Louisiana has a significant population of African American people and refusing to fund research on Black maternal health will result in the deaths of mothers and children. Researchers must be free to address concerns related to diverse populations. Equity has been embedded in our law and tradition from the founding and the principle of equity is patriotic. Finally, the government must stop all unconstitutional attacks on Free Speech and Free Inquiry against faculty members and researchers. Universities and colleges thrive on free inquiry and experts in the field direct their energies to the places where problems are. They have devoted their lives to understanding where problems lie and how to address them. The process of becoming a researcher and faculty member typically requires a decade of training then another decade of probation. These are world class high level professionals and they do not deserve scorn and disrespect because the truth of their findings is inconvenient. The higher education system of the United States is the envy of the world. It makes American great. Our students and faculty must be protected from interference in that endeavor.