1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing to you today not just as a constituent, but as someone deeply concerned about the trajectory of our country’s scientific infrastructure and future competitiveness. The last two years have seen significant damage to our national research ecosystem, regulatory frameworks, and scientific funding streams. While I appreciate the institutional instinct to adhere to traditional legislative norms and decorum, now is not the time for one-way honoring of norms. When institutional rules and precedents are repeatedly redefined by the opposing side, adhering to unilateral restraint is not statesmanship—it is strategic disadvantage. To repair the damage done and protect our nation's long-term future, your caucus must adapt its operational strategy. You must leverage every existing procedural mechanism, legislative leverage point, and administrative framework currently available—including those established or expanded by the opposition—as the logistical foundation to achieve our goals. Specifically, I urge you to focus your immediate legislative and oversight strategy on: 1 Restoring and Safeguarding Science Funding: Reinvesting in basic and applied scientific research (NIH, NSF,Department of Energy Office of Science, NOAA) must be treated as a non-negotiable core priority, critical to national security, economic growth, and public health. 2 Aggressive Procedural Execution: Utilize every available legislative mechanism—budget reconciliation, strategic oversight hearings, statutory riders, and administrative leverage—to rebuild degraded programs and insulate them from future political interference. 3 Proactive Agenda Setting: Rather than operating purely in defense, use existing statutory authority and appropriations leverage to fund vital research initiatives, restore displaced scientists, and modernize key research infrastructure. The stakes are too high for passive governance. We need leadership willing to meet the political realities of the moment with tactical discipline, strategic creativity, and unrelenting resolve. I look forward to seeing your leadership on these critical issues and urge you to act with the urgency this moment demands.