APLU Statement on the House FY2017 Budget Proposal

Washington, DC – Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) President Peter McPherson today released the following statement regarding the FY2017 budget proposal being considered before the House Budget Committee.

“The FY2017 House budget falls significantly short of the robust investment in research and higher education that has long proven vital to American competiveness. There has been some recent progress, but today’s proposal potentially undermines the effort to deal with a looming innovation deficit.

“The United States faces fierce global competition and cutting non-defense discretionary spending threatens to put the American economy at a competitive disadvantage. Inadequate funding in the House proposal comes as our competitors abroad strengthen investment in their future through research and higher education.

“To be sure, addressing the nation’s long-term fiscal challenges will prove key to ensuring that our nation remains the world’s leading economy. But we cannot afford to do so in a way that imperils the innovation advantage that has allowed the United States to maintain the world’s leading economy for well over a century.”