On Thursday, November 14, leadership of Stony Brook University’s (SBU) Graduate Student Organization (GSO) met with New York Congressional staff in addition to Governor Cuomo’s federal relations staff in Washington, D.C. to advocate for increased funding for scientific research and the creation of policies to support green technologies. The GSO leadership team who attended the D.C. meetings included GSO President Xiaoqing Zhang, Secretary Jose Moscoso Nunez, and Policy Action Chair Jordan Young.
“It’s crucial that students and researchers urge Congress to increase federal funding for our major science agencies including the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and National Institutes of Health,” said Zhang. “Robust, long-term investments for scientific research is critical for researchers across the nation who work to grow our economy, discover new life saving treatments, and secure our country.”
GSO leadership met with the staff of Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Lee Zeldin, Rep. Tom Suozzi, and Governor Cuomo. In addition to discussing the necessity of robust federal support for science agencies, GSO leaders explained the importance of developing policies to incentivize the creation and growth of green technologies. “We would not have invested resources, personnel, and subsidies on film photography back in the early 2000’s knowing that digital cameras were on the verge of dominating the photography industry,” said Moscoso Nunez. “Similarly, we should not continue to invest in the fossil fuel industry as our energy source, knowing that the green revolution is happening, and that other nations are investing heavily in green technologies.”
Representing more than 8,000 SBU graduate students, GSO leadership is dedicated to advocating on all federal and state graduate student priorities. “Our advocacy day on Capitol Hill was imperative to conveying the federal interests and priorities of the graduate students at Stony Brook University to our leaders in Washington,” said Young. “The GSO looks forward to continuing our collaborations with federal, state, and university officials on increasing research funding, reforming immigration policies, and protecting the environments and communities in which our students live, work, and study.”
Stony Brook’s Office of Government Relations coordinated these meetings and continues to work closely with members of Congress on Stony Brook’s federal priorities.
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