News Release

Additional Contacts:
Robert Gropp, Co-Chair, BESC, 202-628-1500; rgropp@aibs.orgNadine Lymn, Co-Chair, BESC,
202-833-8773; nadine@esa.org
Karl Glasener, Co-Chair, CoFARM, 202-408-5382; kglasener@agronomy.org  

WASHINGTON DC, APRIL 21, 2009 -- Two science coalitions will honor Representative Maurice Hinchey, a Democrat from New York’s 22^nd district, for his strong support for a national research portfolio that invests in all the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Nearly 30 biological and agricultural scientists from universities across the nation will honor his contributions to the nation’s research policy at a Capitol Hill reception this evening.

The Biological and Ecological Sciences Coalition (BESC) supports the goal of increasing the nation's investment in the biological sciences across all federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Coalition on Funding Agricultural Research Missions (CoFARM) works to raise awareness and support for federally funded agricultural research, especially research supported through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) competitive grants program.

“As a member of the both the House Agriculture and Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittees, Representative Hinchey both understands the importance of and has been a long-time champion for the agricultural and biological sciences,” said CoFARM Co-Chair Karl Glasener who also handles policy for the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. 

“Rep. Hinchey has long recognized the key role that all sciences play in addressing society’s challenges,” added BESC Co-Chair Nadine Lymn, who is also with the Ecological Society of America. “We make the best progress by broadly investing and integrating the results of all fields of science.” 

“Through his actions, Rep. Hinchey has demonstrated that he understands the best investment for the nation is one that funds all fields of scientific research” said Robert Gropp, who is Co-Chair of BESC and is also with the American Institute of Biological Sciences. 

Hinchey has been a strong advocate for the integrity of American agriculture, focusing on protecting the family farm and the safety of the food supply. He has long recognized and supported federally funded agricultural and biological research, both basic and applied, as an essential investment if the United States is to address the many challenges facing the nation including food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, renewable energy production and environmental protection. 

The Coalition on Funding Agricultural Research Missions(CoFARM) is a broadly based coalition united by a commitment to advance and sustain investment in our nation’s fundamental and applied agricultural research. Public investment in agricultural research has stagnated and may be inadequate to meet the challenges of the next century. Please visit www.cofarm.org for more information.

The Biological Ecological Sciences Coalition (BESC) is an alliance of organizations united by a concern for every aspect of the biology of the natural world, from agricultural systems to zoology. BESC supports the goal of increasing the nation’s investment in the non-medical biological sciences across all federal agencies including the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Department of Energy, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.  Please visit www.esa.org/besc.

The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America are members of both of these coalitions.