[Todos CMAT] [grassroots] AMS Grassroots Action Alert: Ask Congress to Avoid Deep Cuts to Science and Education (fwd)

[Dr. Roberto Markarian - IMERL]

RECIB'I ESTO QUE PARECE INTERESANTE Y EVENTUALMENTE
DRAM'ATICO PARA ALGUNOS. RM

Reply-To: do-not-reply en ams.org
To: roma en fing.edu.uy
Cc: Grass Roots <grassroots en ams.org>

Dear Colleagues,

Please consider signing on to a letter urging Congress to avoid a January
budget sequestration, which would have dramatic negative impacts on U.S.
domestic programs, including science and education.  The letter, which
was developed by the Ecological Society of America (ESA), the American
Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), and the American Mathematical
Society (AMS), asks that Congress devise a bipartisan solution to
addressing the nation?s debt crisis and avoid draconian cuts that will
hurt the economy and the nation?s future, and do nothing to stave off the
fiscal crisis. 

AIBS, AMS and ESA were among 3,000 organizations that signed on to a
letter to Congress urging a balanced approach to deficit reduction.  Now
it?s vitally important that Members of Congress hear from you, their
constituents.  To weigh in on this important issue, please click here  to
go to the AIBS Legislative Action Center where you will be able to
personalize the letter, which will then be sent to your congressional
delegation. 

==============================================

BACKGROUND:

On January 2, 2013, automatic cuts (?sequestration?) will take place
unless Congress and the Administration take steps to prevent them.  This
has to do with the national debt: nearly 1/3 of U.S. spending is borrowed
and debt is set to skyrocket in the coming decades if reforms don?t
happen.  Health care costs are the primary driver of the nation?s debt.

The Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25) established caps on
discretionary spending over 10 years, which will result in nearly $1
trillion in cuts spread across discretionary programs.  Discretionary
programs are those that Congress funds annually through the
appropriations process and include both defense and non-defense
programs.  Non-defense discretionary (NDD) programs include medical and
scientific research, education and job training, infrastructure, public
safety and health, environmental protection and social services, among
many others.

The Budget Control Act also directed a congressional ?Super Committee? to
find an additional $1.2 trillion in savings over 10 years.  The committee
failed to reach a deal, triggering the ?sequester? to take effect on
January 2 of next year.  These cuts will be across-the-board and,
assuming Congress and the White House sign a Continuing Resolution into
law that would keep federal agencies funded at current, fiscal year 2012
levels, then NDD faces a cut of at least 8 percent.

Although the sequester would delay the federal debt from reaching 100
percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by two years, this short
extension would come at a high cost.  Sequestration is projected to cost
the economy over 1 million jobs in 2013 and 2014.

AIBS has prepared a short report that explains sequestration and the
fiscal cliff, and details the possible impacts on research and science
education.

A PowerPoint presentation on sequestration by the Bipartisan Policy
Center gives additional information on this issue, including a chart that
shows how states will be negatively impacted by sequestration.

A report by the Aerospace Industries Association showcases how many jobs
will be lost per state (Table 3, pages 9 and 10).  Please consider adding
the information about your state to the letter.

AIBS, AMS, and ESA were among 3,000 organizations that signed on to a
letter  urging a balanced approach to deficit reduction.  Now it?s
vitally important that Members of Congress hear from their constituents.

For questions or further information please contact AMS Associate
Executive Director Sam Rankin (smr en ams.org)

Samuel M. Rankin, III, Ph.D.
Associate Executive Director
American Mathematical Society
1527 Eighteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC  20036
Phone:  202-588-1100
FAX:  202-588-1853
EMAIL:  smr en ams.org

 

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