On behalf of the EPSCoR/IDeA Coalition Dr. Christopher M. Lawson from the University of Alabama at Birmingham testified in front of the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies on March 22, 2012.

Congress established the EPSCoR program to ensure that research universities in all states participate in and benefit from Federal science and technology activities. Although EPSCoR states have 20% of the nation's population, and close to 25% of its doctoral research universities, these states only receive about 10% of the Federal research outlays. EPSCoR provides a mechanism to address these geographical imbalances. The program has been a huge success—investments have generated growth in state economies, attracted students into STEM fields, and created a broader base of research expertise available to the agencies to meet their missions.