Elected leaders representing Boulder and Colorado in Congress have assembled a bipartisan coalition of nearly 80 lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate to push for continued funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research, whose main labs are in Boulder.
The coalition is led by U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, a Lafayette Democrat; U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, a Republican of Grand Junction; and Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, both Colorado Democrats.
About 80 lawmakers signed a letter dated on Monday and addressed to congressional appropriations committee members, requesting statutory language be included in a 2026 funding bill to oppose NCAR’s dismantling and ensure it can maintain its capabilities.
“Continued investment will ensure that NCAR can maintain its core capabilities and continue delivering practical, high-value outcomes that support economic resilience, public safety, and informed decision-making nationwide,” the letter read. “Funding for NCAR is essential to maintaining America’s leadership in global weather forecasting and to protecting our economy, our communities, and the everyday livelihoods of families across the nation.”
The letter comes in response to the Trump administration’s announcement that it intends to dismantle NCAR. It also doubles down on demands made by Bennet and Hickenlooper when they held up a Senate spending package to demand full funding for NCAR on Thursday evening.
“I’m grateful to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper for taking critical action last week to stand up for NCAR’s continued funding, and I’m proud to work with my Republican colleague from the Western Slope, Jeff Hurd, to carry the baton in the House,” Neguse said in a release. “As Coloradans, first and foremost, we intend to fight back against attempts to gut this cutting-edge institution.”
On Dec. 17, the National Science Foundation announced its intent to restructure critical weather science infrastructure, including reviewing the “structure of the research and observational capabilities” under NCAR.
Officials at NCAR did not offer any comment to the Daily Camera on the letter.
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