Comments and Support Letters signed by SPIE

SPIE works with organizations, companies, and coalitions to bring a unified voice to issues of importance to the optics and photonics community

Read the letters and comments SPIE sends in support of the optics and photonics community


FY26 NIST Stakeholder Support letter

For FY26 appropriations, we urge increased investment in NIST’s core laboratory research programs in the STRS account at a minimum of four percent plus inflation. Additionally, we urge Congress to appropriate $200 million for NIST facilities.

Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)

On behalf of the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) – an alliance of more than 140 professional organizations, scientific societies, universities, and businesses united in our advocacy for the National Science Foundation (NSF) – we write to respectfully request that your committees provide at least $9.9 billion for NSF in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.

Energy Sciences Coalition

The United States must maintain its leadership in science, technology and innovation globally. The DOE Office of Science plays a pivotal and leading role in addressing our country’s energy and national security challenges. For these reasons, we urge Congress to provide $9.5 billion for the Office of Science in FY 2026.

Australian and New Zealand Optical Society

New Zealand’s photonics-based industry sector accounts for around $1.5 billion of economic activity and employs around 4,700 people in 354 companies1 with an output comparable to the country’s fishing and aquaculture industries. We strongly believe in the critical role of scientific research across the entire economy of New Zealand. While acknowledging the prevailing budgetary constraints, we encourage you to boost the comparatively low level of public investment in scientific research.

Foundation for Standards and Metrology

Expressing support for the Expanding Partnerships for Innovation and Competitiveness Act to establish a Foundation for Standards and Metrology within the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST), providing a pathway to a more resilient future for the institute.