The following opinion piece appeared in the Oregonian on Sunday, Dec. 1.

By Ed Ray, Michael Gottfredson,
Wim Wiewel and Joe Robertson

It is time to reinvest in innovation and higher education. The financial ropes of sequestration that constrained federal funding for research and education have bound our economy long enough. Congress must act now to end the severe cuts that threaten Oregonians' ability to innovate, access higher education and prosper.

House and Senate budget leaders will soon be working to craft a new federal budget agreement for fiscal year 2014. These leaders should make eliminating sequestration their first priority. This includes restoring federal funding to higher education for important research initiatives. Allowing these severe reductions to continue would have a profound negative impact on the programs and opportunities that matter greatly to our students and our universities. (READ MORE)