Comment from Mauiro Rodriguez

[200.205, 200.340] To Whom it May Concern: My name is Mauro Rodriguez, I am an assistant professor in engineering working in the area of fluid dynamics. I am writing in my personal capacity to oppose the proposed revisions to sections 200.205 and 200.340 that would undermine the integrity of federal grant review processes and federal science agencies' ability to identify and fund impactful research. My fundamental research projects may be shut down despite being approved through a scientific review. Thus, this would limit my ability to produce research outcomes that benefit the protection of the American warfighter, further advance therapies to treat pathogenic tissues (e.g., cancer), and/or investigate fluid mechanics in the human body (e.g., blood through arteries and cerebrospinal fluid in the brain). Significant research productivity may be delayed, if not stopped, and graduate students would be unable to continue their educational training towards being part of the American workforce. This rule would undermine the evaluation process that the current scientific community undergoes to align with the national priorities to fund projects that produce valuable results for Americans. The rule will lead to an unstable relationship between scientific researchers and federal agencies for funded projects which may delay, if not limit, American scientific innovation and competitiveness.