Comment from Rachel Pries

[200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, 200.450] To Whom it May Concern: I am a professor in mathematics. I am writing in my personal capacity to oppose the proposed revisions to sections 200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, and 200.450 that would restrict typical professional expenses, curtail the communication of scientific results, and place excessive scrutiny on the activities of scientists. The AMS and AWM supported my career for decades and now play a primary role in supporting my graduate students. They organize conferences where I met mentors and interviewed for jobs, gave talks about my research, and started new collaborations. Scientific conferences are the professional laboratory for mathematicians. It is where we report on progress, brainstorm new ideas, and develop new research topics. When I apply for a grant, the locations of future conferences are still not known. Sometimes I need to go to an unexpected conference to learn a new technique. I use scientific databases every day to learn about techniques and results in the scientific record. Every week I read foundational results from old papers (like the 1970s) and recent results from the past year. Having access to the scientific record is a crucial need for me to make progress with any project. Math publications take a long time to finish. In the last year, I finished two major projects that I had worked on for 5 years. These are major results that will be referenced for decades. I also finished some smaller projects. Being able to share results is how mathematics improves over time. I am concerned that research will slow down if this rule is implemented.