Comment from Benjamin Frandsen

[200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, 200.450] To Whom it May Concern: I am an associate professor of physics with a research focus on quantum materials. 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. Membership in professional societies and associations is a crucial part of my ability to engage with the community, share my research results, learn from other research results, and establish fruitful collaborations. Scientific conferences provide one of the most important venues for fostering collaborations and disseminating key results. I have benefitted greatly from being able to select the most relevant and high-quality conferences to attend, allowing me to exchange findings with the most suitable scientific audience and establish productive collaborations. Without access to the scientific record, research progress would slow dramatically, leaving scientists isolated and unable to stay apprised of the latest discoveries in their field. Since starting my current position in 2018, I have published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles. Publishing these papers has directly led to obtaining tenure and promotion, receiving awards like the Department of Energy Early Career Award, and making an impact in my scientific field. Any rule changes that make it difficult or impossible for researchers to attend the most important conferences in their field and publish or access the scientific literature is likely to have a strong negative impact on research productivity in America, putting our nation's scientific leadership at risk.