Comment from Gareth Eaton

[200.300, 200.218] To Whom it May Concern: I am a professor of Chemistry I am writing in my personal capacity to oppose the proposed revisions to sections 200.300 and 200.218 that would impede STEM recruitment and retention initiatives and restrict certain research fields vital to broadening participation in STEM. We provide opportunities for students from many backgrounds to learn science by participating in research in our lab. We do not discriminate on gender, ethnicity, country of origin, etc. We welcome all, which stimulates many to learn science who might otherwise be turned away. Any restriction would cut a large fraction of the research in my lab. A person without science background might react negatively to the emphasis in our work on the study of radicals. It sound silly to say this, but there was a time when we were prevented from publishing a paper because people who should be acknowledged we afraid to have their name associated with radicals (a molecular species!) Some types of medical science absolutely need to pay more attention to categories of people, and reaching these people requires recruiting member of various minority or special interest groups. Without such people doing research new people in these categories will be dissuaded from joining the STEM workforce.