Comment from Jaime Sabel

[200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, 200.450] To Whom it May Concern: I am the Director of a Center for Life Sciences Education and an Associate Professor of Molecular Genetics 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. Professional societies are a crucial part of how scientists develop collaborations and get feedback on their work. Conferences are an important way to share work and receive feedback from experts in the field. They are also crucial as ways to interact with other scientists and are often the only time that collaborators are able to meet in person. Having access to the scientific record is imperative to understand what has already been studied and informs the questions and studies that follow. Publishing work is how I inform others of the findings our work produces and is a major factor in promotions within academia. This rule will severely limit the capabilities of scientists to build upon each others work and to collaborate to advance scientific understanding.