Comment from Krista Capps

[200.205, 200.340] To Whom It May Concern: I am an associate professor of ecology at the University of Georgia. I am writing in my personal capacity to oppose the proposed revisions to sections 200.205 and 200.340, which would undermine the integrity of federal grant review processes and the ability of federal science agencies to identify and fund impactful research. In addition to disrupting long-term data collection and water quality monitoring, my greatest concern is the loss of jobs and opportunities for the students and early-career scientists who are hired as part of my team. At any time, this could affect the immediate employment, health insurance, and future employment opportunities of multiple U.S. citizens. Additionally, my research has been used to support water management allocation decisions at the local, regional, and state levels in Georgia. Because of my work, I was asked to serve on a panel of experts to support decision-making about how Georgia would use federal funds to invest in water infrastructure repair and construction after Hurricane Helene. Although my federal grants were used to collect data about basic science, the work we completed has extensive applications for the quality of water in rivers in Georgia. This is the information that allowed me to answer questions for decision-makers. I am very concerned because, as an associate professor at a land-grant and sea-grant institution, an essential part of my job is to support the people of Georgia and the broader United States by creating new knowledge to answer pressing environmental questions. I believe this rule will impede the ability of professors to serve as resources in times of need, such as after the devastation caused by storms like Hurricane Helene.