Comment from Sarbani Basu

[200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, 200.450] To Whom it May Concern: I am a professor of astronomy. 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. I am a member of several professional organizations. Each of them has helped me broaden my network and know potential students and post-docs. They have been instrumental in broadening my knowledge base. Scientific conferences are places where one hears of cutting-edge research and also where one forms new collaborations. It is impossible to know ahead of time which conference will be useful. The flexibility that we have today allows us to pick the one that is most suited for us. To paraphrase a well-known statement, new science is built by standing on the shoulders of others. This means having access to all research results. Without this, most of us will simply be repeating work that has already been done. Over my career, I have published over 300 peer-reviewed papers. Sharing the results of the research has helped be reach the position I am in today. These days, much of my research is done with my students, and publishing, and publicizing, their results are essential for their careers. Not being able to access means of publication, which is what the new rules would do, would be detrimental to all scientists and devastating. US science.