NPI applauds announcement of Congressional Optics & Photonics Caucus

The National Photonics Initiative, a broad-based collaborative alliance among industry, academia, and government to raise awareness of optics, photonics and quantum science and technology, applauded the announcement of a new Congressional Optics & Photonics Caucus. The bipartisan, bicameral Caucus will be chaired by Representatives Joe Morelle (D-NY) and Brian Mast (R-FL) and Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Steve Daines (R-MT). It will also serve as a Congressional voice for the advancement of optics and photonics as well as a bridge to administration offices focused on workforce development and research and development in this dynamic area of discovery.

“The National Photonics Initiative strongly supports the formation of the Congressional Optics & Photonics Caucus and applauds the efforts of Representatives Morelle and Mast and Senators Sinema and Daines for their leadership as Chairs,” said Ed White, Chair of the NPI Steering Committee and Vice President Test, Assembly and Packaging for AIM Photonics. “This Caucus will be a valuable tool for members and staff seeking to learn more about the dynamic possibilities of optics and photonics. It will also give our community a stronger voice in Congress as we work to educate policymakers on the many ways optics and photonics can be used to confront challenges ranging from health care delivery to agriculture to infrastructure development. We look forward to working with the Caucus members in their effort to increase the federal use of optics and photonics applications on issues of importance to the U.S.”