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In This Issue:
- APS Members Engage in Impactful Visits to Capitol Hill
- Science Agencies Funded After Historic 35-day Government Shutdown
- Nobel Laureates, science community leaders comment on harm to American science from the shutdown
- Fund Your Big Idea Through the Newly Launched APS Innovation Fund
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APS Unit leaders representing Texas—Carlos Bertulani (far left); Christina Markert (third from left); and Sally Hicks (far right)—met with Patrick Michaels (second from left) concerning science policy issues and their impact on the state.
APS Members Engage in Impactful Visits to Capitol Hill
In this month’s edition, we are thrilled to report that the 2019 Congressional Visits Day (CVD) was a huge success! On a mission to advocate on critical issues to the physics community, about 60 APS Unit leaders braved the polar vortex that blanketed Capitol Hill during the Society’s first CVD of the new year.
Representing 25 states across the country, volunteers visited nearly 100 congressional offices to advocate for: supporting federally funded scientific research; requesting action on climate change; rebuilding America’s research infrastructure; promoting legislation to address sexual harassment in the sciences; and making the F-1 visa “dual intent” to enable international students to simultaneously study and apply for citizenship in the United States. The Unit leaders shared personal stories related to the issues and explained to staffers how those stories affected their congressional members’ districts and states.
Stacy Palen, physics professor and director of the Ott Planetarium at Weber University in Utah, had a good discussion about climate change with staffers representing U.S. Sens. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee, and U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop. She told them that the Hill Air Force Base, situated on a plateau in her state, is at risk because it is susceptible to flash floods, droughts, and wildfires due to climate change.
“The DoD report was very helpful in making the case that climate change is a national security issue,” Palen said. She added that staffers were amenable to her point and asked if they could follow up with her to gather more information.
Additionally, since APS’s CVD, five congressional members, who Society members met with, have signed on as co-sponsors of H.R. 36 – the Combatting Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2019.
Science Agencies Funded After Historic 35-day Government Shutdown
Science agencies hindered by the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history have now been funded through Sept. 30, 2019, following the signing of legislation by the president. The partial shutdown took a toll on the scientific enterprise: grants went unfunded; scientists failed to meet with collaborators; and projects were stalled or shuttered.
Under the FY19 funding bill, the Department of Energy’s Office of Science received a 5 percent increase; the National Science Foundation’s budget increased by 4 percent. For the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the agency’s Scientific & Technical Research & Services account remained flat with respect to FY18. For more information about the science agencies’ budgets, check out the Federal Science Budget Tracker compiled by the American Institute of Physics.
Nobel Laureates, science community leaders comment on harm to American science from the shutdown
In response to the 2018-19 partial government shutdown, prominent members of the scientific community wrote an open letter to the U.S. President and members of Congress, alerting them to the damage already caused and the dangers further shutdowns pose to the scientific enterprise. The letter was signed by 19 Nobel Laureates and 20 leaders of scientific organizations across many disciplines, including APS President David Gross and CEO Kate Kirby.
Fund Your Big Idea Through the Newly Launched APS Innovation Fund |
As part of the recently adopted APS Strategic Plan: 2019, APS has launched a new program—the APS Innovation Fund (IF)—to foster collaborative partnerships that support the interests of the physics community. APS members may submit proposals to work with APS staff in developing innovative activities in areas of public engagement, advocacy, education, diversity, and careers, among many others. Members should check their email inboxes for a message with details or visit the IF webpage.
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Be the Signal Above the Noise
Email the APS Office of Government Affairs (oga@aps.org)
to get involved.
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