The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy

March 24, 2017

5 Things to Know About the New House Earth & Space Science Caucus

What is a caucus and why is it important? A caucus is a way for members of Congress to show support or interest in an issue outside of the committees on which they serve. Some caucus are well-known such as the Congressional Black Caucus or the Oceans Caucus. The Earth & Space Science (ESS) Caucus seeks to increase understanding amongst Congress of the sciences’ impact on policy and to facilitate …

March 16, 2017

WHITE HOUSE BUDGET’S PROPOSED CUTS JEOPARDIZE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND SECURITY

Editor’s Note: This blog post was cross-posted from From The Prow, a blog by AGU leadership. The White House recently released its budget proposing the following cuts: 31% cut to EPA’s budget including a 20% reduction of EPA staff Up to a 15% cut to USGS 2% reduction to DOE’s budget including the elimination of the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) 8% cut to NASA overall; including a 6.3% …

March 15, 2017

You Spoke, We Listened: Science Legislation Update Part 2

After our previous post on science legislation being considered in the new Congress, we heard from you that having these types of posts is useful. Today, we will give you an overview of some new science-related legislation that is up for consideration. NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 (S.442)—Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): An updated version of last Congress’s House and Senate bills of the same name, the bill was negotiated …

March 2, 2017

Amidst Cabinet Nominations, Congress Considers Science Legislation

The 115th Congress is now in full swing. With the flurry of cabinet nominations being considered, it’s easy to miss the legislation that has been or is being considered in Congress. In this blog post, we will give you an overview of some of the science-related legislation that is up for consideration or has recently been passed. Department of Energy Research & Innovation Act (H.R. 589)—Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX): The …

February 15, 2017

Ask Your Members of Congress to Support Science Investment

Editor’s Note: This blog post was cross-posted from From The Prow, a blog by AGU leadership. Over the past few weeks, many of you have expressed an interest in becoming more involved in science policy. We’ve discussed opportunities in the past for you to engage under a new Administration and Congress in “The Shifting Landscape of Science” post and this is another element of that effort. Each year, AGU weighs in on …

February 14, 2017

Transition, Nominations, and the State of Science

Way to go science supporters! Our petition to “Bring Science to the White House” has officially reached 10,000 signatures! The petition urges President Trump to appoint a Scientific Advisor with a strong scientific background who understands the rigorous scientific method, the need for evidence-based science, the value of scientific research in shaping America’s future, and who can leverage the collaborative nature of the scientific community. We at AGU want to …

February 8, 2017

Congress Takes Notice of Scientific Integrity

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) and 26 other Senators recently introduced S.338, legislation that aims to promote and protect scientific integrity. The bill contains language that would require the Directors of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish policies to protect scientists and the scientific endeavor, including preventing the intentional and unintentional tampering of data and safeguarding open communication of …

January 30, 2017

AGU, GSA Respond to Immigration Ban’s Impact on Science

Today, AGU and the Geological Society of America (GSA) responded to President Trump’s Executive Order “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,” that restricts entrance to the U.S. for citizens from seven countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen). The full statement is included below: AGU and GSA Respond to President Trump’s Executive Order: “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United …

January 19, 2017

Farewell, President Obama.

After eight years, it’s time to say “farewell” to President Barack Obama. As we witness the peaceful exchange of power, we will surely contemplate the new opportunities before us as we begin engaging a new Administration with new priorities. However, it’s also a time for reflection; a time to look back on President Obama’s time in office. There is one aspect of President Obama’s legacy in particular that has distinguished …

January 10, 2017

Fall Meeting: Did You Miss Science Policy 101?

Welcome to 2017 Bridge readers! Did you join us at Fall Meeting this year? The AGU Public Affairs team featured several sessions about how you as a scientist can get more involved in policy advocacy. One of these sessions was “Science Policy 101: A Field Guide to Congress”. We discussed how Congress works, what changes we can expect in the 115th Congress, and what the best methods are for being …