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Communicate!Contact your member of Congress about earth science and environmental issues. Visit your representative at his or her district office or in Washington, D.C. This is an excellent opportunity to share your scientific expertise and ensure that the geoscience community is being represented on Capitol Hill! Find supporting information and materials on these Web sites:
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| GPP News Archive |
| Position Statement Development Process |
Geology & Public Policy
G&PP News
[ 10 June 2009 ]
President Proposes 5% Budget Increase for U.S. Geological Survey
Pesident Obama's budget request for the U.S. Geological Survey would increase the agency's budget by $54 million to $1.098 billion in fiscal year 2010. In contrast to previous administrations, President Obama has not proposed budget cuts to USGS programs that are known to be popular in Congress, such as the mineral resources program, the water resources research institutes, and the earthquake hazards research grants program. The USGS budget request would provide $21 million for inflationary increases in "fixed costs" such as salary and rent, but most programs would not recieve additional budget increases. Budget increases are proposed for Secretarial Initiatives in climate change ($22 million), energy ($3 million) and youth conservation corps ($2 million). Budget increases are also proposed for the national stream gage network ($5 million), arctic ecosystem studies ($4 million), staffing for biology cooperative research units ($2 million), extended continental shelf studies ($1 million), and sustainable energy development ($0.7 million). The budget request would eliminate unrequested increases in funding that were inserted by Congress in the current fiscal year.
GSA testified before Congress in support of increased funding for the U.S. Geological Survey.
[ GSA's congressional testimony ]
[ 18 May 2009 ]
Geosciences Garner Highest Growth Rate in NSF Budget Request
President Obama’s first budget request for the National Science Foundation (NSF) would give the Geosciences Directorate the highest growth rate among NSF’s research directorates — $909 million, an increase of 12.6% above FY 2009. GSA testified before Congress in support of increased funding for the National Science Foundation.
[ learn more | GSA's congressional testimony ]
[ 27 April 2009 ]
Obama Delivers Major Address on Science
President Barack Obama outlined his policies for science and science education in a major speech at the National Academy of Sciences. He said, "Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been."
[ text of President Obama's speech ]
[ 15 April 2009 ]
2009–2010 GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellow Selected
GSA is pleased to announce that Mark Little has been selected as the GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellow for 2009–2010. Dr. Little received his B.A. in environmental geochemistry from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in geochemistry from Rice University. He was a Luce Scholar in the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences at Peking University, and is currently conducting postdoctoral research at Duke University.
[ 15 April 2009 ]
GSA Testifies in Support of Geoscience Funding
On 2 April, GSA urged Congress to appropriate an 8% funding increase for the
National Science Foundation (NSF) in FY2010. "Substantial increases in federal funding for earth science research are needed to ensure the health, vitality, and security of society and for stewardship of Earth," said GSA Director for Geoscience Policy, Craig Schiffries. GSA has also been invited to testify before Congress on 23 April in support of increased funding for the U.S. Geological Survey.
[ read testimony ]
[ 15 April 2009 ]
National Geologic Mapping Act Reauthorized
GSA worked with congressional staff on drafting the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on 30 March 2009 as part of the omnibus public lands act.
[ 24 March 2009 ]
Speaker Pelosi Thanks Scientific Community at Congressional Science Exhibition
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) thanked the scientific community for its efforts to increase federal funding for science. Speaking at the 15th Annual Coalition for National Science Funding exhibition and recepition, Pelosi said, "If you want to know the agenda for this Congress, think of four words: science, science, science, science." She continued, "None of what we were able to do would have been possible without the mobilization of the outside scientific community." Pelosi was joined at the podium by other leading advocates for science, including Reps. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.), and Rush Holt (D-N.J.). GSA, AGI, and AGU hosted three earth science exhibits at the CNSF exhibition. Geoscientists had an opportunity to discuss their scientific research with members of Congress, NSF Director Arden Bement, and congressional staff. Nearly 300 people participated in this event.
[ 20 March 2009 ]
Join GSA Policycomnet
(see ad top right)
[ 26 Feb 2009 ]
President Obama releases outline of FY 2010 budget request to Congress
The request for NSF is $7 billion, an increase of approximately $510 million (8%) above the anticipated funding level for FY 2009, and about $950 million (16%) above FY 2008. Read the complete text of the NSF section of the President's budget document, "A New Era of Responsibility: Renewing American's Promise." The President is expected to release a more detailed budget request to Congress in April.
[ 23 Feb 2009 ]
Rep. David Obey, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, today introduced H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act. Under this bill, the USGS would receive $1.044 billion, an increase of $37 million (3.7%) compared to the FY 2008 enacted level. It appears that the bill would restore several large cuts in USGS programs proposed in the FY 2009 budget request submitted by President Bush.
- FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act
(USGS Section of Explanatory Statement) - USGS Funding in FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
[ 17 Feb 2009 ]
Geoscience-Related Investments in the Stimulus Package (AGI Special Update)
[ 12 Feb 2009 ]
Join Us for Congressional Visits in April and September
GSA members interested in participating should contact Craig Schiffries.
Click here for more CVD details.
[ 20 Jan 2009 ]
$10 billion for scientific research
House Democrats unveiled a two-year stimulus package worth $825 billion, including more than $10 billion for scientific research.
[ more details ]
Contact GSA's Washington D.C. office any time!
Craig M. Schiffries
Director for Geoscience Policy
Geological Society of America
1200 New York Avenue NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: +1-202-669-0466
[ click for map & directions ]
| "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." |
| — Margaret Mead |