Science Policy

Landslide Science: Nation Wide Risk Reduction Applications
The Congressional Hazards Caucus and Hazards Caucus Alliance are holding a congressional briefing on landslide risks and mitigation on Friday, 7 June 2019.

Register by 29 April for the 25th Annual CNSF Exhibition & Reception taking place on Tuesday, 30 April 2019, in Washington, D.C.

Put Your Science Into Action at the Geoscience and Society Summit
Cosponsored by GSA, the Geoscience and Society Summit will create a forum using scientific information to tackle global and local challenges around sustainability of natural resources and systems, global health, and resilience.

Geologic Data Preservation Program Makes Bicameral Progress
The National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program has been without authorization since 2010, but newly-introduced legislation may change that.

Administration Releases Critical Minerals Strategy
The Trump Administration released A Federal Strategy to Ensure a Reliable Supply of Critical Minerals on 4 June 2019. The strategy assesses the supply chain of critical minerals and identifies ways to strengthen the supply chain.

House Attempts to Block Proposed Reorganization and Relocation of the U.S. Geological Survey
On 25 June 2019, the House passed the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill includes report language that prohibits the proposed reorganization and blocks an attempt to relocate staff of the USGS away from the Washington, D.C. area.

Concerns Raised About Changes to Open Access Policies
GSA, as part of a coalition of 60 scientific societies, issued a letter expressing deep concern over changes proposed to the federal policy governing the open distribution of published journal articles containing federally funded research.

Letter to Congressional Leaders on FY2020 Spending
Noting "the uncertainty created by short and long-term continuing resolutions (CRs) has severe consequences for science and research," 162 organizations, including GSA, signed a letter asking Congress to complete the FY 2020 appropriations process.

Future Climate Research Needs
GSA joined 10 other scientific societies to submit comments to the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on scientific research and assessment needs.