American Geological Institute

Government Affairs Program

CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ALERT

AGI Seeks Participants for Science-Engineering-Technology Congressional Visits Day, April 21-22, 1999

Posted: February 2, 1999; Action Completed April 22, 1999

Update: A summary of the 1999 Congressional Visits Day activities is aviable in the July 1999 Geotimes.

This update was originally sent out as an e-mail message to AGI's member societies.

The American Geological Institute (AGI) would like to see a strong contingent of geoscientists come to Washington to voice their support for federal investment in science and technology as part of the fourth annual Science-Engineering-Technology Congressional Visits Day (CVD). Last year, more than 250 scientists and engineers from academia and industry attended, including 15 geoscientists. This year, CVD will be held April 21-22, 1999, consisting of an opening day of briefings by key administration and congressional leaders followed by a day of constituent meetings with senators, representatives, and their staff.

We need your help to identify geoscientists who would be interested in participating in the event. We especially encourage the leadership of AGI's Member Societies to attend. CVD is organized by the Science-Engineering-Technology Work Group (of which AGI is a participant) and the Coalition for Technology Partnerships to educate science and technology decisionmakers within Congress through visits with key congressional officials and their staffs. Participants in the CVD are asked to carry forward two core messages:

Federal investment in science and technology is important for the Nation.
Partnerships between government, universities, and industries mean progress, economic growth, and jobs.

Although the event is separate from efforts by AGI and other scientific societies to double the federal investment in research (see www.agiweb.org/gap/legis106/doubling99.html for more information), it provides a valuable opportunity to raise the visibility of this issue on the Hill. In addition, participants can advance their own messages about programs that they see as valuable examples of the federal S&T enterprise.

AGI believes that it is vital for geoscientists to be represented in science-community efforts if the geosciences are to be a recognizable (and valuable) element in the congressional view of "science". For anyone interested in science policy, this event should be a good deal of fun and a great opportunity to have your voice heard in Washington. Please pass this message along to anyone you feel might be interested.

If this event appeals to you, and you would be interested in coming to Washington, please let us know by e-mail at govt@agiweb.org or phone to Dave or Kasey at (703) 379-2480 or fax (703) 379-7563. More information is also available on the CVD website www.agiweb.org/cvd. A summary of the 1998 Congressional Visits Day is available in the May 1998 Geotimes and on the AGI website at www.agiweb.org/legis105/cvdnote.html.

Alert Contributed by Kasey Shewey White, AGI Government Affairs

Please send any comments or requests for information to the AGI Government Affairs Program.

Uploaded February 2, 1999; Action Completed April 22, 1999

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