Special Update: Congress to vote on STEM funding for NASA and the NSF today

Congress to vote on STEM funding for NASA and the NSF todayThe House of Representatives is voting on science funding of both NASA and the National Science Foundation, (the guys that pay my paycheck), today. If you like to read the bill, it can be found at::
http://docs.house.gov/meetings/SY/SY15/20140313/101907/BILLS-113HR4186ih-HR4186FrontiersinInnovationResearchScienceandTechnologyActof2014.pdf

If you'd like to contact your Congressperson to help out, +APS Physics has setup a handy 'find your congressman' app at

http://www.congressweb.com/apspa

I called my representiative, Bill Flores and spoke with a very helpful and friendly staffer. No fuss, no muss.

If you wonder what to say, the APS has ideas for you, read on for a sample email and phone call script:

Sample E-mail

Dear Representative X,

My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a physicist from [City, State] and a constituent of [Rep. Congressperson]. I work at [Institution] in [City, State].

I am writing to ask that you support the strong funding levels for science research at NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) in H.R. 4660, the Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act and to reject any amendments that are antithetical to science. We face a difficult moment in history when it is important to both reduce the deficit and debt while also maintaining and growing our economy in the 21st-century. Economists all agree that, since the end of World War II, science and technology have been responsible for more than half of the United States GDP growth. In order to compete in knowledge and technology industries which promise future growth, we need to maintain robust federal support for scientific research.

[Personalized story of how NASA/NSF support has made a positive impact in research for you, your colleagues, or others within the Congressional district].

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Sample Phone Call

STAFFER: Hello, Congressman X office, how may I help you?

YOU: Hi. I'd like to speak with the science staffer about the upcoming vote on H.R. 4660.

STAFFER: Let me see if they are in currently. [You may get to speak with them, be asked if you can deliver your message to the staffer, or be asked to leave a voicemail.]

Upon reaching the science staffer personally or leaving a voicemail.

YOU: Hi, my name is [your name] and I'm a constituent of Congressman X. I am a physicist and I'm calling to urge to Congressman to support the strong funding levels for science research at NASA and the National Science Foundation in H.R. 4660, the Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act and to reject any amendments that are antithetical to science. We face a difficult moment in history when it is important to both reduce the deficit and debt while also maintaining and growing our economy in the 21st-century. Economists all agree that, since the end of World War II, science and technology have been responsible for more than half of the United States GDP growth. In order to compete in knowledge and technology industries which promise future growth, we need to maintain robust federal support for scientific research.

Sincerely

Michael Lubell,

Director of Public Affairs

American Physical Society

#physics #scienceeveryday #stem

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