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AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2006-13
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CONTENTS
1) AWGF CALL FOR PROPOSALS
2) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ACTION ALERT: 4-17-06
3) CONTACT INFORMATION
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Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of E-mail News
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1) AWGF CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The AWGF Board of Directors will be meeting with the AWG Board of
Directors in Nevada City, CA on April 29th. If you have a proposal ready by
April 27, 2006, email it to the AWFG Secretary, Mary Anne Holmes, and
we will consider it for funding. Since this is short notice and a
preponderance of our proposals come during the fall board meetings, we will
also give you feed back on pre-proposals.
If you have a good idea and need some help with funding we encourage
you to download the easy-to-follow forms, fill them out and send them to
us. Forms and information on proposals are posted on the AWG web site:
http://www.awg.org/
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2) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ACTION ALERT: 4-17-06
*** House Budget Resolution $300 Million Short of President’s Request
for NSF, NASA, DOE Office of Science ***
IN A NUTSHELL: The House Budget Committee has passed a budget
resolution (H.Con.Res.376) that does not fully fund the General Science, Space,
and Technology account, which provides research funding for the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science
Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Energy's (DOE's) general science
programs. The resolution falls $300 million short of the President’s
fiscal year (FY) 2007 request for this category, despite an overall
discretionary spending level that is the same as the Administration’s
requested level. In addition to under-funding valuable science research,
this reduction could jeopardize the 7.9 percent increase for NSF called
for in the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative.
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On March 29th, the House Budget Committee passed a budget resolution
along party lines. The budget resolution then went to the full House for
a vote; however, after a week of debate on the floor, the House was
unable to pass a budget resolution before the two-week recess for Easter.
House leadership plans to continue work on the resolution once Congress
returns to session on April 24th. The House resolution provides $872.8
billion in discretionary spending, which is the same level as the
President’s request. Within this amount, the House budget resolution
provides $25.8 billion for the General Science, Space, and Technology
account. The House budget number is $300 million short of the President’s
request for these programs and the level of support outlined in the Senate
Budget Resolution, which the full Senate approved of a few weeks
earlier.
The $300 million reduction in the General Science, Space and Technology
account would place at risk increased funding for the science programs
at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the
National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Energy's
(DOE's) general science programs. It would also threaten the 7.9%
increase for NSF called for in the President’s American Competitiveness
Initiative.
Please write a brief letter to House Majority Leader John Boehner,
Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle, and your Representative requesting
them to fully fund the requested $26.1 billion for the General Science,
Space, and Technology account (also called Function 250).
To determine who your representative is, go to www.house.gov and enter
your zip code. The link will also provide the contact information for
your representative, so you can call, fax or email them. Contact
information for House leadership and a sample letter are provided below as a
template. Feel free to cite specific programs and to use examples of
the value of scientific research.
Please fax or e-mail a copy of your letter to AGI at Government Affairs
Program, 4220 King Street, Alexandria VA 22302-1502; fax 703-379-7563;
email govt@agiweb.org.
Due to new security procedures for postal mail, the most timely and
efficient means with which to communicate with your Members of Congress is
by faxing letters or utilizing e-mail offered through their websites
(http://www.house.gov/). Many thanks for taking the time to be an
active citizen-scientist!
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Letter to House Leadership:
The Honorable John Boehner, Majority Leader
H-107 U. S. Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: 202-225-0704
The Honorable Jim Nussle, Chairman, House Budget Committee
309 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: 202-225-9129
Dear Representative _________,
I am writing to ask that you support a strong, balanced investment in
science in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 House budget resolution. As
approved by the House Budget Committee, the resolution contains a critical
budget shortfall for science related programs as well as the American
Competitiveness Initiative that the President announced in his State of
the Union Address.
The resolution recommends $300 million less for General Science, Space
and Technology (Budget Function 250) than the Administration’s FY2007
request. If appropriators followed this guidance it would be very
difficult to support basic research in the physical sciences and engineering
as called for by the President.
I ask that you support a total funding level of $26.1 billion for the
General Science, Space, and Technology account when the House Budget
Resolution is debated on the floor and when the Appropriations Committee
makes its 302b allocations.
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Alert prepared by Jenny Fisher, AGI/AAPG Spring 2006 Intern, and
Margaret Anne Baker, Government Affairs Staff
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3) CONTACT INFORMATION
To submit an item to E-MAIL NEWS contact :editor@awg.org
To submit advertising contact :ads@awg.org
To change your address or be removed from the list contact:
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