In a previous post "APS Joins STEM Community In Call For Support of
Science Education Programs" [Hake (2005a)], I wrote [bracketed by
lines "HHHHHH. . . ."]:
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Two subsequent posts will be titled:
(1) "Members of Congress Speak Out in Support of Science": relays a
May 2005 "APS News" report on congressional action to counter the
Bush administration's cutback of science education funding,
(2) "AIP & APS Websites Support Science Education Programs": gives
relevant URL's for (a) Congressional "Dear Colleague" Letters in
support of increased science funding and (b) contacting Congress.
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The first "subsequent post" titled "Members of Congress Speak Out in
Support of Science" has been transmitted as Hake (2005b).
The APPENDIX contains the second "subsequent posts": "AIP & APS
Websites Support Science Education Programs." The chances of
increased future funding for NSF/DOE science/math education programs
might be increased if more grass-roots support were to be
demonstrated by direct correspondence with legislators.
The APS "WRITE CONGRESS" site (see APPENDIX, Sect. II) provides a
quick and efficient way to contact your legislators. Subscribers in
states represented by members of congress influential in
science/math education funding could have an especially significant
impact on funding decisions. As indicated in the APPENDIX, among
congressional key players are:
SENATE:
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Pete Domenici (R-NM)
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). ranking minority member of the Senate Commerce,
Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee
Harry Reid (D-NV)
Richard Shelby (R-AL) (chair of the Senate Commerce, Justice, and Science
Appropriations Subcommittee
HOUSE
Frank Wolf (R-VA),
Judy Biggert (R-IL),
Adam Schiff (D-CA),
Ellen Tauscher (R-CA)
David Hobson (R-OH)
Peter Visclosky (R-IN)
Vernon Ehlers (D-MI)
Rush Holt (D-NJ)
Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
REFERENCES
Hake, R.R. 2005a."APS Joins STEM Community In Call For Support of
Science Education Programs," online at
<http://lists.nau.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0505&L=phys-l&O=D&P=12990>.
Post of 19 May 2005 11:35:25-0700 to AP-Physics, Biolab-L, Biopi-L,
Chemed-L, Math-Learn, PhysLrnR, Physhare, and Physoc. Later sent to
AERA-C, AERA-J, and AERA-L.
Hake, R.R. 2005b.""Members of Congress Speak Out in Support of
Science," online at
<http://lists.nau.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0505&L=phys-l&O=D&P=13347t>.
Post of
19 May 2005 17:04:44-0700 to AERA-C, AERA-D, AERA-K, AP-Physics,
Biolab-L, Biopi-L, Chemed-L, Math-Learn, PhysLrnR, Physhare, and
Physoc.
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APPENDIX
AIP & APS WEBSITES SUPPORT SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS
2. FY 2006 "Dear Colleague" Letters
According to information at
<http://www.congressweb.com/cweb4/index.cfm?orgcode=APSPA&issue=40>:
"A DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER refers to a letter addressed to one of the
appropriations committees signed by multiple Members of Congress. A
draft of the letter is typically circulated to each member of the
House or Senate with a cover letter asking them to sign on to it (the
cover letter usually starts out "Dear Colleague," hence the name).
Messages for Members who themselves sit on the appropriations
committees [should] have a more general request for support, and
messages to the members who are circulating the Dear Colleague
letters [should] just include a note of thanks." I have heard that
"Dear Colleague" Letters are more influential if they garner
wide-spread grass roots support from voters.
NOTE: clicking on the URL's below lead to downloads scanned letters
that contain many written signatures and therefore have large file
sizes.
b. 121 Congressmen sign letter of 5 May 2005 by Representatives Judy
Biggert (R-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Ellen Tauscher (R-CA) to
Representatives David Hobson (R-OH) and Peter Visclosky (R-IN)
encouraging them to significantly increase the FY06 funding for the
DOE Office of Science above the FY2005 level:
<http://www.aps.org/public_affairs/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=64714>
(a 592 kB pdf).
c. 167 Congressmen sign letter of 4 May 2005 by Representatives
Vernon Ehlers (D-MI) and Rush Holt (D-NJ) to Frank Wolf (R-VA) and
Alan Mollohan (D-WV) of the House Subcommittee on Science, State,
Justice, and Commerce (SSJC) in support of making NSF funding a
priority and providing $6.1 billion in the FY 2006 SSJC Subcommittee
appropriations legislation:
<http://www.aps.org/public_affairs/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=64380>
(a 552 kB pdf). A portion of the Ehlers/Holt letter is quoted in a
previous post