[ESIP-all] Fwd: Support Government Participation in Scientific Conferences - Reject the GSA Act of 2012

[Karl Benedict]

Please consider taking action on this issue. Continuation of our success in
scientific progress and the development of related technologies requires
broad participation in professional exchanges such as scientific
conferences. Reduced opportunities for conference attendance and
contributions by our Federal colleagues will diminish our capacity both for
scientific advance and transition of research outcomes into policy.

Karl

===========================
Karl Benedict
Director, Earth Data Analysis Center
Research Assistant Professor, Geography Dept.
Research Assistant Professor, University Libraries
University of New Mexico

President, Federation of Earth Science Information Partners

kbene at unm.edu
(505) 277-3622 x234 w
(505) 239-4115 m
==========================

Begin forwarded message:

*From:* "Erik Hankin" <ehankin at agu.org>
*Date:* July 9, 2012 13:33:24 EDT
*To:* kbene at edac.unm.edu
*Subject:* *Support Government Participation in Scientific Conferences -
Reject the GSA Act of 2012*

Support Government Participation in Scientific Conferences - Reject the GSA
Act of 2012

Dear AGU Member,

A recent bill introduced in the House of Representatives Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform, the Government Spending Accountability Act
of 2012 or the “GSA Act of 2012” (H.R.4631), strives to require
accountability and transparency in Federal spending for meetings and
conferences.  However, after passing a substitute amendment, the GSA Act of
2012 <http://app7.vocusgr.com/Url.aspx?524194x1416310x-760316> would
severely restrict the participation of Federal government scientists in
scientific meetings and conferences.

A very important means by which progress is made in scientific research is
in the exchange of ideas that takes place at scientific meetings and
conferences.  At these events, scientists from academia, industry, and
government, as well as students studying to become scientists, come
together to formally present and discuss their research and learn about
research by others that may have implications for their work.

The language in the GSA Act of 2012 threatens to damage essential
communication among scientists.  Government attendance at scientific
meetings not only fosters collaboration and future partnerships between
government scientists and academia and industry, but the collaboration and
exchange of ideas also avoids duplicative scientific efforts and stimulates
new concepts.  While it is extremely important to eliminate wasteful
government spending, Congress should consider ways to avoid excesses that
will not also inadvertently damage the United States’ scientific enterprise.

*Your help is urgently needed *as Congress reviews the GSA Act of 2012.
The legislation was passed by a voice vote by the Oversight Committee and
is now on the full floor of the House.  The “Postal Act” (S. 1789) recently
passed the Senate and contained similar language to the GSA Act of 2012.
The proponents of limiting government participation at conferences are
looking to pass the language in the GSA Act by including it in an amendment
to any bill that will likely pass.

Please consider taking a moment to *send an email to your
Representative*and ask him/her to either
*reject the GSA Act of 2012 (H.R. 4631) or propose a substitute amendment
removing the agency spending limit on conferences *to allow Federal
employees to continue to participate in non-governmental scientific
conferences.  The proposed cap for agency support of conferences limits
flexibility and prevents an agency’s discretion of priorities in conference
participation to achieve its mandate.

Please click *Take
Action<http://app7.vocusgr.com/Url.aspx?524194x1416309x-1284823>
* to write to your Representative, where you will also find "Speaking
Points" you may wish to include in your email.  You may also include an
example of societally-relevant scientific work resulting from collaboration
between academic/industry scientists and government employees at a
scientific meeting.

Note that Federal employees should contact their Congressional or
governmental relations office before taking action and are encouraged to
share this information with their colleagues outside government.
Please contact
AGU Public Affairs
staff<sciencepolicy at agu.org?subject=Question%20regarding%20the%20DATA%20Act%20amendment>if
you have any questions.

Thank you,

AGU Public Affairs



Speaking points:

   - As a scientist and constituent of your district, I strongly encourage
   you to support Federal employees’ participation in non-governmental
   scientific conferences.
   - The language in the GSA Act of 2012 (H.R. 4631) threatens to damage
   essential communication among scientists.
   - The exchange of ideas and review of results is integral to scientific
   integrity and the scientific process.
   - At scientific conferences, scientists from academia, industry, and
   government, as well as students studying to become scientists, come
   together to formally present and discuss each other’s  research, share
   concepts, and potentially solve the complex problems facing our nation.
   - Government attendance at scientific meetings not only fosters
   collaboration and future partnerships between government scientists and
   academia and industry, but the collaboration and exchange of ideas also
   avoids duplicative scientific efforts.
   - Non-governmental scientific conferences, like the AGU Fall Meeting,
   are largely renowned for the quality and depth of their educational
   programs.
   - The proposed cap for agency support of conferences in the Act limits
   flexibility and prevents an agency’s discretion of priorities in conference
   participation in achieving its mandate.



If you would rather not receive future communications from American
Geophysical Union, let us know by clicking
here.<http://app7.vocusgr.com/OptOut.aspx?524194x40x8358x3x1338318x24000x6&Email=kbene%40edac.unm.edu>
American Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
United States
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.lists.esipfed.org/mailman/private/esip-all/attachments/20120710/ed2118e1/attachment.html>