The following is the latest missive from Shawn Otto:
Last Friday you and others in the science community took action and helped to restore $3.1 billion in cuts to science that had been planned in the Senate compromise version of the stimulus bill. That was a good victory for U.S. Science, but it was just the warm-up act. Now we all need to come together as a community for the real show.
Even after the $3.1 billion restoration, the final approved Senate version of the stimulus bill falls far short of the House version when it comes to science and technology. You can look at the differences between the two here.
As you can see, DOE/OOS, NSF, and NIH all get much less in the Senate version than they do in the House.
We believe this is a mistake, and we want your help in doing something about it.
WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW:
The House and Senate have each appointed members to a conference committee. The conference committee is charged with bringing these two versions of the bill into conformity. Then the final, unified bill will be presented to both bodies for a vote, and if it passes, to President Obama for his signature. Acknowledging those among us who question whether research should be included in a stimulus package to begin with, now is the time that you can have a major impact on the future of science in this country. Rep. Rush Holt, one of the two bipartisan co-chairs of Science Debate 2008, gave this speech on the House floor on Tuesday.
HERE’S WHAT TO DO:
Contact the 10 members of the conference committee. A personal telephone call is by far the most powerful, followed by a personal email or fax. Here is their contact information. Click the name to go to an on line email form:
David Obey (D-WI)
Phone: (202) 225-3365
Harry Reid (D-NV)
Phone: (202) 224-3542
Fax: (202) 224-7327
Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Phone: (202) 225-4365
Fax: (202) 225-0816
Max Baucus (D-MT)
Phone: (202) 224-2651
Fax: (202) 224-9412
Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Phone: (202) 225-3976
Fax: (202) 225-4099
Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Phone: (202) 224-3934
Fax: (202) 224-6747
Dave Camp (R-MI)
Phone: (202) 225-3561
Fax: (202) 225-9679
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Phone: (202) 224-5054
The ScienceDebate 2008 Web Site is Here.
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While you’re at it, tell them to drop the $35 billion house-purchase subsidy (a price support to keep the bubble from deflating). It’s c omplete waste of money that won’t do what they want, just funnel money into the pockets of developers and realtors.
I need a secretary to write all of my letters for me … I’m getting tired!!
Now Florida is at it again. I don’t think I was born an activist – I don’t know what happened!
(end rant)