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GSA TODAY | MARCH/APRIL 2015 2014–2015 GSA-USGS Congressional standards and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s safety recom-
Science Fellow Report: mendations and implementation post-Fukushima. I have also worked
with constituent groups, researched potential legislative ideas, and
A Geoscientist written memos for the Senator concerning pending issues.
on “The Hill” I would be remiss not to mention the November mid-term elections,
which resulted in a change in Senate leadership and a concomitant
Susanna W. Blair change in Senate committee leadership. The chair of a committee has
control over nearly every aspect of committee action, most notably
I am honored to serve as the 2014–2015 GSA-USGS Congressional what bills are introduced and debated. The Environment and Public
Science Fellow. I learned of this fellowship in 2013 via the Science Works Committee, on which Senator Gillibrand serves, was previously
Outside the Lab summer workshop offered by Arizona State chaired by Senator Boxer (D-CA) and is now chaired by Senator
University’s Consortium for Science Policy and Outcomes. During Inhofe (R-OK), the author of the book, The Greatest Hoax: How the
this “Orientation to Science Policy,” we were able to engage with Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future. As a Fellow
people who regulate, critique, study, and lobby at the intersection of working in Gillibrand’s office, I plan to support her in pursuing
science and policy. Because of this orientation, or disorientation as it continued constructive science-based discussion within this
sometimes felt, I recognized that there was an intellectual and useful committee and making gains where consensus can be found.
space for scientists at science policy institutions. Specifically as
geoscientists, we bring an interesting perspective to this space—an Among the many things I have been exposed to so far is the stag-
understanding of both the long-term scale of earth-system functions gering amount of information available to staffers. It is clear a staffer
and of the rapid alteration of this function by anthropogenic influ- could fill the majority of his or her time purely going to briefings.
ences. My hope is that within science policy, both scales will be part Briefings are offered on nearly every subject of legislative interest.
of the conversation. Already I have attended briefings related to the Clean Power Plan,
nuclear energy, ocean health, EPA rules, and climate change. Along
As this year’s GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellow, I join the with the briefings around the Hill, there are countless webinars and
group of American Association for the Advancement of Science lectures around D.C. In addition, I have found the Congressional
(AAAS) Congressional Science and Technology Fellows. We began Research Service (CRS) to be one of the most remarkable services
our year in D.C. at the beginning of September with an invaluable provided to Congress. This government entity works solely for
two-week orientation. Sessions during the orientation included Congress as its primary public policy and analysis support agency.
networking, negotiation, the role of science in the three branches of With a staff of nearly 600 analysts, attorneys, informational profes-
government, and how the budget process works. One highlight of sionals, and support personnel, they provide the most up-to-date,
our two-week orientation was a lecture from the Honorable John credible, and objective research and analysis possible in a very timely
Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, who manner. What I cannot find, they already know. Thankfully, all of the
spoke about the President’s genuine interest in science and his correspondence with CRS is confidential, so the naive questions of
commitment to young scientists. new Fellows about the political process are off the record.
Following this orientation, I took part in extensive interviews all This year is off to a whirlwind start, and my learning curve is pretty
over “The Hill” to determine my placement for the year. One of my much straight north. The 114th Congress is sure to be interesting, but
key considerations in choosing a placement was the committees on potentially concerning to the scientific community. During the 113th
which the senator or representative served, because this determines a Congress, the House of Representatives introduced hundreds of bills
large portion of the legislation introduced by the member and the primarily designed to limit government, with a potential for detri-
primary work of the legislative team in that member’s office. mental effects for environmental protection. These have included bills
to weaken and de-fund the Environmental Protection Agency and
In early October, I was honored to accept a post with Senator block funding for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), with a focus on environment and energy (IPCC). It is expected that these bills will come up for a vote again this
issues. Sen. Gillibrand is a member of the Environment and Public year and, with the change in leadership, may now be introduced and
Works Committee and is very interested in the health of the Great voted on in the Senate. On a slightly more positive note, the 114th
Lakes and the resiliency of the Atlantic coastline. These, along with Congress will likely bring a much needed discussion of national
many other environment and energy concerns, make my back- energy policy. Hopefully this will incorporate stronger environ-
ground in geology, science education, and environmental consulting mental protection, along with securing energy supplies and
useful. My work began during the long pre-election recess, which keeping costs low. I look forward to reporting on these and other
gave me the chance to research energy and environment issues developments as my time on “The Hill” continues. Please feel free
specific to New York and to review the energy and environment bills to contact me if you have questions.
that were already introduced during the 113th Congress. Since the
end of the recess, I have staffed the Senator at two oversight hearings: The manuscript is submitted for publication by Susanna W. Blair, 2014–2015
the Environmental Protection Agency’s ground level ozone GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellow, with the understanding that the
U.S. government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for
24 governmental use. The one-year fellowship is supported by GSA and the U.S.
Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, under Assistance Award
No. G14AP00161. The views and conclusions contained in this document are
those of the author and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing
the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. government.
Blair works in the office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and can be
contacted by e-mail at Susanna_Blair@gillibrand.senate.gov.
