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Report to GSA Membership from a Visit to the 116th Congress

Strategic Engagement in Science Policy Making:

A Call to Action

In April 2019, while serving as GSA’s Refresher: Foundations of American Government
Geology and Public Policy Committee For more than 230 years, the Declaration of Independence and
Chair, I spent two weeks on Capitol Hill U.S. Constitution have formed the basis of America’s representa-
immersed in the daily business of the tive democracy. The Declaration of Independence avowed that
116th U.S. Congress. Working out of we consent to be governed. The Constitution laid out a blueprint
GSA’s Geoscience Policy Office in for a federal government with three branches, executive, judi-
Washington, D.C., with Kasey White, cial, and legislative. Within this blueprint, the constitutional
Director of Geoscience Policy, and framers instilled a system of checks and balances to prevent a
Laura Szymanski, GSA Science Policy concentration of power within any branch, and to spread power
Monica E. Gowan Fellow, my visit had a three-fold pur- across the government. Article I of the Constitution provides the
pose: (1) to support GSA’s work on pol- legislative branch (Congress) with explicit powers, including the
icy issues impacting the geoscience community, especially power to make all federal laws, regulate commerce, tax and bor-
through congressional staff meetings; (2) seek out collaborative row money, and provide oversight of the other two branches.
prospects with other science-based organizations to positively
shape the direction of science policy and amplify our common Congressional Powers: What Lies Beneath?
messages; and (3) identify pathways for GSA members to engage Laws, commerce, money, oversight. Regardless of your prefer-
in science policymaking at the “next level,” beyond GSA’s ences for the role of government on these politically sensitive
Congressional Visit Days. subjects, it is important to remember that the framers—many of
In ten days, I participated in 26 events, hustling between the them devotees of scientific enlightenment—believed that a sta-
House and Senate sides of Capitol Hill and to other venues such ble, functioning society relies on agreed-upon social norms and
as the National Press Club and collaborative partner offices. values underpinning each of these enumerated powers. This is
I attended: culture, and it defines us as a society.
• Nine congressional hearings, a Senate committee executive Problematically, as scientists we are vulnerable to the scien-
session, a House of Representatives special session on the first tific enlightenment trap: “information is the answer.” Yet intel-
100 days of the 116th Congress, and a full Senate vote; lectual achievements, while a significant part of culture, do not
• Four congressional committee and two congressional office staff occur in a social vacuum. Further, culture wars diminish when
meetings; people focus on shared social values.
• Two science advisory briefings, two science coalition meetings, In fact, “we the people” are part of the fourth branch, the unof-
and a planning meeting for a congressional caucus briefing; and ficial term for groups with the opportunity to exert positive social
• Three meetings with scientific trade associations and profes- influence on the federal government. Along with elections, this is
sional societies. how we exercise our consent to be governed. Congress’ role is to
All of this I found immensely informative and instructive on do the people’s business, so, arguably, the greatest opportunity for
how our representative democracy works and the compelling defining American culture is with Congress.
need for scientists to participate in it. These are not new con- How do we exert social influence in Congress? We need to set
cepts for many of you. However, as someone who has been a bit aside our expert hats and strategically engage with Congress in a
of a policy wonk for longer than her years as an earth and health social context, as citizens in our district or state and on Capitol
scientist combined, I find parts of the song remain the same and Hill. We must accept that policy decisions cannot be based
bear repeating. In this article I offer a mini-refresher on the solely on facts. We must identify and appeal to shared social
foundations of U.S. federal government and the role of Congress, norms and values. Fortunately, this is not as big a leap from
and strongly advocate that you engage in science policy not only science as it might seem.
because of your expertise but in your role as a citizen. This can
be one of the most important and impactful things you do in Upping Your Game—Be a Civic Scientist
your career. As geoscientists, we observe, categorize, and analyze earth
Accompanying this article are posts on GSA’s Speaking of and planetary systems, materials, phenomena, and their inter-
Geoscience blog, where I offer tips on how to quickly develop relationships. Then we present facts and interpretations. This is
TM
an action plan for delivering messages that maximize your influ- our familiar role as subject matter experts. As citizens, the next
ence with Congress. I dive into a few science policy issues in the step is presenting evidence-based statements of facts and inter-
116th Congress and discuss collaborative opportunities on cross- pretations with the opinion that policy action is needed. We can
over issues with other stakeholders. I also share observations on present our statements with policy options. We can present our
expectation management and staying positive at a time in history statements with the opinion that a specific policy action is
when Congress can appear intractably divided. needed. Now we are bringing in values.

28 GSA Today | August 2019