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LETTERS TO POLICYMAKERS

Archive letters to policymakers

AGU often writes, or is a co-signatory to, letters to policymakers that explain the importance of Earth and space science and highlight issues with policy, funding, and other federal decision-making that could impact science and society.

This page is an archive of our letters from 2017 to 2020. To see our more recent letters, please visit our Bridge Blog.

Our past letters are categorized by date, receiving agency or office, and topic.

Read our position statements on specific scientific topics, and letters sent during the current year.

Blank notebook with sharpened pencil

2017 - 2020 LETTERS

Title

Date Sent

Recipient

Topic

Notes

AGU First 100 Days Memo to Biden Team  2020  Biden Transition Team New Administration Policy Recommendations  
Joint Letter to Biden Energy Transition Team  17 December 2020 Biden Transition Team DOE Policy Recommendations Signed with ESC 60+ organizations
ESC Joint Welcome Letter to Chairwoman DeLauro  15 December 2020  Congress Welcome Letter Signed with ESC 60+ organizations
Joint Letter to Congressional Leadership Urging Passage of FY21 Spending  8 December 2020  Congress Science Funding  Signed with 100+ organizations 
CNSF Joint Recommendations to Biden Transition Team  4 December 2020  Biden Transition Team NSF Policy Recommendations Signed with CNSF 60+ organizations 
Joint Thank You Letter on DOE Appropriations Funding  30 November 2020  Congress Science Funding   
AGU Letter Congratulating New USGS Chief Scientist  30 November 2020  USGS Welcome Letter  
CSNF Joint Letter to Congressional Appropriations Leadership on NSF Funding  20 November 2020  Congress Science Funding Signed with CNSF 60+ organizations 
Joint Letter to Armed Services Committee requesting sustained support on GPS security and Legado 20 November 2020  Congress Spectrum  Signed with 62 organizations 
Joint Letter Requesting NIEHS Appropriations Funding  19 November 2020  Congress Science Funding   
Joint Letter to CJS Leadership Urging Action on Legado  27 October 2020 Congress Spectrum  Signed with with 56 organizations 
AGU Letter Endorsing the Landslide Preparedness Act  6 October 2020  Congress Natural hazards  
Joint Letter to Chairwoman Johnson on Diversity in STEM  1 September 2020  Congress  Diversity in STEM  
Thank You Letter to Chairwoman Johnson on Diversity in STEM  28 August 2020  Congress  Diversity in STEM   
Thank You Letter to Congressman Espaillat on Diversity in STEM Education  28 August 2020  Congress  Diversity in STEM  
Joint Letter on Ligado FCC Proposal 12 August 2020  Congress  Spectrum, 5G   
Joint Letter in Support of National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act  5 August 2020  Congress  Innovation funding   
Joint Comment on Expanding Access to 5G Spectrum  5 August 2020  FCC  Spectrum, 5G   
Joint Comment on Department of Energy Office Of Science Reauthorization Act  4 August 2020  Congress  Funding   
 Thank You Letter to Congressman Price on Scientific Integrity 31 July 2020  Congress  Thank you letter, scientific integrity   
AGU Letter on NSF Reauthorization Act  17 July 2020  Congress  Reauthorization request   
Welcome Letter to National Science Foundation Director  14 July 2020  NSF  Welcome Letter   
Welcome Letter to NASA Earth Science Division Director  14 July 2020  NASA  Welcome Letter   
Joint Letter Opposing International Student Restrictions  8 July 2020  White House, DHS, DOS  Immigration Signed with 66 organizations
Welcome Letter to Science and Technology Policy Institute Director 7 July 2020  Institute for Defense Analysis  Welcome Letter   
Joint Letter to Congress Requesting DOE Funding 6 July 2020  Congress Coronavirus Signed with 50+ organizations
Joint Letter to Congress in Support of NSF Director Nomination  15 June 2020 Congress NSF Signed with 100+ organizations
Joint Thank You Letter to Congress Against Ligado 15 June 2020 Congress  Space Weather Signed with 15 organizations 
Joint Letter to FCC in Support of NTIA Petition 3 June 2020 FCC  Space Weather   
 Joint Letter on Importance of International STEM Talent 20 May 2020  White House  Immigration  Signed with 37 organizations
AGU Letter on EPA's Science Transparency Rule 18 May 2020  EPA Scientific Integrity  
Joint Letter on EPA's Science Transparency Rule 18 May 2020  EPA Scientific Integrity  
AGU Letter on Open Access Publishing
28 April 2020
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy  Response to Request for Information on Open Access publishing   
Joint Letter on Stigmatization of Asians during Coronavirus Pandemic  20 April 2020  Congress Coronavirus Signed with 50 organizations 
AGU Letter to House Science Committee on Coronoavirus Impacts on Research  13 April 2020 Congress Coronavirus  
AGU Energy and Water Appropriations Testimony  30 March 2020  Congress Department of Energy Funding   
AGU Letter to EPA Requesting Extension on Science Transparency Rule  25 March 2020  EPA EPA Regulations, Scientific Integrity  
AGU Labor, Health, and Human Services Testimony  23 March 2020  Congress NIEHS Funding  
AGU Appropriations Letter to Senator Durbin  19 March 2020  Congress FY2021 Funding  
AGU Appropriations Request for NASA, NOAA, and NSF  13 March 2020  Congress  Appropriations   
Joint Letter on Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations 11 March 2020  Congress  NSF, NASA, NIST funding
 
 
Joint Letter on NSF Appropriations  11 March 2020  Congress  NSF Funding   
AGU Testimony on USGS Appropriations 6 March 2020  Congress  USGS Funding
 
 
Joint Testimony on USGS Appropriations  2 March 2020  Congress  USGS Funding
 
 
Joint Letter on EPA Appropriations
26 February 2020  Congress  EPA Funding  Signed with 29 organizations 
Joint Letter on NIEHS Appropriations 26 February 2020  Congress  NIEHS Funding  Signed with 29 organizations 
AGU Letter Endorsing NASA Reauthorization 29 January 2020  Congress NASA   
AGU Comments on the Joint Center for the Research Environment (JCORE) 28 January 2020 Office of the Executive Research   
AGU Letter Endorsing the PROSWIFT Act 8 January 2020 Congress Space Weather  
Joint Letter Urging Collaboration on Open Access  18 December 2019  Office of the Executive Open Access  Signed with 61 organizations
Joint Letter to Congress Urging Passage of FY2020 Fiscal Appropriations Bills  4 December 2019  Congress  Federal Funding Signed with 162 organizations
AGU Comments to Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Request for Information  22 November 2019 Congress Climate Change  
Joint Letter Expressing Concern over EPA Science Transparency Rule  13 November 2019  Congress Scientific Integrity Signed with 62 organizations 
AGU Letter Endorsing the Keep STEM Talent Act  7 November 2019 Congress  Diversity and Inclusion  
AGU Letter to EPA on Science Transparency  28 October 2019  Congress  Scientific Integrity  
Joint Letter Supporting NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program 25 October 2019  NSF Graduate funding Signed by 37 organizations
Joint Letter Requesting Strong Funding for NSF 25 October 2019  Congress Federal Funding Signed by the Coalition for National Science Funding
Joint Letter Urging Congress to Maintain Strong Funding for DOE’s Office of Science
7 October 2019
DOE
Federal Funding Signed by the Energy Sciences Coalition
AGU Letter Endorsing PREPARE Act of 2019
13 September 2019 Congress
Natural Hazards  
Joint Letter to Federal Agencies Addressing Concerns on Foreign Influence in Science  4 September 2019  Federal Agencies Foreign Influence  Signed by 60 organizations 
AGU Letter Endorsing STEM Opportunities Act of 2019
22 August 2019
Congress
Diversity in STEM
 
AGU Letter Expressing Support for Budget Agreement
21 August 2019
Congress
Federal Funding
 
Joint Letter Expressing Support for ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2019
1 August 2019
Congress
ARPA-E Reauthorization
Signed by the Energy Sciences Coalition 
Joint Letter Urging DOE to Retain its DOE Office of Science Federal Advisory Committees 25 July 2019  DOE Science Advisory Committees
Signed by Energy Sciences Coalition 
Joint Letter Expressing Support for Department of Energy Office of Science Investments in Infrastructure 
 22 July 2019  DOE Investments in Infrastructure 
Signed by Energy Sciences Coalition
Joint Letter Urging Congress to Protect Graduate Student Loan Options  15 July 2019  Congress Student Loans
Signed with 30 organizations
AGU Letter Expressing Concern Over Changes in Federal Advisory Boards  15 July 2019  Congress Federal Advisory Committees
 
Joint Letter Urging the Senate Provide $10M for Microbiome Research Initiatives in FY20 
10 July 2019  Congress Federal funding Signed with 17 organizations
Joint Letter Supporting the Securing American Science and Technology Act of 2019 
27 June 2019  Congress Legislation
Signed with 96 organizations
Joint Comment on the FCC NPRM regarding the GOES Spectrum Band 
20 June 2019  FCC Spectrum Allocation
Signed with American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association
Joint Letter Urging Congress to Reach a Bipartisan Budget Agreement 
13 June 2019  Congress Federal funding
Signed with Task Force on American Innovation 
Joint Letter Urging Congress to Reach a Bipartisan Budget Agreement 
17 May 2019  Congress Federal funding
Signed with various coalitions 
Joint Letter Urging $22.575B for NASA for FY20 
10 May 2019  Congress Federal funding
Signed with 50 organizations
AGU Letter Endorsing the Space Weather Research & Forecasting Act  7 May 2019  Congress Legislation
 
AGU Letter Endorsing The American Innovation Act 
30 April 2019  Congress Legislation
 
Joint Letter to Director Reilly Underscoring the Value of Scientific Meetings 
18 April 2019  USGS Scientific Meetings
Signed with 11 organizations
AGU Letter Endorsing The Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Metal Act 
16 April 2019  Congress Diversity in Science  
Joint Letter Urging Congress to Reach a Bipartisan Budget Agreement 
11 April 2019  Congress Federal funding
Signed with 54 organizations
Joint Letter Urging $909M for NIEHS for FY20 
20 March 2019  Congress Federal funding
Signed with 29 organizations
Joint Letter Urging $1.2B for USGS for FY20 
15 March 2019  Congress Federal funding
Signed by USGS coalition
Joint Letter Urging $9B for NSF for FY20 
14 March 2019  Congress Federal funding
Signed by Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)
Joint Letter Urging $400M for ARPA-E for FY20 
13 March 2019  Congress Federal funding
Signed with 88 organizations 
Joint Letter Urging $7B For DOE Office of Science for FY20 
11 March 2019  Congress Federal funding
Signed by Energy Sciences Coalition 
Joint Letter Urging $84M for NIEHS’s Superfund Program (SRP) for FY20  11 March 2019  Congress Federal funding Signed with 26 organizations
Joint Letter Thanking Appropriators for Robust FY20 Funding for NSF  25 February 2019  Congress Federal funding Signed by Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)
AGU Letter Urging Congress to End the Government Shutdown 24 January 2019  Congress Government Shutdown/Science funding
 
Joint Letter Urging Congress to Re-open the Government  23 January 2019  Congress Government Shutdown/Science funding Signed by Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)
AGU Policy Priorities for 2019 1 January 2019      
FoNOAA Conference Letter Regarding NOAA Research Funding in FY2019 Appropriations 28 November 2018 Congress Federal funding Signed with Consortium for Ocean Leadership and University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Joint Letter Supporting the Nomination of an OSTP Director 19 September 2018 Congress Scientific advisor Signed with 39 organizations
AGU Letter Endorsing the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2018 7 September 2018 Congress Sexual harassment in Science  
AGU Comment on OSTP Oceans Decadal Vision 27 August 2018 Office of Science and Technology Policy Ocean sciences  
AGU Comment on EPA's Proposed Restricted Science Policy 16 August 2018 EPA Scientific integrity  
Joint Comment on EPA's Proposed Restricted Science Policy 16 August 2018 EPA  Scientific integrity Signed with six organizations
Joint Letter Urging FCC to Consider Negative impacts of Spectrum Proceedings 18 July 2018 FCC Data Signed with 26 organizations
AGU Letter Regarding DOE Research Funding in FY2019 Appropriations Conference 18 July 2018 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter Regarding DOE Office of Science Funding in FY2019 Appropriations Bill 16 July 2018 Congress Federal funding Signed with 92 organizations and academic institutions
AGU Letter Endorsing the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Bill 12 July 2018 Congress Diversity in science  
Joint Letter Thanking Appropriators for Robust Science Funding in FY2019 9 July 2018 Congress Federal funding Signed with 56 organizations
Joint Letter Thanking Senate Appropriators for Support of NSF in FY019 22 June 2018 Congress Federal funding Signed with more than 100 organizations
 Joint Letter Urging the FCC to Consider Effect of Sharing Spectrum on Weather Enterprise 31 May 2018 FCC Data  Signed with American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association
 AGU Letter Thanking Senate Appropriators for Strong Support for DOE Office of Science and ARPA-E 30 May 2018 Congress Federal funding  
 Joint Letter on Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visa Proposed Rule 24 May 2018 Department of State Immigration and scientific collaboration Signed with 56 scientific organizations
 Joint Letter Thanking House Appropriators for NSF Support in FY2019 23 May 2018 Congress Federal funding  
 Joint Letter Regarding Funding for STEM Education 21 May 2018 Congress STEM education; federal funding  
 Joint Letter Urging Senate to Pass DOE Research and Innovation Act 15 May 2018 Congress Legislation  
 AGU Letter Urging Appropriators to Sustain Funding Growth in FY2019 7 May 2018 Congress Federal funding  
 AGU Urgers EPA to Extend Public Comment Period on Secret Science Proposal 30 April 2018 EPA Scientific integrity  
 AGU Reaffirms Endorsement of Space Weather Research & Forecasting Act 25 April 2018 Congress Legislation  
 AGU Letter Regarding EPA's Proposed Rule about Secret Science 23 April 2018 EPA Scientific integrity  
Joint Letter Thanking Congress for FY2018 Omnibus Appropriation for ARPA-E 16 April 2018 Congress Federal funding  
 Joint Letter Urging $21.7 Billion for NASA in FY2019 13 April 2018  Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter Thanking Appropriators for FY2018 Omnibus and Urging $8.5 Billion for NSF in FY2019 12 April 2018 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter Thanking Appropriators for Increasing ARPA-E Funding 10 April 2018 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter Thanking Congress for FY2018 Omnibus Appropriation for DOE Office of Science 30 March 2018 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter Thanking Appropriators for Increasing Funding for DOE Office of Science  30 March 2018 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter Urging Appropriators to Fund NOAA at $6.1 Billion for FY2018 2 March 2018 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter Urging Congress to Provide Robust Funding for Science 26 February 2018 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter Urging Congress to Provide $8 Billion in Funding for NSF 21 February 2018 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter Urging Appropriators to Fund DOE Office of Science at $5.7 Billion for FY2018 16 February 2018 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter Urging Congress to Raise 302(b) Allocations in Favor of Science 15 February 2018 Congress Federal funding  Signed with 25 scientific organizations
AGU Letter Thanking Representatives Langevin & Stefanik for asking Trump to include Climate Change in US National 29 January 2018 Congress Climate change  
 Joint Letter Urging Strong Funding for NOAA in FY18 22 December 2017 Congress Federal funding  
AGU Letter on Appropriations and Budget Negotiations for FY18  8 December 2017 Congress Federal funding  
AGU Letter on EPA Science Advisory Panels and Grants 7 December 2017 Congress EPA  
AGU Letter Endorsing National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2017 4 December 2017  Congress Legislation  
Joint Letter on Tax Reform 7 November 2017 Congress Legislation Signed by 45 scientific organizations
Joint Letter to Office of Management and Budget Regarding President's FY19 Budget 27 October 2017 Office of Management and Budget Federal funding  
Joint Immigration Letter 17 October 2017 President Trump Immigration and scientific collaboration Signed by 71 scientific organizations and academic institutions
Joint Letter of Support of Bipartisan Congressional Efforts to Advance ARPA-E 10 October 2017 Congress Federal funding  
AGU Letter to DOE Regarding Workforce Cuts 15 September 2017 DOE Federal workforce  
Joint Letter Urging Robust Funding for NSF in FY18 5 September 2017 Congress Federal funding  
AGU Letter to Congress Regarding FY18 Budget and Appropriations 25 August 2017 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter Regarding EPA Climate Science Processes 31 July 2017 EPA Climate change Signed with 15 scientific organizations
AGU Endorses House Space Weather Research & Forecasting Act 26 July 2017 Congress Legislation  
Joint Letter Urging Congress to Pass a Bipartisan Budget Agreement 18 July 2017 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter Urging Appropriators to Protect NDD Programs from Further Cuts 13 July 2017 Congress Federal funding
Joint Letter to FCC on Spectrum Interference Issues  27 June 2017 FCC Data Signed with 21 scientific organizations and companies
Joint Letter to the President on the Importance of Scientific Advisory Boards  27 June 2017 President Trump Scientific integrity  
Joint Letter Supporting USGS Library  16 June 2017 Congress Federal funding Signed with 21 scientific organizations
Joint Letter Urging the President to Appoint a Qualified Science Advisor 25 May 2017 President Trump Scientific advisor Signed with 58 organizations
 Joint Letter Urging Congress to Prioritze Investments in Science 24 May 2017 Congress Federal funding Signed with 150 scientific and education organizations
Joint Letter to Appropriators Regarding FY18 NOAA Funding 19 May 2017 Congress Federal funding  
AGU Letter to Appropriators Regarding FY18 Funding 19 May 2017 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Comment on New Supplemental Questions for Visa Applicants 18 May 2017 Department of State Immigration and scientific collaboration Signed by 55 scientific organizations
AGU Letter Endorsing the National Landslide Preparedness Act 18 April 2017 Congress Legislation  
Joint Letter to FCC on 1675-1680 MHz Spectrum Allocation 10 April 2017 FCC Data Signed with the American Meteorological Society and University of Wisconsin - Madison
Multisociety Letter Urging Robust Funding for Scientific Research 6 April 2017 Congress Federal funding Signed by more than 100 organizations
Joint Letter to Appropriators Urging Strong Funding for NSF 3 April 2017 Congress Federal funding  
Joint Letter to Appropriators Urging Strong Funding for NASA 30 March 2017 Congress Federal funding  
Multisociety Letter on the Honest Act 28 March 2017 Congress Legislation Signed by 23 scientific and education organizations
Joint Geoscience Priorities Transition Document 15 March 2017 President Trump and Congress Legislation Signed by nine scientific organizations
AGU Letter on the HONEST Act and the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act 8 March 2017 Congress Legislation  
Joint Letter Urging Protection of NDD Program Funding 1 March 2017 Congress Federal funding  
 AGU Petition Urging President to Appoint a Qualified Science Advisor 24 February 2017 President Trump Science advisor  
Joint Letter Regarding Executive Order on Immigration 10 February 2017 President Trump Immigration and scientific collaboration Signed by more than 100 scientific and education organizations
AGU Letter to Federal Agencies Urging Protection of Scientific Integrity 26 January 2017 Federal science agencies Scientific integrity  




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