About GEO-DC
Congress is currently deliberating appropriations for FY 2007. The familiar refrain on Capitol Hill is that “things are really tight this year,” due to many factors, including the war in Iraq, recovery from the 2005 hurricane season, and the fact that this is an election year. As a result, oil and natural gas R&D programs at the Department of Energy (DOE) have seen a dramatic reduction in the House Energy and Mineral Resources Appropriations bill. This presents a unique challenge to AAPG and its Members.
However, the current energy debate also offers real opportunity for AAPG Members as petroleum geoscientists to clearly and forcefully articulate the importance of petroleum geoscience in ensuring the nation’s energy security and economic well-being, and the role of federally-funded R&D in achieving this objective. GEO-DC can help you do just that.
Communicating with AAPG Members
GEO-DC is developing a comprehensive strategy for communicating with interested Members. Washington Watch, which appears monthly in the AAPG Explorer, captures a birds-eye view of the political landscape and issues of interest in the U.S. government.
In the fast-paced world of Washington, however, a monthly piece is insufficient to keep you informed in timely manner. As a result we have designed this comprehensive GEO-DC web site hosted by AAPG’s Division of Professional Affairs Government Affairs Committee (GAC) and found at http://www.aapg.org/geoDC/index.cfm. This site contains up-to-date information on the policy issues currently being debated in Washington, as well as AAPG’s policy positions, and suggestions for how AAPG Members can get involved.
Finally, we have instituted an AAPG GAC Action Alert e-mail service through the Government Affairs Committee. As events warrant, David Curtiss, Director of GEO-DC, will issue a short e-mail outlining the appropriations (or other) issue at hand and direct interested parties to specific information on this GEO-DC Web page. Watch here to sign up to receive these alerts.
Taking Action
AAPG and its Members can influence the appropriations process in three principal ways:
- Submit testimony to the relevant Congressional Committees in support of programs important to AAPG Members. AAPG President Peter Rose, as other AAPG presidents before him, has submitted such testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
- GEO-DC staff is communicating directly with Congress to inform the process.
- AAPG Members can contact their Senators and Representative to express support for a specific program. Personal visits to State/District offices have the greatest impact, particularly when followed up with a letter restating the key points. Consider making these visits jointly with other AAPG Members – there is strength in numbers.
Reversing the present course presents a formidable challenge, but together as concerned citizens and petroleum geoscientists our efforts may prove decisive. Join us.