From: Cooke, Keith <kcooke@apa.org>
Date: Wed, Feb 20, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Subject: [DIVOFFICERS] Scientists: how are you affected by pending federal budget cuts?
To: DIVOFFICERS@lists.apa.org
Please share with your division members –
Dear colleagues: The APA Science Government Relations Office staff work hard to represent psychology and psychological science before Congress and the Executive branch, particularly on key issues like the pending across-the-board cuts, known as sequestration. As you are likely aware, the cuts are set to go into effect on March 1 unless Congress passes a law to override that provision of 2011's Budget Control Act. The Senate will bring a bill to the floor next week, but it will need 60 votes to pass, and the odds of its then passing in the House are unfavorable.
In meetings with Congressional offices, we are often asked for specific stories about how the financial constraints at NIH and NSF, and how the pending cuts, are affecting our scientists. As you know, anecdotes can be very powerful, and both the White House and our anti-sequestration allies in Congress are asking for them. If you feel comfortable sharing your story, please let Pat Kobor know at pkobor@apa.org. We can omit identifying details if you like.
The Science Government Relations Office publishes a federal budget blog which is updated every week or so. An update will be posted later today at http://www.apa.org/about/gr/science/news/budget.aspx. Also, a new APA Action Alert has been posted. If you have not contacted your Senators or members of Congress about sequestration in the last couple of months, please do so before February 27. The alert can be found at http://www.capwiz.com/apapolicy/issues/alert/?alertid=62398791&type=CO Please contact your member of Congress, even if-- especially if-- you feel he or she is unconcerned about the consequences of sequestration.
These self-inflicted 'dates of doom' every three months take a lot out of all of us -- it is easy to lose enthusiasm for participating in the legislative process because the process is so broken. But now is not the time to take a vacation. Stand up, speak out, and keep speaking out! And we will keep speaking out on your behalf.
Geoff Mumford, PhD; Pat Kobor, Heather Kelly, PhD; Karen Studwell, JD, Christine Jamieson
Science Government Relations Office
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