Let’s talk about budgets (aka how real exploration happens)

Terms! Budget resolution: an agreement for overall spending by each house of Congress Discretionary: the part of the federal budget that Congress approves every year Mandatory: the part of the federal budget that requires no annual oversight by Congress President’s Budget Request (PBR): submitted to Congress as the formal executive branch proposal for federal spending Authorization: legislation that authorizes federal agencies and recommends targeted spending levels Appropriation: legislation that allows the treasury to spend money for federal activities

Various Inputs to NASA NASA Advisory Council Authorization Bills National Academies Appropriations Bills

Our main concern: Non-defense, discretionary appropriations (basically what we think of as government activities)

Divvying Up the Pie 12 subcommittees Budget Resolution Appropriations committee (302a) Appropriations Subcommittee Allocations (302b) 12 subcommittees

Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee Department of Commerce (NOAA, NIST) Department of Justice (FBI, ATF, Fed Prisons) NASA National Science Foundation The national census Related Agencies Commission on Civil Rights Equal Employment Opportunity Commission International Trade Commission Legal Services Corporation Marine Mammal Commission Office of Science and Technology Policy Office of the United States Trade Representative State Justice Institute

Congressional budget process Cornell Talk Congressional budget process $19.87 billion $19.5 billion

Committees Are Really Important

Still time for FY 2019 FY2019 begins on October 1st, but a continuing resolution (CR) means no decisions until December A good time to write!

Communicating with Congress

In-person visit Phone Call Written Letter Fax Personalized Email Form Email Petition Effectiveness Time Commitment

Committees Are Powerful House: Space, Science, and Technology Committee Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Subcommittee of Appropriations Senate Space, Science, and Competitiveness Subcommittee

How to learn about your Congressperson (example)

Do your research Do they serve on a relevant committee? Have they made public statements about your policy priority? (i.e. use google) Is there a parochial connection to your district? (NASA center, major research university, local business with gov contracts)

Do your research Look up your legislator: http://govtrack.us NASA Contracts by Congressional District https://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgibin/npdv/adhoc.cgi

Writing Congress Writing your representatives presents a challenge: how to get your point across most effectively? Strategic writing focused on the reader: High signal–to–noise (no chatter). Be exceptionally clear. Create shortcuts to focus their attention (bullet points, bold text, short paragraphs, etc.). Use formal english.

Writing Congress Do Don’t Use honorifics Keep it short Be specific Highlight your “ask” Your research Mention that you vote Request a response Make it relevant Be sarcastic Rant Write people who aren’t your representatives

Different Speeds of Communication Physical Letter Postcard In-person visit Email Phone Call Slower Faster

Professional societies are your friends Educating Yourself Professional societies are your friends

Good Science Politics Resources Science Magazine (sciencemag.org/news) The Planetary Society (planetary.org/blogs) Nature (nature.com/news) AAAS (https://www.aaas.org/program/rd-budget- and-policy-program)

planetary.org/spaceadvocate Subscribe to Planetary Radio on iTunes for the Space Policy Edition podcast soundcloud.com/theplanetarysociety

Want to learn more? Take the free online course, Space Advocacy 101: https://courses.planetary.org

Additional Resources Policy Basics: Introduction to the Federal Budget Process (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) How NASA’s Budget is Made (Youtube via Planetary Society) Space Policy Online FY2018 NASA Budget Fact Sheet (Space Policy Online)