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

3. 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

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

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

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

10. 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

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

12. Committees Are Really Important

13. 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!

14. Communicating
with Congress

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

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

18. How to learn about your Congressperson (example)

19. 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)

20. Do your research Look up your legislator: http://govtrack.us
NASA Contracts by Congressional District

21. 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.

22. 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

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

25. Professional societies are your friends
Educating Yourself
Professional societies are your friends

26. Good Science Politics Resources
Science Magazine (sciencemag.org/news)
The Planetary Society (planetary.org/blogs)
Nature (nature.com/news)
AAAS ( and-policy-program)

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

29. Want to learn more? Take the free online course, Space Advocacy 101:

30. 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)