On 16 May 2024, the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden, which included the Severe Turbulence Research and Development Act. Introduced by Representative Haley Stevens (MI-11) and endorsed by AGU, this legislation marks a critical milestone in our ongoing efforts to tackle the increasingly severe impacts of climate change on aviation safety. The Severe Turbulence Research and Development Act enhances the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) ability to monitor and comprehend severe turbulence, which has become a more ..read more

Satellite image of Hurricane Harvey AGU, the world’s largest Earth and space science association, applauds the bipartisan effort by Congress to pass The Weather Act Reauthorization, H.R. 6093, which promises to make weather forecasting in the U.S. more accurate.    AGU endorsed H.R. 6093 in November along with several other pieces of legislation that were added to this bill, including the National Weather Service Communications Improvement Act, H.R.1496; NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act, H.R.1482; and Tsunami Warning, Research, and Education Act Reauthorization Act, H.R.6234.&n ..read more

On 4 April 2024, AGU sent a letter of endorsement to leadership in the House of Representatives and the Senate for the National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2024.   On behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and our global community of more than half a million Earth and space scientists and allies, I am writing to thank you for introducing H.R.7003, the National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2024, and to offer AGU’s support for this important bill.    Landslides, which affect all 50 states and U.S. territories, are highly destructi ..read more

On 25 March 2024, AGU sent a letter of endorsement to Senator Richard Durbin in support of the American Innovation Act.   On behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and our global community of more than half a million Earth and space scientists and allies, I am writing to thank you for crafting and offering AGU’s official endorsement for the American Innovation Act.    The American Innovation Act provides stable and increasing funding for federal agencies that are critical for our nation. A real five-percent budget increase per year over the next ten years for NSF, NASA S ..read more

On 12 February 2024, AGU sent a letter to Representatives Cartwright, Fitzpatrick, and Mast offering support for the reintroduction of the Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act H.R.7275.   On behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and our global community of more than half a million Earth and space scientists and allies, I am writing to thank you for reintroducing H.R.7275, the Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act, and to offer AGU’s support for this important bill. AGU shares your commitment to ensuring that the health of all Americans is protected, and a compreh ..read more

2023 was one of the least productive Congressional years in decades. However, the AGU science policy community remained active, engaged, and ambitious! Learn more about AGU’s science policy and government relations programs, activities, and accomplishments by reading our year in review.     The report is divided into four sections. In the first section, Amplify the voices of the Earth and space science community, you’ll read about AGU’s work to build a cadre of students, scientists, and researchers who are science policy and communication leaders better prepared to address scientific ..read more

AGU is a global community of more than half a million scientists, professionals and allies in the Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, AGU accelerates knowledge and creates solutions that are ethical, unbiased, and respectful of communities and their values.    Expand discovery and innovation in the Earth and space sciences  Discovery-driven exploration of Earth and space advances fundamental knowledge and inspires the public. When broadly and equitably applied and disseminated, Earth and space science is critical to developing effective solutions ..read more

Since 2017, AGU’s Voices for Science program has helped scientists sharpen their science policy and communication skills through monthly coaching, quarterly trainings, and networking to be a strong voice for science issues that matter to them most. The Fellows of the Voices for Science program choose their own flexible advocacy and outreach goals and work towards them throughout their year in the program. Many scientists have incorporated the skills gained from the program into their research or pivoted into science communication and advocacy careers.   Chia-Chun Angela Liang is an e ..read more

On 22 December 2023, AGU sent a letter to Representative Bonamici endorsing H.R.6234, the “Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2023”.   On behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and our worldwide Earth and space science community, I am writing to thank you for introducing H.R.6234, the “Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2023” and to offer AGU’s support for this important bill.   Tsunamis, and other coastal inundation events, can wreak havoc on coastal communities—placing lives and property at risk. We commend the bill’s goal of enhancing the nation’s ..read more

On 4 January, AGU joined 850 organizations asking Congress to adopt the bipartisan Senate funding framework as a starting point for final negotiations in the FY24 appropriations process. Read the full text of the letter below:   Dear Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, and Minority Leader Jeffries:   The 850 undersigned organizations—representing the full breadth of diverse programs that support all of America, every day—are extremely alarmed by the possibility for very deep cuts to all of these non-defense programs (often referred to as non-defense d ..read more