Advocating to Congress in Support of Science
- Tessa Clarizio
- Mar 4
- 8 min read
Last week, I presented in the Environmental Engineering Seminar (CEE 595) on nonpartisan science advocacy to Congress. Drawing on my experience from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Policy & Research Legislative Fellowship and various science-policy workshops to guide the presentation.
This blog posts summarizes my presentation and provides resources for those interested in advocating for science funding. While the original audience of this presentation was engineering and science graduate students, the key takeaways apply broadly and can be adapted to any policy issue.
My objectives for the presentation were for attendees to:
Understand the institutional structure of Congress, how it influences scientific research through funding decisions, and the priorities of policymakers.
Identify Illinois Congressional Representatives and their policy priorities.
Have tools to compose advocacy letters to members of Congress that align with their priorities to support science and research funding.
University and Federal Policies
Before diving into the presentation, I covered some of the university and federal regulations regarding policy engagement. Individuals can always advocate for science and engage on political issues in their role as private citizens/individuals. However, universities may impose restrictions on using campus resources for political campaigns. While scholars can discuss policy issues, they cannot use university property or services to support political candidates or campaign activities.[1],[2] Researchers can educate and inform legislators on issues that impact them, like cuts to research funding, but cannot use university resources to help with a specific political campaign.
There are also restrictions on advocacy for federally funded scientists, which may extend to university researchers if their research is federally funded. Communication should be sent from personal email, on personal devices, and on personal time. Background and qualifications (e.g. I am a graduate student at UIUC) can be provided for identification purposes, but you should clarify that you are communicating in your capacity as a private individual and that your views do not necessarily reflect that of your employer, institution, or funding source. Some examples are shown below:
· “Titles and institutional affiliations are for identification purposes only.”
· “These are my personal views, not those of my organization”
When you advocate for scientific research, you should keep it broad to avoid conflicts of interest. For example, you could advocate for air quality research funding but not ask for funding for a specific study.
Science and the Federal Government
U.S. Congress, the Legislative Branch of the U.S. government, has a direct influence on science funding. Congress has the power to make new laws, change existing laws, and override presidential vetoes.[3] Crucial to research, Congress also funds government programs, holds hearings, and oversees the executive branch. There are 535 members of U.S. Congress, with 100 in the Senate and 435 in the House of Representatives.
The U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives have different structures (Figure 1), which can affect the priorities of the elected officials. For instance, Senators have 6-year terms, meaning they have the time to engage in longer-term projects. On the other hand, House members have 2-year terms and therefore face re-election more frequently, so they may be more cautious on controversial issues.
There are many ways that the U.S. government engages with science-relevant issues (Figure 2). The White House hosts several councils and offices focusing on science and technology. The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have various committees, caucuses, and task forces to address scientific issues. Additionally, there are several federal scientific agencies, which are what we are most familiar with as researchers.
Due to the high volume and complexity of its work, Congress delegates its tasks amongst committees. There are 4 main types of committees:
1. Standing committees – permanent committees specializing in certain subject areas (for instance the ones shown in Figure 2);
2. Subcommittees – handle specific areas of the committee’s work;
3. Joint committees – handle oversight and housekeeping responsibilities, includes members from both the House and Senate;
4. Select committees – created for a specific purposes for a limited time period to conduct a study or investigation.
A caucus is an informal organization of members of the House or Senate (or both), to discuss issues of mutual concern, perform legislative research, or engage in policy planning. Caucuses may also be called a task force or a coalition.
The committees and caucuses that a legislator joins reflects their priorities and their area of influence.
Illinois Politics
Illinois has 2 U.S. Senators and 17 U.S. Representatives.
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D) is the convener of Illinois’ bipartisan congressional delegation and is the Senate Democratic Whip (second highest ranking position in Senate Democrats). He has been elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, 2002, 2008, 2014 and 2020. He is a Ranking Member on the Senate Judiciary. He is also on the Appropriations Committee and the Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee.
U..S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D) is an Iraq War Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient. She was also the first Thai American woman elected to Congress, first woman with a disability elected to Congress, and first Senator to give birth while serving in office (2018). She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 and 2022, and previously represented Illinois’ 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for 2 terms. She served on the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis (report issued 2020), and currently serves on the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, Armed Services Committee, Foreign Relations Committee, and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. She also is the Founding Co-Chair of the Environmental Justice Caucus.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is located in Illinois 13th Congressional District, which spans Central and Southern Illinois (Figure 3), and is represented by U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D, IL-13). She is a UIUC alum, and is ranked one of the most bipartisan members of the House of Representatives by the Common Ground Committee. She is on the Agricultural Committee, Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Congressional Labor Caucus. She also is on the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, where she founded the Climate Jobs Task Force. She is a Freshman Leadership Representative on the New Democrat Coalition, a coalition dedicated to bipartisan solutions in Congress.
Why advocate for science?
At the AGU 2024 Fall Meeting, Washington Governor Jay Inslee encouraged the researchers in attendance to “be a bulldog” or in other words, be unafraid in advocating for science and its importance. He stated that scientists have more power than they realize.
With the growing cuts to scientific research budgets, it has become increasingly important to us as scientists to speak up and speak out in support of science. Letters, emails and social media help Congress members understand public priorities. Since most politicians lack a scientific background, your expertise can help bridge this gap and equip policymakers with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions.
Scientific organizations such as AGU are calling on members to reach out to policymakers, especially now, as the budget for FY25 is being proposed. Scientists are in unique position to urge Congress to preserve funding for scientific work, reject anti-science sentiment, and to protect the scientific workforce.
Ways to advocate for science
There are many ways to advocate for science. Here are some below:
Write (or email) your representatives: Writing is a great way to clearly explain your position. (See next section for tips!)
Call/talk to your representatives: Speaking directly to your representatives or their staff can be impactful. It helps to prepare a script to make sure you cover key talking points.
Postcard campaign recognizing federal scientists for their service: You can write postcards to federal agencies/scientists thanking them for their work and reinforce the value of their contributions.
Write letters to the editor of your local publication or op-ed: Explain how cuts to scientific funding will impact your local community, state or country more widely. People are more receptive to voices they trust.
Submit amicus briefs: On court cases involving science, amicus briefs provide expert insight. Since the Chevron Doctrine was overturned, courts, not agency experts, have the sole authority to interpret laws. Your expertise can help shape legal decisions and provide a valuable perspective that may not otherwise be heard. Organizations exist to assist with writing these briefs.
Use rules to your advantage: Familiarize yourself with relevant laws and keep documentation. This documentation could be used to demonstrate instances of political interference or censorship.
Be aware of resources to support you
Climate Science Legal Defense Fund has several Pocket Guides for Scientists on topics ranging from Engaging with Legislators on Behalf of Science to Scientific Activism & Protests:
Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is running a campaign to highlight the stories of scientists impacted by federal funding cuts, and has an open letter on NOAA. UCS is a nonprofit that backs scientists and advocates for evidence-based decision making.
Many professional organizations have resources to help support scientists during this time. For example, the American Geophysical Union (AGU) has a letter template and talking points for contacting legislators to advocate for science. The organization is also waiving membership fees for those whose job is impacted by federal funding cuts.
Preserve data and web content that may be removed: If possible, download any scientific webpages or data that contains important information that could be removed to ensure continued public access.
Writing a letter to a member of Congress
Anyone can write a letter to a member of Congress. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to express your views. The ACLU has several tips on how to write an effective letter:
Keep it brief: No longer than 1 page and limited to 1 issue. If you want to discuss multiple issues, write separate letters for each.
State who you are and what you want up front: In science-policy workshops, we are often taught to “invert the pyramid” (Figure 4) when addressing policy issues from the framework we use to write scientific papers. In scientific publications, we often start with the background of an issue, giving context on why the issue is important and then moving onto supporting details and our results and conclusion. But when communicating to legislators, who have many demands on their time and limited attention to give, it is best to remember “BLUFF” or Bottom Line Up Front First. Start with who you are and your ask, and then explain its impact before providing supporting details.
Personalize your letter: Explain why the issue you are writing about matters to your community or state. You can also share a personal story that shows how this issue affects you and your family. Personal stories are often more effective than facts alone. For instance, compare:
“In July 2023 the Great Lakes region experienced hazy conditions due to long-range transport of wildfire smoke from Canada. The pollution from the smoke reached concentration levels rarely seen over the past few decades.[4] This caused low visibility conditions and significant health impacts. Therefore we need to fund research into wildfires to protect air quality”
“Funding wildfire research is essential to protect the health of Illinois residents. When wildfire smoke reached Champaign in summer 2023, the sky turned yellow, my eyes burned, and I struggled to breathe. I had to take off work due to severe headaches. I have never experienced such terrible air quality in my life.”
Both statements convey a similar message—that wildfire smoke significantly impacts public health and greater research funding is needed in this area. However, the personal story makes the issue more relatable and urgent while keeping it grounded in reality.
Personalize your relationship: The closer your legislator is to you, the more powerful your argument is likely to be. Mention if you voted for them or live in their district. Find shared interests based on their committees or policy priorities. Establishing these personal connections, even if they are small similarities, can help strengthen your argument.
You are the expert: Remember that your legislator’s job is to represent you. You should be courteous and to the point, but don’t be afraid to take a firm position.
The AGU provides template letter that aligns with many of these principles, and can be used as a starting point. Personalizing this letter with your experiences, community impact and the legislator’s specific interests will make it more compelling.
Conclusion
I closed my presentation by sharing an example letter that I wrote to Senator Tammy Duckworth, demonstrating how to put these strategies into action. Now, I encourage you to do the same—reach out to your legislators and advocate for science.
Your voice matters. Your advocacy makes a difference. Let’s stand up for science together.
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