Policy Resources

Ecologist’s Guide to Policy

This publication focuses on opportunities to connect ecological information to public policy issues. Aimed primarily at ecological scientists, the book covers the Congressional and Executive branches-highlighting federal agencies with environmental regulatory authority or resource management responsibilities-an overview of key environmental laws, tips on effective preparation and communication during in-person meetings, congressional testimony, crafting opinion editorials, talking with rotary clubs, contributing to science blogs and working with the media. View the PDF here.

For tips on how to engage in policy, see ESA’s policy toolkit:

• Meet with your lawmakers
• Write a lawmaker
• Make a public comment
• Invite a policymaker to visit your field station or lab

Federal Budget

• ESA’s Federal Budget Tracker provides an overview of the federal budget process and the current state of funding for federal agencies of interest.
• See also: the Federal Budgeting and Appropriations Process from NSF

Recommended Policy Resources

• CAISE Research and Practice Task Force & Project Planner for Informal Science Learning and Science Communication
• What You Need to Know to Meet Your Lawmaker – Video by the American Chemical Society
• Engaging Scientists and Engineers in Policy Coalition – An ad hoc alliance of organizations that have joined together to empower scientists and engineers to effectively engage in the policy making process at all levels of government.
• Federation of American Scientists – Congressional Science Policy Initiative – This program tracks Legislative Branch activity, and when key hearings are announced after which the team solicits the Congressioanl Science Policy Initative community for questions and ideas that Members of Congress could raise during the hearing. Federation of American Scientists President Ali Nouri hosted a webinar with ESA members about this program and tool. See the webinar recording for more details.

Agencies of interest

Agencies of interest to the ecological community and the congressional committees that oversee funding for them:

Department of Agriculture:

• House Agriculture Committee (ARS, NIFA/AFRI)
• House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee (ARS, NIFA/AFRI)
• Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee (ARS, NIFA/AFRI, US Forest Service)
• Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee (ARS, NIFA/AFRI)
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (US Forest Service)
• House Natural Resources Committee (US Forest Service)
• Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee (US Forest Service)

Department of Education:

• House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee
• House Education and Labor Committee
• Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee
• Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee

Department of Energy:

• House Energy & Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee
• House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  • Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment
• Senate Energy & Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee
• Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee

National Science Foundation:

• House Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee
• House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  • Subcommittee on Research and Technology
• Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee
• Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
  • Subcommittee on Science, Oceans, Fisheries and Weather

Department of Interior:

• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
• House Natural Resources Committee
• Senate Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee
• Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works  (Fish and Wildlife Service)
• Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee (National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Geological Survey)

Environmental Protection Agency:

• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
•  House Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Subcommitee on Environment and Climate Change
• House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  • Subcommittee on Environment
• Senate Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee
• Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

• House Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee
• House Natural Resources Committee
• Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee
• Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
  • Subcommittee on Science, Oceans, Fisheries and Weather

Take Action: ESA periodically notifies select members of opportunities to weigh in on key policy issues in their areas of interest. To stay abreast of all action alerts, consider subscribing to Policy News.

Recent action alerts include:

• Science Funding: Ask your Members of Congress to restore funding for science for FY 2020 (2019)
• Science Funding: Ask your Members of Congress to restore funding for science for FY2019 (2018)
• Keep Tax Exemption for Tuition Waivers (2017)
• Call for Experts in Hurricane Aftermath (2017)
• Comment on National Monument Review (2017)