AIP’s Science Policy Information Services

The new Republican majority takes control of the 104th Congress on January 4. All congressional committees, including those responsible for authorizing and funding the National Science Foundation, NASA, Department of Energy, and NIST, will have new chairs, and many will have their subcommittee structure revamped. What will these changes mean for science policy? Who are the new Members of the reorganized committees, and what do voting records say about the new committee chairs’ positions on scientific issues?

The American Institute of Physics, through its Office of Government and Institutional Relations, provides the physics and astronomy communities with the information needed to understand what is going on in Washington. An electronic science policy briefing, FYI, reports on congressional and administration developments. This publication, and other services, are described below:

INFORMATION PRODUCTS:

FYI is distributed several times weekly by electronic mail subscription, and is also posted on AIP’s HomePage and on PINET, AIP’s Physics Information Network. In-depth coverage of policy, budget, and related matters is provided, centering on physics-related developments in the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, NASA, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. FYI is available without charge.

You may subscribe to FYI using AIP’s automated listserver. Send an e-mail message to “listserv@aip.org ” and type “add fyi” as the body of your message. The listserver will pick up your e-mail address from the header of your message. If you wish to add a different e-mail address than the one in your header, write “add `e-mail address’ fyi” as the message. Do NOT send subscription requests to our correspondence address, which is fyi@aip.org

To remove your address, follow the above steps, substituting “delete fyi” in the message field. The listserver will not allow deletions from any address other than that in the header; please write to fyi@aip.org with such a request.

For an e-mail set of subscription instructions, write to “listserv@aip.org ” with the message “help”.

FYI can also be viewed as follows:

- AIP’s Physics Information Network (PINET) under Information.

- Current and previous issues can be accessed on AIP’s HomePage on the World Wide Web (http://www.aip.org ) under Online Products and Services -- Electronic Newsletters.

- Previous issues can also be accessed via a gopher program or through anonymous file transfer protocol (ftp).

FYI #2 will provide further instructions on viewing the FYI archives.

AIP also provides a brochure entitled “Communicating with Congress,” with guidelines on writing to, and visiting with, Members of Congress. Single copies are provided at no charge. Please send a self-addressed, stamped (32 cents) business-sized envelope to: AIP Office of Government and Institutional Relations, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3843. A workshop kit is also available for talks; please call (301-209-3095) for details.

INFORMATION SERVICES:

This office has access to an electronic legislative data service, and files are maintained on a variety of science policy issues. Call for information on:

Members of Congress: Districts, voting records, biographies, office addresses and telephone numbers, and names of science policy legislative assistants and appointment secretaries.

Science Policy Committees: Committee rosters, names of key staff members, jurisdiction, addresses and telephone numbers.

Scheduling Information: Hearing schedules and the congressional calendar.

Reports and Documents: Ordering information on major science policy documents.

Legislation: Copies of bills, cosponsors, status, and selected hearing testimony.

General Information: Call if you need assistance with the difference between an authorization bill and an appropriations bill, the name of President Clinton’s science advisor, your Members of Congress, or the roster of the committee with jurisdiction over an agency.

These services are provided without charge by the American Institute of Physics. We welcome any suggestions on how to assist you.

E-mail correspondence address: fyi@aip.org (preferred) Voice phone numbers: 301-209-3095 or 3094; fax number: 301-209-0846. U.S. mail address: American Institute of Physics, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Maryland 20740-3843.