Government Affairs Committee
On February 17, 2009, in celebration of the ACS Contact Congress Week, members of the ACS San Diego Government Affairs Committee (GAC) arranged a visit with U.S. Representative Brian Bilbray’s District office (CA-50).
We met with his Field Representative, Mr. Brian Jones. We discussed such issues as the Green/Sustainable Chemistry R&D Act and federal support for Science Education and Science Research Funding. An introduction to the ACS and the local section activities was also provided.
Rep. Bilbray is a member of the House Committee on Science and Technology. For his stands on science-related issues visit http://sharp.sefora.org/people/house/brian-bilbray/
Pictured from left: Dr. Sonja Strah-Pleynet (GAC Chair), Dr. Randy Smith, Mr. Brian Jones, Dr. David Wallace; Dr. Hui Cai (Section Chair), Dr. Bill Tolley and Dr. David Brown.
The San Diego ACS Government Affairs Committee thanks Rep. Brian Bilbray’s district staff for taking the time to review policy items of interest to the ACS members. Thanks also to Brad Smith and Barclay Satterfield of the ACS Office of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. for providing talking points and background materials on the ACS Public Policy Priorities.
I would like to encourage you all, my fellow ACS members, to join the ACS Legislative Action Network athttp://www.act4chemistry.org/ or get involved in you Local Section Government Affairs activities. For more information you can contact me at mailto:sspleynet@gmail.com.
Sonja Strah-Pleynet, Ph.D.
Chair, Government Affairs Committee
ACS San Diego Section
Speaking to Congress during 2009 ACS National Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Congress needs to hear from you. In conjunction with the 2009 ACS Fall National Meeting in Washington, D.C., ACS is urging its members to meet with your representatives in Congress.
This is an exciting and valuable opportunity for you. You can become a resource and potentially provide ongoing local scientific advice and technical expertise to your members of Congress. No experience is necessary–ACS staff has developed online training and briefing material.
If interested in joining this effort or you want more information, go to and log in to the ACS Network (http://www.acs.org/network), select groups, and search for “DC National Meeting Congressional Visits.” You can also contact Brad Smith at b_smith@acs.org or your local section’s Government Affairs Committee Chair, Sonja Strah-Pleynet, at sspleynet@gmail.com