Policy & Critical Issues News

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AGI's Geoscience Policy program summarizes geoscience policy activities and related events in Washington, D.C. as part of an effort to keep AGI member societies and other audiences informed about relevant federal policy and legislative updates.

Policy News

Browse our Policy News Briefs, read our Monthly Review for a digest of policy information and activities, or peruse our Annual Review for a summary of the year's major developments in federal geoscience policy.

Please note that as of April 2019, the publication of news briefs and the monthly review has been suspended. Policy news from April 2019 back to 2010 is available below; to browse Monthly Reviews from 1996 through 2010, please visit the Monthly Review Archive.

Recent Policy News Briefs

Capitol at night
Bernhardt confirmed as Secretary of the Interior
(2019-04-12)
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved acting Interior Department Secretary David Bernhardt’s nomination for the permanent secretary position by a 14-6 vote on April 4. Despite receiving strong bipartisan support from the committee, Bernhardt’s confirmation remains encircled in...
Atlantic waves
House subcommittee meets to discuss ocean acidification bills
(2019-04-12)
The Subcommittee on Environment of the House Science Committee met on April 9 to discuss four bills to address ocean acidification: The National Estuaries and Acidification Research (NEAR) Act of 2019 (H.R.988), COAST Research Act of 2019 (H.R.1237), Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of...
Paricutín Volcano
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passes a series of disaster aid bills
(2019-04-12)
Several disaster aid bills, including the Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act (H.R. 1307), Disclosing Aid Spent to Ensure Relief (DISASTER) Act (H.R. 1984), Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act (H.R. 1306), and H.R. 1311, were introduced in the House Transportation and...
U.S. Money
House Appropriations Committee holds budget hearings for FY 2020
(2019-04-02)
Beginning on March 26, subcommittees of the House Appropriations Committee held a series of fiscal year (FY) 2020 budget hearings for agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Energy (DOE), and National...
U.S. Capitol with flag
Federal Register Summary: March 2019
(2019-04-02)
A summary of notices posted to the Federal Register by geoscience-related federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Department of the Interior, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, and more.
IES Oceans Glyph
House committee holds hearing on reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program
(2019-04-01)
On March 13, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). NFIP was last reauthorized by Congress on December 21, 2018, authorizing the program through May 31, 2019. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (...
Atlantic waves
House subcommittee holds hearing on the energy-water nexus
(2019-04-01)
On March 7, the House Science, Space and Technology Committee met to discuss the complex web of connections between the energy and water sectors, as well as the implications of this nexus for society and the economy. The committee heard from experts in academia, industry, and the non-profit sector...
Study group
House passes bipartisan bill to support energy efficiency in schools
(2019-04-01)
On March 5, the House passed the Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of 2019 (H.R. 762), a bill that directs the Department of Energy (DOE)’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to provide a clearinghouse of information on programs and funding geared towards making schools...
The Noble John Sandifer jackup rig
House subcommittee holds hearing on offshore energy policies at BOEM and BSEE
(2019-04-01)
On March 6, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a hearing to discuss the policies and priorities of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Both BSEE and...
Capitol at night
Natural Resources Committee investigates rollback of national monument protections
(2019-03-27)
The House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on rollbacks of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments on March 13. The December 2017 proclamations authorizing the downscaling of the monuments followed a comprehensive review of 27 national monuments for potential...
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Annual Review of Geoscience Federal Policy

Education Policy Review (January-June 2018)

 

Federal Geoscience Funding

Stay up-to-date on the budget process and appropriations by fiscal year with the Library of Congress Appropriations and Budget page. The AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program provides information on trends in federal research and development funding, including information on the president's budget request and appropriations bills. AIP's Federal Science Budget Tracker also has useful information on the status of budgets and appropriations relevant to the physical sciences.

Overview of Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations
Overview of Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations
Overview of Fiscal Year 2016 Appropriations
Overview of Fiscal Year 2015 Appropriations
Overview of Fiscal Year 2014 Appropriations


Browse all Geoscience Federal Funding Information

 

Federal Geoscience Nominations

Track the confirmation process of key geoscience presidential nominations through the Library of Congress and the websites of Senate committees of jurisdiction. Learn more About Nominations by the U.S. President and the confirmation process through the Library of Congress.