The Monthly Review is part of a continuing effort to improve communications about the role of geoscience in policy.
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December 2015

Budget

• Congress passes FY 2016 omnibus spending bill increasing funding for geosciences

Congress

• House passes bill amending the Natural Gas Act
• Sen. Sanders and others introduce bills supporting transition to clean energy
• House Committee holds underground hearing on mining workforce, education 

​Energy

• New DOE funding opportunity hopes to spur retrieval of rare earths and other critical materials from geothermal fluids

Environment

• House passes bill which bans the use of microbeads
• Update to USGCRP Strategic Plan published in the Federal Register
• Legislators call for a halt to Atlantic seismic surveys

​Federal Agencies & Administration

• NDAA includes provision supporting conference travel for scientists
• President signs bill strengthening K-12 STEM education
• Dr. Suzette Kimball confirmed as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey

Water

• House legislation introduced that would allow farmers tax breaks for water conservation 

​Federal Register

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Monthly Review prepared by: Maeve Boland, Geoscience Policy Director; Abby Seadler, Geoscience Policy Associate; Danielle Woodring, AGI/AAPG Geoscience Policy Intern.

 

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Compiled January 4, 2016