NPCC ACTION ALERT: Speak out for plants and science THIS WEEK during Congressional recess.

Native Plant Conservation Campaign Action Alert: THIS WEEK - Speak out for plants and science during Congressional recess. Tell Congress to reject Trump budget.

May 29, 2017

Your senators and representatives are home until June 2 to hear exactly what their constituents think of how they are doing in Washington. You can tell them THIS WEEK at a town hall meeting!

The Trump budget proposal slashes funding for science and conservation in the U.S. and around the world. According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), if [the Trump budget] were to become law, would devastate America’s science and technology enterprise and negatively affect our nation’s economy and public well-being.

Selected proposed cuts (source Ecological Society of America)*

Environmental Protection Agency (clean water, air, climate change): $5.7 billion, 31% decrease
USDA/Forest Service: $4.7 billion, 10% decrease
DOI/Fish and Wildlife Service (Endangered Species Act): $1.3 billion, 14% decrease
DOI/National Park Service: $2.55 billion, 13% decrease
National Science Foundation: $6.7 billion, 11% decrease

In response, 148 scientific societies have sent a joint letter to congressional leaders on the importance of federal research funding.

Add your voice to theirs! AAAS has helpful resources tips and resources if you want to attend a Congressional Town Hall meeting this week.

You can also meet with your representatives during the August recess. Join the American Institute for Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits Event. They will help you set up your meeting. Register by July 18, 2017.

AAAS also offers tools to help you

Write to your Members of Congress
Write a Letter to the Editor

Speak Out for Plants and Science! Whether you write your local paper, your elected representatives or attend a Congressional town hall, the NPCC Speak Out for Plants page offers talking points and background on the importance of plant conservation.

* Topline agency numbers, compared to FY 2017 enacted budgets: Numbers may be slightly different due to rounding. Unless otherwise noted in the summaries that follow, FY 2018 proposed funding is compared to FY 2017 funding as enacted in the Omnibus Appropriations bill.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS ALERT to friends, organizations and colleagues!