AN EXPEDITION TO THE CAPITOL: WORKING WITH LAWMAKERS TO ENSURE LEGISLATION INCORPORATES THE GEOSCIENCE PERSPECTIVE

Each year, state legislators and Congresspersons introduce tens of thousands of bills at the state and federal level. Many of those bills address issues of interest to, and would benefit from, input from geoscientists. Unfortunately, identifying relevant bills and becoming involved in the legislative process can be as difficult as doing geology on Mars. However, just as careful planning and engineering can put a rover on Mars, so, too, can careful effort put a geoscientist into the capitol and the law-making process.

The first step is to meet with a local elected representative to investigate their interests and issues and then visit the capitol to observe the legislature at work. Next, a few relevant bills should be sampled and examined. Most, if not all, legislatures put their bills on-line in searchable databases that include the sponsors, status, and amendments; in addition, schedules of sessions and hearings are posted and streaming video may be available. Finally, the bill should be discussed with a willing legislator to learn about its origin and prospects as well as discuss its merits and deficiencies. In the bill-making process, a geoscientist’s role can vary from observer to objective commenter to advocate requiring professional synthesis of background knowledge.

During the 97^th Illinois General Assembly (2011-2012), legislators introduced 10,137 bills, some involving issues intersecting the geosciences. I will discuss recent work I have done on bills dealing with carbon capture and sequestration, hydraulic fracturing, and the structure and funding of the state’s Department of Natural Resources. Often the lone geologist in the room, I have provided background information, identified technical concerns, and given referrals. I will discuss how I became involved and my efforts to ensure the inclusion of the geoscience perspective.