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Lessons from the IFT’s Congressional Science Fellowship Program: Insights and Experience

In my year as a Congressional Science Fellow with the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), I navigated the intersection of science and policy. This unique experience highlighted key issues in biotechnology, food policy, and the legislative process. I learned about the structure of Congress, the importance of committees, and the intricate dynamics of bipartisan cooperation. This reflection on my fellowship with IFT and AAAS serves to inform others in scientific fields who wish to engage with legislative processes and contribute their expertise to public policy.

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Lessons from the IFT’s Congressional Science Fellowship Program: Insights and Experience

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  1. Science & Congress What I Learned, and Unlearned, in My Year as IFT’s Congressional Science Fellow

  2. Tom Zinnen Biotechnology Policy & Outreach University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Extension

  3. IFT & AAAS Congressional Science Fellowship Program • IFT is the Institute of Food Technologists

  4. IFT & AAAS Congressional Science Fellowship Program • IFT is the Institute of Food Technologists • IFT is now in its sixth year of participation • AAAS program in its 28th year

  5. IFT & AAAS Congressional Science Fellowship Program • IFT is the Institute of Food Technologists • IFT is now in its sixth year of participation • AAAS program in its 28th year • About 35 scientific societies involved • Selection in spring • Orientations begin at the end of August • 95 fellows total: 39 in Congress, the rest in the executive branch

  6. Benefits to IFT • Fulfilling the aspiration to be the leading voice for science in food policy. • Building a corps of members with experience and connections within Congress and the executive branch. • Providing an opportunity for members to participate in government

  7. Selection • Nominations in January • Reviewed in February • Interviews in March or April • Selection in May • Transition in summer • AVMA/CoFARM orientation, end of Aug • AAAS orientation, 2 weeks in Sept

  8. Placement • If I’m free and have a PhD, why is this so hard? • Questions: • House or Senate • Personal or Committee • R or D • Issues or Personality

  9. IFT’s Congressional Science Fellows • Joe Regenstein, Senate personal • Stephanie Smith, Senate committee • Mickey Parrish, Cong. Research Service • Joan Rothenberg, House personal • Tom Zinnen, House committee • Monica Seagroves-Fanjoy

  10. Placement • Timing • Election year • Presidential election year • Status of appropriations bills • Staff familiarity with AAAS and experience with fellows • Space

  11. Top Issues: • Biotech & food • Genomics • International trade • US biotech & food policy • Sharing Science with The Public • Privacy, Intellectual Property, Propriety

  12. The Senate is the Enemy Majority Rules A Working Body 2 year terms--you’re running all the time Dissolves & reorganizes every other year The House is the Enemy Minority Rights A Deliberative Body 6 year terms A continuing body Shares head of government functions with president House versus Senate

  13. House Committee on Agriculture • House committees: A and B • Committee chairmanships: 6 year rule • Mr Combest of Texas

  14. House Committee on Agriculture • House committees: A and B • Committee chairmanships: 6 year rule • Mr Combest of Texas • Mr Stenholm of Texas

  15. House Committee on Agriculture • House committees: A and B • Committee chairmanships: 6 year rule • Mr Combest of Texas • Mr Stenholm of Texas • 49 others • Large committee, high turnover

  16. JurisdictionIn Relation to other Committees • House Ag is an Authorizing Committee • It must deal with the Ag Appropriations Subcommittee • Budget, Rules, Ways & Means, Appropriations • Judiciary, Energy & Commerce, Resources, Science • Examples: Dairy Compacts, Water, Trade

  17. Jurisdiction, 2 • USDA • FDA (food) • EPA (some aspects of pesticides)

  18. Constituencies • America’s Farmers and Ranchers • America’s Ranchers and Farmers • The Farmers and Ranchers of America • The Ranchers and Farmers of America • The Growers and Producers of America’s Food and Fiber and BioFuels • (The people who ship and market food)

  19. Calendar • Jan 3 • Jan 20 • March: Budget Resolution • August recess • Oct 1, new FY • Jan • March • Oct 1 • Nov X, Election Day

  20. Organizing the Committee • Protect Jurisdiction • Chairmanship • Membership of Committee • Number of Subcommittees • Chairmen of Subcommittees

  21. What do Congress Members Do? • Legislate: Make and Amend Statutes • Budget: Plan to spend money, spend it, and account for it • Constituent service • Oversight • Get re-elected

  22. Oversight • Staff briefings • Member briefings • Hearings • GAO reports • NAS and other reports

  23. Food Issues in 2000-2001 • StarLink, September 18, 2000 • Mad Cow Disease in Germany, Nov 2000 • Foot & Mouth Disease in UK, Feb2001 • Other Life Science Issues • Genomics: Human, Arabidopsis, E. coli • Cloning & Human Embryonic Stem Cells

  24. StarLink • The Split Approval • The Blunder: Applying the Standards of Practice of Hybrid Corn Production but Not the Standard of Performance • 660’ isolation, 3% tolerance = hybrid corn • 660’ isolation, zero tolerance = StarLink • Contaminant vs Adulterant • Detecting DNA suffices • Impacts on the food chain and brandnames

  25. Foot & Mouth Disease • Recently in Taiwan • By Accident or By Malice: • General concern about Invasive Species • Specific Concern in Agroterrorism • In UK, impacts on rural economy • In Agriculture • In Tourism

  26. Mad Cow Disease in Europe • Words Count • Reassurances that may or may not address Risks • Measures by USDA • Communication by USDA • The Important Difference between Making Statements about Nature and Making Statements about Our Best Understanding of Nature

  27. Words Count, Continued • EU’s new reviews of transgenic crops • “No risk to humans, livestock or the environment” • $4 billion is bigger than $400 million

  28. Politics, Policy & Science • The order is the essence • Where do Members get their scientific advice? • “Who ya gonna call?”

  29. Researching Risks of Biotech • 1% of Biotech for Risk Research • Six flavors of Biotech • All the money goes to researching risks of only one flavor • What’s a fair comparison?

  30. The Bombings in Seattle and Clatskanie

  31. The Bombings in Seattle and Clatskanie • $5 million damage to U. of Washington Urban Horticulture Facility in Seattle • The Impact of the Front Page Color Photo Above the Fold in the NY Times • Governmental Responses to Protect the People and the Facilities that Make Up the Research, Extension and Education System in Agriculture

  32. Some Trends • The “S” Word for Grains and Dairy, but not for Livestock and Fruits & Veggies. • Continued emphasis on production ag • Conservation as a way to increase farm income consistent with WTO and with the support of urban America • Inroads in a broader view of the food system

  33. Funding for Life Sciences and for Ag & Food Science • NIH • NSF • USDA

  34. Understanding the Powers & Limits of Science • Dealing with Uncertainty • Probing the Unknown

  35. Would I do it again? • In a Heartbeat

  36. Do I encourage others to try? • Absolutely--it’s a transforming experience.

  37. Thanks to • IFT • IFT Foundation • IFT Chicago Staff, esp. Mary Helen Arthur • IFT DC Staff, esp. Stephanie Smith and Fred Shank • UWEX • UWBC

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