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| Volume 29 Number 7 |
May / June 2004 |
2004 Congressional Visits Day a Success
By Nicole Smith, Public Policy Chair
On April 21, 2004, AIAA hosted its annual Congressional Visits Day in
Washington, D.C. Four members from the Houston Section joined forces with
other members from the North Texas Section, San Antonio, and Fredricksburg to
meet with their local congressional members and discuss pressing aerospace
issues.
Houston representatives Sophia Bright, Bill Atwell, Luke Mays, and Nicole
Smith met with Representatives Lampson, Smith, and Green. They also met
with staff from the offices of Senators Hutchison and Cornyn, as well as
staff from the offices of Representatives Hall, Jackson-Lee, Burgess,
Barton, Paul, DeLay, and Carter.
Team Texas at CVD (right to left): Brett Williams (Fredricksburg),
Nicole
Smith (Houston), Luke Mays (Houston), Cory Tallman (Ft. Worth),
Russell
Conkling (San Antonio), Eleanor Aldrige (Houston), Sophia Bright (Houston),
Jay Bradshaw (Texas A&M), Bill Atwell (Houston), Jim McLane (Ft. Worth),
Michael Beavin (AIAA National Office)
AIAA Nationals publishes an annual "Top Issues" list that is included in
informational packets that are distributed to the congressional members.
The Houston Section also included JSC- and NASA-related economic data for each
member's district and all of Texas combined. The members were very excited
to get such information. In addition, the Houston Section elaborated on
a number of issues that are closer to home. These issues were: National
Exploration Vision (including current programs such as Shuttle Return To
Flight and International Space Station, as well as future programs such
as the Moon and Mars), Space Commercialization, Workforce Issues, and the
National Aerospace Research and Technology Plan. Members were extremely
receptive to our issues and we stressed that they can always contact the
Houston Section for more aerospace industry grassroots information.
Visiting Congressman Lampson: Luke Mays, Nicole Smith,
Russell Conkling,
Jim McLane, Sophia Bright, Schedir Illodi
For more information on the Houston Section's public policy activities,
please contact Nicole Smith, Houston Section Public Policy Chair,
or Sophia Bright.
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