To: State Elected Officials
Join Bill Nye in Taking Urgent Action for Science
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During this time of unprecedented attacks on science and public access by the federal government, we need you to stand strong for science and transparency.
The current administration has committed an unprecedented number of attacks on science and has shown it cannot be trusted to rely on science for policymaking. Further, under the current administration, federal science agencies are routinely and inappropriately bypassing notice and comment when updating or removing regulations.
As a state elected official, you are the last line of defense to preserve the health and safety of our communities by adhering to the best available science and constitutionally protected democratic processes. I urge you to do the following:
The current administration has committed an unprecedented number of attacks on science and has shown it cannot be trusted to rely on science for policymaking. Further, under the current administration, federal science agencies are routinely and inappropriately bypassing notice and comment when updating or removing regulations.
As a state elected official, you are the last line of defense to preserve the health and safety of our communities by adhering to the best available science and constitutionally protected democratic processes. I urge you to do the following:
- Do not limit or deny public access to state-collected data.
- Keep local water and air pollution guidelines aligned with the best available research and scientific consensus.
- Continue to require the American Academy of Pediatrics immunizations schedule for public school children (unless exempted by a physician), and other evidence-based public health measures.
- Follow the legally mandated public comment process that allows for constituent and scientific engagement in decisionmaking.
Why is this important?
Bill Nye—Science Guy—here. I’m writing on behalf of Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) with an urgent request for you to take action to help keep science in policymaking in your state.
It’s only been one year under our current administration, but they have already done more damage to science and democracy than perhaps any administration in modern history. They have shuttered entire agencies, frozen billions of dollars essential to research and public health funding, and fired or otherwise pushed out hundreds of thousands of dedicated civil servants. They’ve rolled back pollution standards, lied about climate science, and boosted fossil fuel profits at the expense of people, wildlife, and our environment. And they’ve made changes to hundreds of public health, safety, and environmental rules without public input—even when it’s required by law.
Now, we need to be reaching out to our elected officials to ensure that they keep science in policymaking.
You and I both know that what’s happening right now is not normal, and it is not okay.Like so many authoritarian leaderships, they want to be the sole source of truth—and know that independent science threatens that power.
That’s why the work being done at UCS is more critical than ever. If we want to protect our communities, our democracy, and our planet, we must fight back against these attacks.
Please join me by telling your elected state officials to keep science and transparency strong in your state.
The scientific community and UCS supporters are and always have been stronger together.
As UCS President and CEO Dr. Gretchen Goldman says in arecent article, co-authored in Science magazine:
It’s only been one year under our current administration, but they have already done more damage to science and democracy than perhaps any administration in modern history. They have shuttered entire agencies, frozen billions of dollars essential to research and public health funding, and fired or otherwise pushed out hundreds of thousands of dedicated civil servants. They’ve rolled back pollution standards, lied about climate science, and boosted fossil fuel profits at the expense of people, wildlife, and our environment. And they’ve made changes to hundreds of public health, safety, and environmental rules without public input—even when it’s required by law.
Now, we need to be reaching out to our elected officials to ensure that they keep science in policymaking.
You and I both know that what’s happening right now is not normal, and it is not okay.Like so many authoritarian leaderships, they want to be the sole source of truth—and know that independent science threatens that power.
That’s why the work being done at UCS is more critical than ever. If we want to protect our communities, our democracy, and our planet, we must fight back against these attacks.
Please join me by telling your elected state officials to keep science and transparency strong in your state.
The scientific community and UCS supporters are and always have been stronger together.
As UCS President and CEO Dr. Gretchen Goldman says in arecent article, co-authored in Science magazine:
“The ability to tell the truth, even (or especially) when it does not suit any particularly partisan aims, is an essential prerequisite for a free society. Scientists can leverage their substantial social standing and trustworthiness to preserve this vital ingredient.”
It’s an all-hands-on-deck moment for protecting science and our democracy. Now is the time to join together and demand that elected leaders at all levels represent our communities and prioritize public safeguards informed by science, to ensure that our democracy remains and our voices are heard.
We need your help holding these protections and holding the line against these attacks on science for the public good. The founders included Science in the Constitution. They knew its value for our quality of life and international competitiveness.
Join me today in defending science and democracy.
Sincerely,
Bill Nye
Science Educator and National Advisory Board Member for Union of Concerned Scientists