Biophysical Society Bulletin | October 2022

Public Affairs

Behind the Capitol Curtain As the outgoing BPS Congressional Fellow, it’s my privilege to share a final update on my experience with the biophysics community. My year working as a Congressional Science & Engineering Fellow for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’ Subcommittee on Children and Families has been for this tremendous opportunity. In this report, I’d like to share three lessons and insights on how the U.S. Congress functions to help the biophysics community better understand, and more effectively engage with, their elected representatives. Behind every member of Congress is a team of dedicated staff members. Prior to joining Congressional staff, I won dered how any one individual could possibly have the exper tise or knowledge to make informed decisions on every policy they acted on (particularly in science and technology). In short, they don’t…at least not all at once or all the time. Represen tatives and senators largely function as the president of an eponymous corporation, or perhaps the principal investigator of an academic laboratory—they set high-level priorities, values, mission, and tone that their staff seek to implement and advance with fidelity. Each member’s office includes legislative staff that specialize in certain policy areas. Most in depth legislative and policy development work is carried out by these staffers, and the member is briefed prior to votes, hearings, interviews, meetings, or decision points to provide the information needed for them to make informed choices or Max Olender remarkably meaningful and infor mative, and allowed me to immerse myself in an entirely new environ ment. I’m indebted to the Society

engage in productive dialogue. While many constituents are highly motivated to meet with their senator or representative to discuss their issues of interest, meeting with the member’s staff leading work in that area is often the more productive (and far more accessible, though less photogenic) option. Ideas aren’t in short supply, but time and attention are. Constituents, advocacy groups, industry and interest groups, think tanks, and others are constantly approaching Congress to request policies. Some even arrive with a ready-to-intro duce bill in hand. Staff also generate their own policy ideas. However, passing a bill can be immensely challenging and time consuming. Each step in the process requires members of Congress to expend time, resources, and political capital, and risks opening oneself or one’s party to criticism or vulner ability. Additionally, there are innumerable challenges facing the country at any given time. Consequently, members need to be highly motivated to champion any specific policy. While this motivation can sometimes come from personal experi ence with an issue, a primary motivation of elected officials is the belief that one’s work will be appreciated and rewarded by constituents. This is usually best achieved by broad coalitions of constituents and stakeholders who convey—through direct engagement with the office or through the press—the importance of the policy to their home state or district. Everything you see is meant to be seen, but not everything you see is as it seems. For example, impassioned speeches on the floor of the Senate are often delivered to an empty room. Such televised monologues typically aren’t meant to sway the positions of other members of Congress on a partic ular issue or bill, but rather to communicate to the public with the gravitas afforded by the special venue and perceived in tent of high-minded debate. Similarly manufactured for public

consumption are scenarios in which members or parties are forced to vote against legislation that seems nominally uncontroversial and wholesome. Such bills and amendments Applications Are Open for the Biophysical Society 2023–2024 Congressional Fellowship Interested in using your science skills to inform science policy? Does spending a year working on Capitol Hill in Wash ington, DC helping to develop policy sound exciting? The Biophysical Society’s Congressional Fellowship program (https:/www.biophysics.org/policy-advocacy/congressional-fellowship) is your opportunity to participate directly in the process of lawmaking that impacts how research is funded and regulated. This year-long opportunity provides fel lows a chance to utilize their science knowledge to inform the public policy process. Fellows will gain firsthand knowl edge and experience on how Congress works and participate in the esteemed AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellows program (https:/www.aaas.org/program/science-technology-policy-fellowships) that provides ongoing train ing and networking opportunities during the fellowship year and beyond. Visit the website (https:/www.biophysics. org/policy-advocacy/congressional-fellowship) for more details about the program or contact Leann Fox at fellows@ biophysics.org or (240) 290-5606. The application deadline is December 13, 2022.

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