Landsats Aff

AT: Politics – USGS Bipart

Bipartisan support for increasing USGS budget
Simpson 3/17 (Mike, Republican Representative, congressional hearing on 2012 USGS budget, http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/political-transcript-wire/mi_8167/is_20110320/rep-mike-simpson-holds-hearing/ai_n57124204/?tag=mantle_skin;content, accessed 7-9-11, JMB)

SIMPSON: Again, thanks for being here today. We appreciate it. I think as our opening statements and our comments suggest, there are areas were even in this climate of trying to reduce budgets Republicans and Democrats agree, and one of them is that the value of the USGS is one of the valuable science agencies in this -- in this government. And we have some real concerns about the direction that is -- that the budget is heading whether it's from OMB or whoever. It causes us all a great deal of concern when we are reducing the resources for water management and water science. And for them to suggest that -- and I guess what they were saying is your budget will be taking these cuts regardless of whether Landsat went over to USGS or not.

AT: Politics – USGS Popular

Key committee members support USGS – earthquake programs
Hearing on USGS budget 3/17 (Marcia McNutt, director of USGS, and Mike Moran, ranking member of the sci and tech subcommittee, http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/political-transcript-wire/mi_8167/is_20110320/rep-mike-simpson-holds-hearing/ai_n57124204/?tag=mantle_skin;content, accessed 7-9-11, JMB)

But as a real example of the effects of these cuts to our external grants programs in earthquake hazards, yesterday, the president of Caltech, Jean-Lou Chameau, paid me a visit to talk about areas of common interest. And as he was leaving, he happened to let drop, he said, "I have to thank the USGS because," he said, "the fact that I'm here in this country and the fact that I'm president of Caltech is thanks to the USGS because," he said, "I came here to the USGS on a one year fellowship to do a master's degree at Stanford University. And after that one year, I was in danger of being deported. And I was saved to complete a Ph.D here thanks to a USGS earthquake research grant that allowed me to stay and complete a Ph.D at Stanford." And his earthquake research grant was to do a detailed study of strong ground and ocean shaking in the Marina district of San Francisco, just years before that area was strongly hit by the Loma Prieta earthquake and his analysis of the shaking in that district, the Marina district, actually very well matched the actual damage that was done and allowed planners in that area to prepare infrastructure in advance of that earthquake. So that's the kind of work that's done. That's the kind of person that's supported and that's the kind of leader we have in this country now, thanks to USGS. MORAN: It's a great story. I do think that I will mention to the Ranking Member of the full committee that in looking down the cities that are at highest risk for active volcanoes, Seattle and Tacoma Washington are at the top of the list. Mr. Dicks may have some interest in that fact.

Multiple organizations oppose USGS cuts
Soil and Water Conservation Society 2 (Apr. 1, http://www.swcs.org/index.cfm?nodeID=6788&action=display&newsID=428, accessed 7-9-11, JMB)

The Soil and Water Conservation Society has joined with a number of organizations interested in water resources to oppose the proposed cuts to USGS water monitoring programs. The Soil and Water Conservation Society has joined with a number of organizations interested in water resources to oppose the proposed cuts to USGS water monitoring programs. American Rivers * American Society of Civil Engineers * American Water Works Association Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies * Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies The Groundwater Foundation * Groundwater Resources Association of California National Ground Water Association * National Society of Professional Engineers * Sierra Club Soil and Water Conservation Society * Water Environment Federation* WaterWatch of Oregon
Minerals associations oppose USGS funding cuts
O’Driscoll 4/8 (Mike, 2011, http://www.indmin.com/Article/2804358/Mineral-assocations-join-to-oppose-budget-cuts-to-USGS.html, accessed 7-9-11, JMB)

Minerals associations in North America have joined forces to opposed planned funding cuts to the US Geological Survey (USGS) by the US government. The Industrial Minerals Association-North America (IMA-NA) and the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) joined 13 other US trade associations in a letter advising Congress of the negative impact a proposed budget on US industry. The letter opposes the Obama administration's substantial funding cut, S2.7m., or 17%, to the financial year (FY) 2012 US Geological Survey's Mineral Resources Program.
Congress supports USGS – restored its funding
Schiffries 4/15 (Dr. Craig M., Director for Geoscience Policy at the Geological Society of America, congressional testimony, http://www.geosociety.org/geopolicy/news/0411-HouseTestimonyOnUSGS.pdf, accessed 7-9-11, JMB)

The USGS budget has been nearly stagnant in real dollars since 1996. The USGS budget for FY 2010 was below the USGS budget for FY 2001 in real dollars. The decline in funding for the USGS during this time period would have been greater if Congress had not repeatedly restored proposed budget cuts. Federal funding for non-defense R&D has increased significantly while funding for the USGS stagnated for more than a decade. During this time, natural hazards, mineral and energy resources, and water availability and quality have become increasing important to the nation.