A Day of Action and Spaceflight Advocacy on Capitol Hill

On February 9 and 10, I had the distinct and inspiring experience of taking part in The Planetary Society’s Day of Action in Washington, DC. Over 100 space advocates from across the country met with Senators, Congresspeople, and their staffers on Capitol Hill to discuss spaceflight, its importance, and the details of its policy and budget. It was my first time on Capitol Hill working for a cause. I wrote the following impression of the experience in the days immediately following the visit to Washington:

A view of Georgetown University, National Cathedral, and Maryland flying into the gorgeous DC area.

The famous River Visual approach.

The day before our meetings, we spent the afternoon in a training session with Planetary Society leadership like Casey Dreier, Brendan Curry, Bill Nye, and Robert Picardo learning what to expect, in addition to the online “Space Advocacy 101” course we each took before going to Washington. The skills and procedures learnt in these sessions were invaluable, and their usefulness extends beyond the specifics of the Hill and spaceflight. They instructed a way to structure pertinent opinions we already had, emphasize what The Planetary Society as a whole wanted to communicate on that specific day, and integrated them to our own strengths and passions. Particularly in Capitol Hill meetings, there is not only power in numbers, but power in a group that knows what they are asking for with a cohesive message. As a group, you quickly discover your most effective operation, which can be amended after each meeting with experience gained.

Front, L-R: Robert Picardo, Bill Nye, and Casey Dreier.

A group photo on the rooftop (Photo: Antonio Peronace for The Planetary Society).

Our talking points in each meeting were three: human space exploration, science missions, and planetary defense; Artemis and the Moon/Mars, the Mars 2020 sample return and Europa Clipper, and the Neosurveyor space telescope, respectively. I did well discussing specifics, having much NASA terminology under my belt, but as a group, we stressed the importance of human space exploration to Floridian culture and our economy (even down to the district level), easing restrictions on public/private partnerships and how HR5666 (the House’s 2020 NASA Authorization) is counterproductive, as well as Neosurveyor’s ability to enhance planetary defense. The Senate side was proud of its current Authorization, while the House side recognized that more work is needed on theirs. Another strong point was getting the meeting back on track–using the word “emphasize,” and a quick mastery of Washingtonese. It was, crucially, a team effort. One of us was a strong leader and played a direct approach, two others were strong in talking points and diverse concepts, one was intellectual and very professionally spoken, and another had a passion that drove enthusiasm and specific importances. Going into these meetings alone would decrease the chance of being listened to.

The group started the next day bright and early at NASA HQ for a short briefing on mission science directorates, including vital information and last-minute updates for our discussions on the Hill. Lori Glaze, Director of the Planetary Science Division, and Ben Bussey, Senior Exploration Scientist, spoke about current mission planning, details about programs, logistical needs, and long-term goals. After the meeting, our group of six Florida advocates walked over to the Senate side for our first meeting, with the staff of Senator Marco Rubio.

The Capitol Hill complex is huge. The iconic Capitol building itself is generally restricted to Members and media. The Capitol is flanked on each side by office buildings for the Senate–Russell, Dirksen, and Hart–and for the House–Rayburn, Longworth, and Cannon–where all the exciting, fast-paced behind the scenes activities takes place. From one side to the other, Hart to Rayburn, is a kilometer as the crow flies, and even longer by street or tunnel.

We found the correct entrance to Russell, a typical Washington classicalesque behemoth of a building but also refuge from the cold on the rainy Chesapeake winter morning. After going through security, we were inside for the rest of the day. In the hallway outside Senator Rubio’s office, we discovered two other groups who were lobbying that day already congregating around Rubio’s offices, and those of the Senator opposite him. Several “hallway meetings” were in progress, which occur when the office is occupied or busy. When our turn came, we would be a hallway meeting too. Despite that, our group performed well on this nervous first meeting. Our talking points were covered, we spoke clearly and coherently, and the staffers took their typical three-or-so bullet point notes.

A busy day outside Marco Rubio’s office, with several hallway meetings covering different topics underway.

Rubio’s staff was kind enough to guide us to our next meeting with Senator Rick Scott through the maze of tunnels. One of the important things you learn about on the Hill is the tunnel system. This labyrinth of post-security indoors-only infrastructure connects every building on the complex. There is even a small subway system on each side to allow personnel to quickly reach the Capitol building. During votes and other activities, it is restricted to Members only. Getting lost down there is easy, with the corridors being the same bland concrete color, and the signage sparse and unclear. It feels like the proverbial government building. After a few hours, though, it becomes easier to navigate. If it wasn’t for a couple people in our group who had done this before, we would have been reliant on directions from Capitol police and other passers-by.

A very quick video showing the tunnels on the Senate side… somewhere beneath Constitution and First Avenue NE.

The Senate side tunnels are much narrower and maintenance-oriented than those on the House side. We went upstairs into the Hart building early, with its strong brutalist architecture and large, open lobby, ready for our meeting with Scott’s staff. This staffer brought us to a conference table and we met for about 15 minutes, longer and more in-depth that Rubio’s hallway meeting, but about the average timespan of a congressional meeting. This young staffer, perhaps fresh out of college, showed clear knowledge and interest in spaceflight and what is happening in the space industry. It appeared that this staffer reached agreement and recognition of our talking points. We felt like rockstars. Despite the strange, cubicle-feel of Hart’s offices, unlike its more regal atrium, the walls still exude power; a strange dichotomy between the ordinary people inside and the most influential legislative body in the world.

Something a fellow team member had said in our training session resonated: in his experience doing this before, he learnt that these people work for us, and are here to listen to us. As an ordinary citizen watching the news day-to-day and being so far removed from Washington, this truth is known from 6th grade civics, many Americans’ last time learning about the Hill. However, there is no better or inspiring hammering-in of that truth than actually going Washington and making oneself heard, wearing business attire and representing an organization. Statistically, in fact, showing up to a representative’s offices is the most effective way to influence their vote, followed by frequent phone calls and emails. A realization clicked into place: the people don’t know their own power.

One of my trademark blurry selfies on the House side, in this case, echoing The West Wing’s walk-and-talks. — One of my trademark blurry selfies on the House side, in this case, echoing *The West Wing’s* walk-and-talks.

What else could transport me to this realization than a ride on the Senate subway? I had wanted to ride this exclusive underground train system underneath the Capitol ever since learning of its existence, and we swung a ride to make our lunch briefing on the House side. The train made a strange noise like a spaceship. It rocked and rolled. It had the Senate’s seal in each car. Best of all, we weren’t just tourists; we were meant to be there. The subway terminated at the Capitol building station, where we were underneath the east entrance almost below the Senate chamber. This would be the only point in the day we were inside the Capitol building’s footprint, transversing it from the Senate side all the way to the House side to connect with the other tunnels. I recognized the small lobby with escalators where Senators will encounter reporters, and either do a walk-and-talk or run past them to the train.

Not able to find the train to the House side, we simply walked through the tunnel to Cannon–a long underground walk in a massive corridor with large pipes running its length. The House side approached, much busier and more run-down than the Senate side. People were everywhere; it had a hectic feeling. The complex had strange, obtuse layouts that made walking from one wing to another confusing. There is elevator traffic. The “Members only” elevators are not enforced like the “Senators only” elevators, arriving at the press of the call button, and therefore regularly used by non-Members. At one point, in fact, it arrived while we were waiting with a Member, who silently motioned his hand, saying “join me.” We did. You can tell who is a Member and who isn’t because they wear a red and gold House seal in their lapel.

A typical underground view. Signage is sparse, so bring your sense of direction!

Also on the House side is a large food hall underneath Longworth. The food, adequate in taste though diverse in style, is quick to obtain in a cafeteria-style setup bustling with activity just like the rest of the House. Our lunch briefing was given by Pontus Brandt, Primary Investigator (PI) for the Interstellar Probe project. He presented the proposed mission and all it would achieve should it come to fruition. Why does our star have an astrosphere, while other stars like it don’t? What effect might this have on the environments inside? The currently proposed launch date is 2030, using a souped-up SLS Block II, going to show how these missions are years in the making. It gets me hoping NASA does get the larger ongoing budget it deserves–and soon.

Pontus Brandt, Interstellar Probe PI at Johns Hopkins over in Maryland, gives us a lunch briefing in the chambers of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

It is truly outstanding how many brilliant minds and organizations take part in a NASA project.

Our first House meeting was with my own representative, Ross Spano. His office is appropriately filled with vintage citrus advertisements and artwork, with our district located in the highlands of Central Florida. I opened the meeting and emphasized the importance space has in the district to both young and old constituents alike. With Spano being new to Congress (arriving in 2018) and not particularly involved in space, save one or two bills, this was more of an introductory, “please join us” meeting. So, in fact, it may have been one of the more influential conversations of the day.

You never really know the outcome of these meetings. Staff are clearly interested and fascinated by the fact that we are in their office talking about space, especially since most of their meetings are on healthcare and economic matters. On the other hand, these staff must have the soft skill of leaving lobbyers feeling they have been listened to and supported, regardless of their intent to follow through. When push comes to shove, everyone likes the idea of space, but their support for its funding and continued study is a wholly different level of dedication. They say things like “the boss is interested in space and I personally was happy to meet with you.” You say things like “we are also happy to be here, as we are here from Florida in our own time because of our passion. Please pass these talking points along to the congressman/congresswoman.”

All of this occurred on the day the Presidential Budget Request (PBR) was released by the White House, a strategic coincidence that both helped and hindered our goals. It is often judged to be the most hectic day on Capitol Hill, and staffers were obsessively dissecting and analyzing the President’s proposed budget. In many of our meetings, the staffers brought up, as a sort of soother, how NASA seems to have already done well for FY2021, receiving $3 Billion more than FY2020. We echoed and rivalled their points with Washingtonese terms such as “appropriations,” “discretionary funds,” “small-business opportunities,” “public/private partnerships,” and other buzzwords that indicate a serious group of advocates.

Thanks to our training from experts, we were fully aware that Congress does not have to follow the PBR’s figures when they pass the budget. For example, in FY2020, Congress decided not to exceed the President’s requested funding for NASA, unlike the years-old trend of Congress giving more funding to NASA than the President recommended. As space advocates, we hope that the dip in congressional appropriations to NASA is an anomaly and not a new trend. The icing on the cake would be more increases for NASA than simply keeping up with the rate of inflation. One way our difference could be observed, if at will be in the votes and the appropriations, especially in the House, assuming the issue is not shelved a Continuing Resolution for the next Congress to deal with in 2021.

We then met with Al Lawson, a north Florida representative who is also not closelyly involved in space save for a previous bill by Space Coast representative Bill Posey. The meeting went well, being taken into Lawson’s personal office and listened to intently by his staffer. The staffer was particularly interested in how women and minorities can enter the space industry. There is no doubting that the state of Florida is one of the most important when it comes to space, and most Florida representatives are open and welcome to the idea of supporting space, especially when it is highlighted the precise ways in which it benefits their district. A particular asset is a NASA website listing grants provided to firms within each congressional district, saying that NASA brings “x” amount of money to “y” amount of small businesses. I also notes the female-operated small businesses receiving an extra grant. During this meeting, a loud, monotone bell rang in two or three long buzzes. The staffer explained that this is the call bell, which lets Members know when a session or vote is about to begin.

A view out the window - Cannon’s inner courtyard.

On to Charlie Crist’s office–former Governor of Florida, now a representative for St. Petersburg/Clearwater. His office is perhaps one of the clearer supporters we spoke with. Though we were relegated to a hallway meeting, the staffer was in large agreement and recognition of our talking points. She brought up that the congressman is interested in changing the language of HR5666. Good signs. As a member of the appropriations committee and science/space subcommittee, Crist was an important meeting to vector our talking points in a tailored way. It’s important to understand which committees each Member is on.

In between some of these meetings, we were able to visit a Planetary Society breakroom–a sort of unofficial base of operations for our group of over 100 people. Casey Dreier, our lead man, was stationed here, as well as CEO Bill Nye, board member Bob Picardo, and Washington director Brendan Curry. It was a useful asset, opposed to being marooned in the chair-less and uncomfortable marble halls of the office buildings between meetings. Seeing some of the advocates from other states got us wondering how these meetings go for someone from, say, Minnesota–which has no real drive to support space as a state. We may have been some of the luckiest, in that not only is Florida the third largest in population, but also recipients of a significant share of spaceflight activity.

I took the opportunity in this hour of downtime to revisit the Longworth cafeteria for an acai bowl. This was not long after the call bell rang while we were in Lawson’s office, and the House was still in session. The conversations in the hallways and rooms were more hushed–a strange under the table vibe–a greater proportion of lobbyists, negotiators, and those with less than public dealings? Perhaps I digress into creative nonfiction; this was the mood, however, as I sat in the cafeteria’s backroom, where a TV on the wall was showing C-SPAN. Lo and behold, the Member who let us ride the elevator with him earlier is on the screen, seated behind the Member at the microphone nodding along in support. Shortly after the debate reached a pause, the TV cut away to a screen reading “The House is in recess until approximately 3:30pm.” This reminded me of exactly where I was: underneath the US Capitol, in Washington, the first and foremost institution of the United States. I was there of my own accord, because of my passion and work, making a difference in space policy and the future of spaceflight. It will always be in the notes and archives of these legislators that they met with representatives of The Planetary Society on the 10th of February 2020. It’s an experience that more Americans should have.

A reminder of where you are in the world.

Returning to the breakroom for my coat and papers, we left for our last meeting of the day: Bill Posey, representing Florida’s Space Coast. Posey is already a long-time champion of spaceflight in the House, seeing as he represents the de facto capital of US spaceflight itself, Kennedy Space Center. The decorations in his offices are space-themed, with models, memorabilia, and other displays. In discussing HR5666, we learnt that the congressman was also involved with a possible change in language. We still explained our concerns. Again–only time, committees, and votes will show our difference.

Our meetings concluded, but there was still one more task to be transversed: going all the way back to Hart from the very end of Rayburn for our group picture–the longest possible distance to cross over the Capitol Hill complex. Underground was not possible, since the tunnel to the Capitol building was momentarily restricted to Members. Our above-ground transit time would be longer, leaving the secure area and re-entering again. At least we got to look down the National Mall from the top of the hill, and see the Supreme Court building. It was a nice way to top off the afternoon of meetings in near-windowless, warm, sterile office buildings–cold, wet city streets never felt better.

As it turned out, I ended up missing the group photo to make another meeting with space historian extraordinaire Roger Launius. Over the next 24 hours before leaving Washington, I would have meetings with NASA Chief Historian Bill Barry, the NASA History Division team in the archives and library at HQ, and the Space Policy Institute’s John Logsdon. When in Washington, you make the most of every moment. Stepping out of the Hart Senate building wearing my suit, coat, and carrying my portfolio, I leapt into a cab waiting on standby with an irate driver frustrated with the meter and rush hour traffic, and left the Hill for the day. I felt perhaps more important than I’ve ever felt. It’s true: our government and others like it are by the people, and they are supposed to be for the people as well. If only more people knew how easy and fulfilling activism is, especially for something they care about. I will say it again: the people don’t know their own power.