ASA Connect

Dear All, 

I write to ask for your help with ASA's data literacy advocacy efforts with Congress. We're excited that two Republican and two Democratic Representatives plan to introduce the Data Science and Literacy Act (DSLA) in the coming weeks. (Please watch ASA Connect for the announcement.)

You can help in two ways. First, sign up to participate in ASA Virtual Advocacy Days to urge your U.S. Representative(s) and Senators to support the DSLA, tentatively scheduled for the weeks of March 20 and April 10. Please use this Google form (https://forms.gle/FReocRV8g56nfaRGA) to sign up; the deadline is February 24. Second, if you do not work for the government or other ineligible organization, please urge your employer – preferably organizations with a multi-state presence – to consider supporting the bill. Once the bill is introduced, we will send information about how your employer can show their support. 

If enacted, the bill would authorize the Department of Education to establish a voluntary grant program to local K-16 entities to support greater access to data science curriculum and instruction. You can find a copy of the draft bill, summary, and ways to contact your representative on this webpage of the ASA Scientific and Public Affairs Advisory Committee.

While the bill's introduction in the House is exciting, it's a first step in ASA's work to promote greater statistical and data literacy. Besides a companion bill in the Senate, the more Representatives and Senators that are aware of the importance of such literacy for our country and for providing access to 21st century jobs, the better. Your outreach is critical to such awareness building and also to securing more support for the bill, which improves its chances of influence and enactment.

Those that sign up will be briefed in advance about how to conduct successful meetings with Hill staffers and the data science and literacy bill. ASA staff will also provide materials for the visits and instructions for requesting the meetings.

For more info on ASA data literacy advocacy, read Leslie McClure's experience participating in the JSM advocacy day for this bill. 

Please up by February 24. For more information, contact me via email (pierson@amstat.org).

Best,
Steve

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Steve Pierson
Director of Science Policy
American Statistical Association
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Dear All, 

The Data Science and Literacy Act was introduced Tuesday afternoon by Representatives Haley Stevens (D-MI), Jim Baird (R-IN), Don Beyer (D-VA), and Young Kim (R-CA). The text of the is available here: https://stevens.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/stevens.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/dsla-bill-text.pdf. The Rep. Stevens press release has great quotes on the importance of data literacy by each of the four sponsors and by 2022 ASA President Kathy Ensor: https://stevens.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-stevens-leads-bipartisan-legislation-increase-access-data-science-and. So far 18 organizations have endorsed the bill: https://stevens.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/stevens.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/full-list-of-dsla-endorsements.pdf. The ASA press release will soon be posted to https://www.amstat.org/press-releases.

Let me reiterate last week's request for your help to continue the momentum. There are several ways to help: 

1. Urge your organization/employer to show their support for the bill by signing onto this letter organized by Data Science 4 Everyone: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfK6Pw0E5FgAGlPW7zg57QAOe6oAVaTN69VxDmKTa3xPJ0pRw/viewform (Please ignore this request if you work for federal, state, or local government or other ineligible organization.) We'd especially welcome organizations with a multi-state presence.
2. Voice your support for the bill as an individual using the same DS4E Google form.
3. Sign up to participate in ASA Virtual Advocacy Days to urge your U.S. Representative(s) and Senators to support the DSLA, tentatively scheduled for the weeks of March 20 and April 10. Please use this Google form (https://forms.gle/FReocRV8g56nfaRGA) to sign up; the deadline is February 24. (Thanks to the many that have already signed up.)
4. Please share news of the bill with your networks. 

Thank you!

Steve

------------------------------
Steve Pierson
Director of Science Policy
American Statistical Association
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-08-2023 08:49
From: Steve Pierson
Subject: Help with ASA's data literacy outreach to Congress

Dear All, 

I write to ask for your help with ASA's data literacy advocacy efforts with Congress. We're excited that two Republican and two Democratic Representatives plan to introduce the Data Science and Literacy Act (DSLA) in the coming weeks. (Please watch ASA Connect for the announcement.)

You can help in two ways. First, sign up to participate in ASA Virtual Advocacy Days to urge your U.S. Representative(s) and Senators to support the DSLA, tentatively scheduled for the weeks of March 20 and April 10. Please use this Google form (https://forms.gle/FReocRV8g56nfaRGA) to sign up; the deadline is February 24. Second, if you do not work for the government or other ineligible organization, please urge your employer – preferably organizations with a multi-state presence – to consider supporting the bill. Once the bill is introduced, we will send information about how your employer can show their support. 

If enacted, the bill would authorize the Department of Education to establish a voluntary grant program to local K-16 entities to support greater access to data science curriculum and instruction. You can find a copy of the draft bill, summary, and ways to contact your representative on this webpage of the ASA Scientific and Public Affairs Advisory Committee.

While the bill's introduction in the House is exciting, it's a first step in ASA's work to promote greater statistical and data literacy. Besides a companion bill in the Senate, the more Representatives and Senators that are aware of the importance of such literacy for our country and for providing access to 21st century jobs, the better. Your outreach is critical to such awareness building and also to securing more support for the bill, which improves its chances of influence and enactment.

Those that sign up will be briefed in advance about how to conduct successful meetings with Hill staffers and the data science and literacy bill. ASA staff will also provide materials for the visits and instructions for requesting the meetings.

For more info on ASA data literacy advocacy, read Leslie McClure's experience participating in the JSM advocacy day for this bill. 

Please up by February 24. For more information, contact me via email (pierson@amstat.org).

Best,
Steve

------------------------------
Steve Pierson
Director of Science Policy
American Statistical Association
------------------------------