Your Street Address
City, State Zip
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Honorable Representative Jo Bonner
2236 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Tel: 202-225-4931
Fax: 202-225-0562
Dear Representative Bonner,
DPS Suggested Letter
I am writing you to express my concern about the President’s proposed Fiscal Year 2013 budget for NASA which calls for deep cuts to the nation’s very successful and productive planetary science program. The Planetary Science Division in NASA falls in FY13 to $1.2 billion from a current $1.5 billion, a drop of over 20%.These cuts will force NASA to halt consideration of new missions, retreat from international partnerships, and abandon American leadership of the robotic exploration of the solar system. I urge Congress to restore and maintain planetary science funding at FY 2012 levels of consistent with the recommendations of the National Research Council of the National Academies planetary sciences decadal survey and direct NASA to plan for a program based on continuing funding at the FY 2012 levels. Thank you for considering my views. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance on this issue.
Suggestions from the American Institute of Physics:
· Limit your letter to one page and to one subject. Avoid scientific jargon.
· In the first paragraph, explain your reason for writing. Briefly describe your credentials, and include other pertinent information. As necessary, note that these are your own views rather than those of your employer.
· In the second paragraph, describe the importance of the issue. Cite relevant facts and avoid emotionalism. Frame your discussion from a national, rather than a personal, perspective.
· In the third and concluding paragraph, request (do not demand) a specific action. Thank the Member for his or her consideration of your views. Offer assistance.
Thank you for considering my views.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Title
The views expressed here are my own and not necessarily
those of X Institution (if needed).