PAA Public Affairs
by Anne Harrison-Clarke
The resignation of Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole of Kansas leads to
heightened uncertainty in Congress. No matter who replaces Dole as Majority
Leader, it is widely acknowledged that the Senate will be more conservative
than it has been. Additional changes in the Senate will also have an impact
on programs of interest to PAA. For example, Senator Mark Hatfield (R, OR) is
also leaving the senate this year. His departure is a great loss. As Chair
of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he has been a powerful ally of
population research, working hard to assure solid funding for the field.
Senator Nancy Kassebaum's (R, KS) departure also represents the loss of a good
friend and ally.
While it is not yet (June 3) known who will hold the leadership in the Senate,
there is a strong possibility that there will be less support for research
appropriations, whether for NSF or NIH. We also anticipate more scrutiny of
the Census Bureau and USAID. Most of our work after the November election
will focus on how best to position the interest of PAA in light of these major
Senate leadership changes.