Take Action

The Federal Research Public Access Act (H.R. 5037) has been referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in the House of Representatives, where the Chairman is actively considering holding an open hearing on the bill. More information about the bill (FRPAA), which is the broadest proposal to ensure free online access to the results of the U.S. $60 billion annual investment in research, is online at http://www.taxpayeraccess.org/frpaa.

YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED! If you’re a constituent of one of the Members of this committee, please contact your Representative to encourage his or her co-sponsorship of the bill and support for the hearing. Action is requested as soon as possible and NO LATER THAN AUGUST 9. Act now through the ATA Action Center.  

Non-constituents are also encouraged to write to Chairman Edolphus Towns to request an open hearing on the bill.

Talking points, the list of Members, and contact information follow. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at all. Thank you, as always, for your ongoing dedication to public access to publicly funded research in the United States. Please remember to send a copy of your letters to Jennifer via email to jennifer [at] arl [dot] org. Thank you!!

Jennifer McLennan
Director of Programs & Operations, SPARC
Telephone: (202) 296-2296 ext. 121
Email: jennifer [at] arl [dot] org

Heather Joseph
Spokesperson for the Alliance and Executive Director of SPARC
Telephone: (202) 296-2296
Email: heather [at] arl [dot] org
 

TALKING POINTS:

• On behalf of the [your organization], which represents [number and type of membership], I write to encourage you to host an open hearing on the Federal Research Public Access Act (FRPAA) as soon as possible.
• The bill, which was introduced in April by Representative Doyle (D-PA) and a bi-partisan host of co-sponsors, would ensure that the published results of research funded by the U.S. government can be accessed and used by American taxpayers via the Internet.
• Widespread access to the information contained in these manuscripts is an essential, inseparable component of our nation's investment in science. This and other scientific information should be shared in cost-effective ways that take advantage of the Internet, stimulate further discovery and innovation, and advance the translation of this knowledge into public benefits.
• Open online access to research will ensure maximum discovery, use and re-use of available research – making possible an unprecedented variety of potential connections and discoveries, and improve the lives and welfare of people in the U.S. and around the world.
• [detail why public access to research is important to your organization.]
   

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Chairman Edolphus Towns (DEM-NY-10th)
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
U.S. House of Representatives
2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Via fax: (202) 225-4784

C.C. letters to Chairman Towns to: Krista Boyd, Counsel, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (krista.boyd@mail.house.gov) and Lars Hydle, Legislative Director, The Honorable Representative Edolphus Towns (lars.hydle@mail.house.gov).

ALPHABETICAL BY STATE

AZ:  Rep. Jeff Flake (REP-AZ-6th), Fax (202)-226-4386

CA: Rep. Darrell E. Issa (REP-CA-49th), Ranking Member fax (202) 225-3303
        Rep. Brian Bilbray (REP-CA-50th), fax (202) 225-2558
        Rep. Judy Chu (DEM-CA-32nd), fax, (202) 225-5467
        Rep. Jackie Speier (DEM-CA-12th), fax, (202) 226-4183
        Rep. Diane Watson (DEM-CA-33rd), fax, (202) 225-2422
 
CT: Rep. Christopher Murphy (DEM-CT-5th), fax, (202) 225-5933

DC: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DEM-DC-At-Large), fax, (202) 225-3002

FL:  Rep. John Mica (REP-FL-7th), fax, 202) 226-0821

GA: Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (REP-GA-3rd), fax, (202) 225- 2515

IL: Rep. Danny Davis (DEM-IL-7th), fax, (202) 225-5641
      Rep. Bill Foster (DEM-IL-14th), fax, (202) 225-0697
      Rep. Mike Quigley (DEM-IL-5th), fax, (202) 225-5603
      Rep. Aaron Schock (REP-IL-18th), fax, (202) 225-9249

IN: Rep. Dan Burton (REP-IN-5th), fax, (202) 225-0016

LA: Rep. Anh Cao (REP-LA-2nd), fax, (202) 225-1988

MA: Rep. Stephen Lynch (DEM-MA-9th), fax, (202) 225-3984
        Rep. John Tierney (DEM-MA-6th), fax, (202) 225-5915

MD: Rep. Elijah Cummings (DEM-MD-7th), fax, (202) 225-3178
        Rep. Chris Van Hollen (DEM-MD-8th), fax, (202) 225-0375

MO: Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (REP-MO-9th), fax, (202) 225-5712
        Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (DEM-MO-1st), fax, (202) 226-3717

NC: Rep. Patrick McHenry (REP-NC-10th), fax, (202) 225-0316

NE: Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (REP-NE-1st), fax, (202) 225-5686

NH: Rep. Paul Hodes (DEM-NH-2nd), fax, (202) 225-2946

NY: Rep. Carolyn Maloney (DEM-NY-14th), fax, (202) 225-4709
        Rep. Edolphus Towns (DEM-NY-10th), Committee Chair, fax,  (202) 225-1018

OH: Rep. Steve Driehaus (DEM-OH-1st), fax, (202) 225-3012
      Rep. Jim Jordan (REP-OH-4th) fax, (202) 226-0577
      Rep. Marcy Kaptur (DEM-OH-9th), fax, (202) 225-7711
      Rep. Dennis Kucinich (DEM-OH-10th), fax, (202) 225-5745
      Rep. Michael Turner (REP-OH-3rd), fax, (202) 225-6754

PA: Rep. Paul Kanjorski (DEM-PA-11th), fax, (202) 225-0764
       Rep. Bill Shuster (REP-PA-9th), fax, (202) 225-2486

RI: Rep. Patrick Kennedy (DEM-RI-1st), fax, (202) 225-3290

TN: Rep. Jim Cooper (DEM-TN-5th), fax, (202) 226-1035
       Rep. John Duncan (REP-TN-2nd), fax, (202) 225-6440

TX: Rep. Henry Cuellar (DEM-TX-28th), fax, (202) 225-1641

UT: Rep. Jason Chaffetz (REP-UT-3rd), fax, (202) 225-5629

VA: Rep. Gerry Connolly (DEM-VA-11th), fax, (202) 225-3071

VT: Rep. Peter Welch (DEM-VT-At-Large), fax, (202) 225-6790