The American Geophysical Union Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) Advocacy Committee is established on July 24, 2013. The charge of the Committee is to promote support for the field of Space Physics and Aeronomy, especially by the funding agencies and by the government in general. This will be done by all appropriate means, including letter writing campaigns, personal visits, newspaper editorials, and position statements. Audiences include Congress, the leadership of the funding agencies (especially NASA and NSF), the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The Committee will monitor and evaluate the political environment, develop advocacy strategies, and implement those strategies.
The Committee is free to pursue its objectives as it sees fit, including the option of recruiting members of the SPA community to serve on task forces. Each task force would be led by a Committee member, with the entire Committee providing oversight. The task forces should be representative of the community and include junior and mid-career scientists. The Committee will keep the elected SPA Officers apprised of its activities. Any especially significant or highly visible statements made on behalf of the SPA must be approved by the Officers.
The Committee will consist of five members, including the Chair. The term of office is two years, commensurate with the terms of the SPA Officers. It is preferable that some members be reappointed for a second term to maintain continuity. Each of the four science sub-disciplines of the SPA will be represented: ionospheric (ITM), magnetospheric, heliospheric, and solar physics