Sometimes I email my senators...

The government shutdown is slowing down scientific research. I'd really like my friends and colleagues who work for or with the scientists at NASA, NIST, the FDA, and the NSF to continue their work.

So I wrote this email to Senator Portman (I wrote one to Senator Brown too). Let's get this government back up and running:

"Dear Senator Portman, 

I hope this email finds you well. I’m contacting you again with regard to the current partial government shutdown. 

I first contacted you 20 days ago. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that I would like you to support the bill passed in the House that would allow the government to reopen. You’ve spoken out recently about the need for bipartisan efforts to end the shutdown. As this bill was brought forward by your colleagues in the Democratic Party, I think now is a good time to put those words into actions. 

As one of your constituents, I feel it is my responsibility to tell you that I do not want there to be funding for a new wall along our border. I understand that the security of our borders is an important issue and I support funding for the employees who are part of ensuring border control as well as funding to maintain our current physical barriers. Illegal border crossings have declined over the past decade, so it would appear that these are methods sufficient. 

I really struggle to see the benefit of building another physical barrier. As I pointed out in our last correspondence, a study entitled “Border Walls” that was published in November 2018 by a team of economists at Stanford found that similar structures did not have a financial benefit for American citizens. (They also suggest that reducing trade costs between Mexico and the U.S. would financially benefit American citizens; however, I feel this is a less pressing issue at this time.)  In July 2018, a study called “Nature Divided, Scientists United: US-Mexico Border Wall Threatens Biodiversity and Binational Conservation” was published by authors from several major universities in conjunction with over 2500 signatories. The study detailed the negative environmental and ecological impacts of extending the physical barrier on the southern border of the U.S. As I mentioned above, with illegal border crossings at such a low rate, an additional physical barrier seems unnecessary to me. 

But you are a senator. You were elected to vote on these issues. I would love to hear why you currently support a proposal that includes funds for a physical barrier on the southern border. Why do we need it given the low rate of illegal crossings? What benefit will it have for U.S. citizen? How will these actions specifically benefit your Ohioan constituents like me? 

I’d also like to say that I appreciate your current efforts to end future government shutdowns. I ask you to turn your attention to this shutdown first. Please ensure that federal constructors receive back pay for their work during this time. Please do not accept any proposal that includes funding for another physical barrier. Vote in favor of the bill from the House and encourage your colleagues to vote in favor the bill from the House. 

Thank you,

Noelle 

P.S. The twitter handle for the Akron Beacon Journal is @ohiodotcom. Please let your social media team know that the @AkronBeacon account you keep tweeting is no longer being used."