The bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Optics & Photonics Caucus is set to launch at a virtual event on Wednesday 24 February 2021 at 12:00 pm ET, rescheduled from the original launch date in 2020. The National Photonics Initiative invites you to be part of the event.

Representatives Joe Morelle (D-NY) and Brian Mast (R-FL) and Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) co-chair the Caucus.

The Optics & Photonics Caucus will work to educate members of Congress and their staff about the importance of light-based research and technologies to the US economy, security, and scientific excellence. Advocating for federal investment, the Caucus will serve as a positive, proactive voice for the optics and photonics community within Congress and as a bridge to the Administration.

Attend the Virtual Launch
The National Photonics Initiative is hosting a virtual event to launch the O&P Caucus on 24 February 2021 at 12:00PM ET. The launch will feature remarks from the four co-chairs and Administration officials and include a short Q&A session. To join you must register here: bit.ly/2021opcaucus.
 

Request for Your Action
As part of the ramp up to this launch event, the National Photonics Initiative reached out with a request for the SPIE community. Please use the following letter template to send to your representatives in both House and Senate (excluding the co-chairs), requesting they tune in to the live launch event to learn more about the Caucus and suggesting they join as a member.

If possible, it would be ideal if you could send this letter by email. Due to security procedures, paper mail is unlikely to make it to congressional offices prior to the launch event.

How to contact your Representative

How to contact your Senator

As co-leaders of the National Photonics Initiative, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and OSA have worked closely with Congress over the past year to establish this Caucus. We are very excited about this new voice for the optics and photonics community and look forward to your participation and support.