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10 June 2026
Applications Now Open for Congressional Visits Day 2026
Be an advocate for science and astronomy. Sign up now for Congressional Visits Day (CVD) on 14–15 September 2026. The deadline to sign up is 11:59 pm ET on Sunday, 5 July 2026.
Every year the AAS brings volunteers to Washington, DC to advocate for their science and the priorities of the astronomical science community with members of Congress. CVD is an opportunity for AAS members to learn more about the federal government, the policy making process, and how to best influence policy makers. This is also an important time for members of Congress to hear from their constituents on what issues matter most to them and to ask for federal support and funding.
In 2026, AAS is partnering with the American Association for Physics Teachers (AAPT), and several AAPT members will be joining us for advocacy training and Hill visits to communicate the critical importance of science education programs to Congress.
What to Expect
- Learn how to contact and schedule meetings with your legislators.
- How to craft a compelling message that will have an impact on policy makers.
- Learn more about how NSF, NASA, and the Department of Energy are supporting the astronomical decadal surveys and STEM education priorities.
- Understand the federal policy landscape and how you fit into it.
- Learn how to help others who want to be an advocate for science, astronomy, and education.
CVD will be in-person, hosted at the AAS office space in Washington, DC with in-person meetings on Capitol Hill. Two training webinars will be scheduled in the weeks ahead of the visits to learn how to contact your legislators to schedule a meeting, and to learn more about the appropriations process and our federal science agencies. During the first day of CVD, you will be briefed on the status of priorities for the astronomical sciences and physics education, craft and practice your message, and hear from current and former Congressional staff on tips and tricks for a good meeting. The second day will be full of meetings with your members of Congress and staff in small groups with other CVD participants.
Eligibility
A few things to keep in mind while you consider volunteering for this opportunity:
- You must be an AAS or AAPT member.
- You must be eligible to vote in the United States.
- The AAS will cover most travel expenses for volunteers selected to participate, as the budget allows.
- Submitting the form does not guarantee you a slot in this year's CVD. Selected volunteers will be notified by early August.
Volunteer Selection
We aim to select approximately 8-10 AAS volunteers who balance the program by location, career stage, and experience. We especially encourage students and early-career professionals to volunteer. We generally ask that people who have done training and congressional visits for astronomy advocacy before — through programs like AAS CVD, AAAS CASE, facility/collaboration programs, etc. — not volunteer for CVD, as we intend this program to increase the number of astronomers empowered to advocate for science.
If you applied to participate in Spring CVD in early 2026 and indicated interest in being considered for Fall CVD, you will automatically be considered for Fall CVD. Please reapply if your position and/or location has changed since your Spring CVD application. If you are reapplying, you are not required to resubmit the longer application questions, just fill in the form with your current information and indicate that you applied in the spring. If you are unsure if you applied in the Spring and/or indicated interest in Fall CVD in the previous application, please reach out to us at [email protected].
Travel Support
AAS has sufficient funds to reimburse most travel expenses related to the CVD, including lodging, transportation, and meals. To allow for the greatest number of participants in this year’s CVD, we may ask for volunteers to share rooms. Sharing rooms is not required, but it is strongly encouraged to allow more people the opportunity to participate.
How to Sign Up
Please use our CVD Sign-Up Form below. The deadline to sign-up is 11:59 pm ET on Sunday, 5 July 2026. Selected volunteers will be notified by early August.
Note: You must be logged in as an AAS member to view the form linked below. If you haven't already signed in, please click the "Sign in" link in the top right corner of the page. If you are having trouble viewing the form, please email [email protected].