Welcome to the Center for Inquiry’s Office of Public Policy Website!

The Office of Public Policy (OPP) is the Center for Inquiry's representative on the national political scene. Located close to the Congress at 621 Pennsylvania Ave Southeast in Washington DC (also the home of Center for Inquiry/DC), the Office of Public Policy brings the voices of science and reason to the national policy-making process.  We follow closely actions in the U.S.Senate, the House of Representatives, and the various agencies of the U.S. government, writing and speaking  in support of legislation when it reflects our secular humanist values and opposing it when it flouts or ignores science and reason. We work in coalition with groups who share our core values in order to maximize our influence. We write letters and emails; attend congressional hearings; plan stratregy with coalition partners; hold press conferences; issue position papers; provide expert testimony; and urge action from the Center for Inquiry's Friends when many voices are needed to influence potential legislation.

Here are some of the OPP's recent actions, undertaken with the leadership of Toni Van Pelt, Government Affairs Director:

  • consulted with Congressional staff on global warming issues
  • urged Congress to increase funding for women in science
  • supported legislation to prevent wage discrimination against women--the Lily Ledbetter act
  • assisted House committees in inquiries into government agencies' breaches of scientific integrity
  • assisted with language in legislation on scientific advisory boards that passed the House
  • organized comments on a Health and Human Services regulation that would permit reproductive health professionals to refuse their services on ideological grounds
  • protested against funding abstinence-only sex education
  • protested against cutting funding for contraception in African countries
  • planned transition strategy with coalition partners for cabinet and judicial appointments in the next administration.

This website will not  only document OPP's activities in and around Washington DC, but will also bring news about pending legislation to the Friends of the Center for Inquiry. The website will  be the go-to place for information about the Center for Inquiry on the Hill!