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UPDATE ON CONGRESSIONAL FELLOW

Congressional Science Fellow Rich Pouyat, who is sponsored by the Society for Conservation Biology, the Ecological Society of America, and the American Institute of Biological Sciences, reports that his work as Legislative Assistant for Senator Patrick Moynihan (Democrat, New York) finds him continuing to focus on issues related to non-indigenous species and environmental monitoring. Much of Pouyat's time is devoted to keeping abreast of myriad issues by reading, attending briefings, using the Congressional Research Service, and just talking and meeting with as many people as possible. Being an "information sponge" is crucial, notes Pouyat, to enable a quick, knowledgeable reaction when "things happen." He also spends time talking with constituents and lobbyists hearing their concerns and interests, and helps with letters and memos that deal with agency issues. The rest of his time is devoted to briefing the Senator in preparation for hearings and other fora. Pouyat's biggest challenge so far simply has been staying current on a wide array of issues--especially in fields in which he isn't trained, from the legal aspects of Superfund, to the effects of air pollution on public health, to the technical aspects of hazardous waste storage. Contact Pouyat via email at Richard_Pouyat@dpm.senate.gov.

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