Immediately: I don’t think the Biden admin’s pandemic prevention funding bill is particularly controversial, but the Senate killed it because it wasn’t a priority for anyone and they just needed to cut $ to make their arbitrary budget numbers. So they could find a senator to champion that.
Longer term: Better regulation of gene synthesis companies. The most clearly good policy is to require them to apply the International Gene Synthesis Consortium/Australia Group standards for screening customers/orders.
I believe these are the only two policies Guarding Against Pandemics has actually endorsed, because there is so much complexity around other policies and specific implementation details can make or break it. So if you’re in a position to influence their staffing choices, I would try to get them to hire an EA-aligned biosecurity expert to advise them on health/science policy (maybe not mention EA, offer specific names), or at least get to know such people and start relying on their advice informally if none are available to hire.
Maybe a worthwhile project for EAs: much like Mitt Romney had his binders full of women, and many advocacy organizations have vetted lists of job candidates they push when a new President takes office, we need binders full of EAs should we should be trying to get into key positions in government or ask policymakers consult with should an opportunity arise. I don’t think the list needs to be public, but it would be helpful to create one.
Note: I make this last proposal as someone who could currently be pushing candidates at a few agencies but don’t have any to push. So I know there’s demand for it.
Immediately: I don’t think the Biden admin’s pandemic prevention funding bill is particularly controversial, but the Senate killed it because it wasn’t a priority for anyone and they just needed to cut $ to make their arbitrary budget numbers. So they could find a senator to champion that.
Longer term: Better regulation of gene synthesis companies. The most clearly good policy is to require them to apply the International Gene Synthesis Consortium/Australia Group standards for screening customers/orders.
I believe these are the only two policies Guarding Against Pandemics has actually endorsed, because there is so much complexity around other policies and specific implementation details can make or break it. So if you’re in a position to influence their staffing choices, I would try to get them to hire an EA-aligned biosecurity expert to advise them on health/science policy (maybe not mention EA, offer specific names), or at least get to know such people and start relying on their advice informally if none are available to hire.
Maybe a worthwhile project for EAs: much like Mitt Romney had his binders full of women, and many advocacy organizations have vetted lists of job candidates they push when a new President takes office, we need binders full of EAs should we should be trying to get into key positions in government or ask policymakers consult with should an opportunity arise. I don’t think the list needs to be public, but it would be helpful to create one.
Note: I make this last proposal as someone who could currently be pushing candidates at a few agencies but don’t have any to push. So I know there’s demand for it.