Congressional Activities
On March 1 and 2, ten
members of the Association Population Centers and the Population Association of America went to Washington, DC
to express support for federal agencies that support the population
sciences and educate policy-makers about recent population research
activities and advances.
www.popassoc.org/PAAMembersGoToWashington
Action Alerts
Briefings
On Monday, July 12, 2010, APC will co-host “The Effects of Economic Hard Times on American Families.”
A panel of distinguished researchers will present findings and lead a
conversation on the impact of recent and past economic downturns on the most
vulnerable U.S. populations:
children, young adults, and older Americans.
The event will be held in room B-340 Rayburn House Office Building from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Juliane Baron at paaapc@crosslink.net
On April 9, 2010, the Association of Population Centers co-sponsored a briefing on Capitol Hill. The briefing featured three prominent researchers who discussed population growth in urban areas and the impact climate change may have on those communities. The panelists were:
- Dr. Mark
Montgomery, State University of New York-Stony Brook & Population
Council, who described urban population trends and how the size,
composition and distributions of populations may impact climate change
adaptation.
- Dr. Deborah Balk, City University of New York Institute for Demographic Research, addressed the ways to limit the threat of climate change to urban populations, particularly those living in coastal zones or arid cities.
- Dr. Brian O'Neill, Institute for the Study of Society and Environment at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, focused on the ways in which demographic trends may affect future emissions and mitigation efforts.
Ms. Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post, moderated the briefing.
Demographics and the Future of Transportation Policy
The United States is experiencing dramatic demographics changes that are reshaping our nation and redefining our needs. Our senior population is projected to grow by 36 percent from 2010 to 2020. Members of minority groups are expected to constitute a majority of the population by 2042. In addition, U.S. household size continues to decrease and is projected to fall below 2.5 by 2020. To prepare for these changes, we need a visionary transportation bill that provides all Americans with options while reflecting the shifting composition of our population. On June 8, 2009 three speakers looked at the implications of demographic changes on our transportation system and asked what we can do to make the best decisions as Congress discusses the next transportation bill.
Geoff Anderson, President and CEO, Smart Growth America & Transportation for America
Peter Morrison, Senior Demographer, RAND
Demographic Factors Shaping Personal Transportation Needs
Leobardo Estrada, Professor of Urban Planning, UCLA and AARP board member
Transportation for an Aging America
Paul Bishop, Managing Director of Research, National Association of Realtors
Demographics and the Future of Transportation Policy: Real Estate Market Prospective
Africa's Future: Improving the Health of Mothers and Children
Every year, 265,000 mothers die in childbirth and 4.5 million children
die before the age of 5 from preventable causes in sub-Saharan Africa.
To discuss these stark facts and the benefits of family planning
programs for the health of mothers and children, three researchers were
part of a congressional briefing on June 5, 2009.
John Bongaarts, vice president and distinguished scholar at the Population Council.
Jotham Musinguzi, regional director of Partners in Population and Development, Africa Regional Office in Uganda.
Nafissatou (Nafy) Diop, reproductive health and family planning technical advisor and country director for the Population Council in Senegal.
CNSF Exhibition, March 24, 2009
Dr. Narayan Sastry represented PAA and APC at the 15th Annual Coalition for National Science Funding Capitol Exhibition in Washington, DC. The purpose of the event was to educate members of Congress, congressional staff and other federal employees about the breadth and significance of scientific research supported by the National Science Foundation.
Dr. Sastry presented his work on the Panel of Income Dynamics, a nationally representative, longitudinal survey of U.S. households that began in 1968, with an original sample of 4,800 families. The PSID collects a broad array of economic, social, health, housing, family demographics and changes, aging, child development, employment and education.
The Ailing Economy: How Do Census Data Help?
Most
U.S. economic surveys and indicators are grounded in data produced by
the U.S. Census Bureau. Without these data sources, which include the
decennial census, American Community Survey, Current Population Survey
and others, it would be impossible to identify and interpret key
economic trends. At a briefing co-sponsored by PAA and APC co-sponsored on February 23. Dr. Linda Jacobsen, Dr. Joseph Salvo, Dr. Pelletiere and Dr. Naymark
discussed how they use census data, for example, to allocate
programmatic funds, make marketing and investment decisions, and
analyze developments in the U.S. housing market.
Linda Jacobsen - The Ailing Economy: How Do Census Data Help?
Joan Naymark - 2010 Census-The Ailing Economy: How Do Census Data Help?
Danilo Pelletiere - The Importance of the Census to Housing Policy
Joseph Salvo - The Importance of the 2010 Census-The Local Government Perspective

Dr. Duncan Thomas represented PAA and APC at the 14th
Annual Coalition for National Science Funding Capitol
Exhibition in Washington, DC. The purpose of the event was
to educate members of Congress, congressional staff and
other federal employees about the breadth and significance
of scientific research supported by the National Science
Foundation.

Dr. Thomas presented his work on the social and economic
effects of the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, focusing
on the population in Sumatra, Indonesia. His work has
important implications for understanding the diagnosis and
duration of post-traumatic stress reactivity.
Why Population Aging Matters: A Global Perspective
Joseph Chamie - Why Population Aging Matters-Demographic Overview
Lisa Berkman - Social Determinants of Health and Aging
Adele M. Hayutin - Labor Force Implications and Pension Vulnerabilities
James P. Smith - International Comparative Data for Research and Policy Aging