#VoicesForGreenBank
What can I do?
Share your voice and story with Congress! And then join our social media campaign to share your story and encourage others to call Congress too! Keep reading below the graphic for how you can help!
Call and/or email the WV Congressional delegation – Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice and Representatives Carol Miller and Riley Moore – thank them for their support of the GBO and ask them to please reject the 2026 NSF budget proposal and to support full NSF funding specifically marked for the continued public operation of the Green Bank Observatory for science and education!
You can also call members of the Senate and House Appropriations and Science subcommittees as they are the people who will most likely affect the budget and operation decisions for the GBO and the NSF. Learn more about who to call by visiting our Congressional Contact Info page.
Our strongest tool is your voice! The Green Bank Observatory is not just a scientific landmark – it’s a working symbol of West Virginia’s contributions to global discovery and innovation and a leader in inspiring STEM Education and Outreach. We’re asking the public to contact state and federal legislators with personal stories, heartfelt emails, meaningful reflections, and/or your research and feedback on why Green Bank matters and what it would mean if it would close or change operation away from Open Skies science and education.
Why Personal Stories Matter
• Congress members are more likely to respond when they hear from real constituents
• Personal connections to Green Bank – whether through education, tourism, science research, or heritage – can move policy
• Your story can help preserve funding and stop efforts to shut down or change the operation of the GBO!
How do I reach key legislators?
Visit our Congressional Contact Info page for Congress members’ contact information including phone numbers and emails.
Please note that if you do not live in the state of a Congress person you want to call – you may not be able to email them directly, but you can call and ask their staff for a way to fax a comment or email them separately. It is best to call, email, and/or fax them as mailed letters can take up to 4 weeks to get to them due to security screenings.
What should I say?
State that you are calling to urge the Congress person to support full funding for the Green Bank Observatory and keep it as an open to the public facility for science and education purposes and oppose shutting it down or changing the way it is operated. Share why you feel the GBO is so important. Your story matters!
Examples of what to Include in a Letter or Message:
- Tell Congress member(s) to “Support full funding and continued operation of the Green Bank Observatory as a public science and education centered facility”
- How the Green Bank Observatory impacted you or your family
- Why it’s important to preserve scientific research and education in WV
- Other reasons of why the GBO is important – contributions to innovative technology, impact to WV economy, inspiring the next generation of problem solvers, etc.
If you would like some help with what to say, please visit our Sample Language for Calls and/or Emails page. Also, you can visit our Social Media Guide page which has some sample questions you can use to prompt your thoughts of what to say to a Congress member.
If you’d like quick access to some facts about the GBO to share in addition to your own story, please visit our Facts Sheet page for quick and more detailed information about the GBO.
Is there anything else I can do?
Yes! We have started a social media campaign #VoicesForGreenBank to allow people to share their thoughts about the impact the GBO has had on them, the consequences of potentially losing it, and more to raise awareness about the need to secure the GBO’s future. Please consider joining us! For more information on how – visit our Social Media Guide page.
To see what others have been sharing, keep visiting our Media Gallery page and our social media accounts.
Also, consider attending a screening of Small Town Universe. Keep checking here for news about screenings of Small Town Universe either near you or virtual offerings – coming soon!