Advocacy Corps Meets with SBU Alumna Working on the Hill  

This past spring, Erin Byers ’22 was a Stony Brook University (SBU) student and member of SBU’s Advocacy Corps. Today, Byers works on Capitol Hill for Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-30) as a congressional staff assistant. SBU’s new Advocacy Corps class recently met with Byers to learn about her transition from SBU student to working for Congress in our nation’s capital.

“It was wonderful to speak with the new SBU Advocacy Corps class and know that I successfully passed the crucial advocacy torch to a new group of energized and passionate students,” said Byers. “I strongly encourage students to join SBU Advocacy Corps to lend their critical voice to our SBU federal priorities and simultaneously hone essential communication skills that will serve them well during their future careers.”

In addition to seeking career and policy guidance from Byers, the SBU Advocacy Corps urged Congressman Sherman to continue to work with his congressional colleagues to complete FY23 appropriations. “It would be very disappointing if the current Continuing Resolution due to expire on December 16 was extended into the new year and we could not depend on the strong funding provided in the current Senate and House FY23 bills,” said Jordyn Christophides, a member of SBU Advocacy Corps who is double majoring in political science and linguistics. “The FY23 appropriations bills provide an essential opportunity to increase our nation’s investment in science and technology, address national challenges, and reclaim our lead in international competition.”

During the meeting, the Advocacy Corps also expressed the need for Congress to keep the funding commitments made in the CHIPS and Science Act. “We greatly appreciate Congressman Sherman and many of his colleagues for championing the transformative CHIPS and Science Act and getting this crucial bipartisan legislation passed,” said Anastasia Poulos, a member of SBU Advocacy Corps who is double majoring in political science and journalism. “However, we need Congress to appropriate the CHIPS funding immediately in order to see the research and economic dividends of this monumental bill.”

Stony Brook’s Office of Federal Relations continues to work with Advocacy Corps, SBU’s higher education partners and the New York congressional delegation on all of SBU’s federal priorities.