Note: This analysis uses AI to help identify potential outreach strategies for space science issues. Because it uses AI, it is important to understand the sources and limitations of this analysis.
Space-related committee assignments (if present), and additional sources (if present), are from congress.gov and a direct output of a targeted web search.
Opportunities, challenges, overall summary, and preparation recommendations are products of AI analyses. The biography uses AI to summarize key aspects of the member's Wikipedia page.
All AI-generated claims, assessments, and recommendations should be independently verified.
This is an experimental feature, and intended to provide guidance and inspiration for outreach strategies for your meeting. Feedback is welcome: casey.dreier@planetary.org.
NASA-related Committee Assignments or Caucuses
Member, Planetary Science Caucus
Overall Summary
Representative Scanlon's broad legislative focus on issues like voting rights and education, coupled with her absence from key committees like Appropriations or Science, Space, and Technology, suggests that advocating for increased NASA space science funding may not be a top-tier priority. While her district benefits from some NASA science grants, the overall direct contract spending is relatively modest, and public records do not explicitly show her championing increased funding beyond general support.
However, her membership in the Congressional Planetary Science Caucus is a significant positive indicator, as the caucus recently opposed proposed cuts to NASA's Science Mission Directorate and advocated for robust funding. This, combined with substantial NASA astrophysics grants to Villanova and Haverford Colleges in her district, provides a clear local economic and scientific stake. Her proven ability to secure federal funding for community projects suggests she is receptive to investments that directly benefit her constituents.
Preparation Recommendations
Consider gathering specific examples of how the NASA astrophysics grants at Villanova and Haverford Colleges directly benefit her constituents, such as student involvement, job creation, or scientific breakthroughs, to demonstrate local impact.
Explore how your request for increased NASA science funding directly supports the goals of the Congressional Planetary Science Caucus, of which Representative Scanlon is a member, and how this aligns with the caucus's recent advocacy for robust NASA Science funding.
Look into how investments in NASA's space science activities contribute to broader community benefits in her district, such as inspiring STEM education, fostering innovation, or supporting local businesses involved in research, connecting to her interest in community project funding.
About Mary Gay Scanlon
Earned a B.A. from Colgate University (1980) and a J.D. from University of Pennsylvania (1984).
Served as a judicial law clerk for the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Practiced public interest law, including with the Education Law Center and Ballard Spahr.
Served on the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District board, including as president.
No specific STEM or space-related professional background or education is noted.
Opportunities
Planetary Science Caucus Membership: Representative Scanlon's membership in the Congressional Planetary Science Caucus indicates a direct interest in advancing federal policies that support space science, research, and exploration, and advocating for robust funding for NASA Science. The caucus co-chairs recently issued a joint statement opposing proposed cuts to NASA's Science Mission Directorate and Mars Sample Return, and advocating for full and robust funding for NASA Science in FY2026 appropriations (U.S. Representative Don Bacon, 2025-04-15).
Local NASA Astrophysics Grants: Several universities in her district have received significant NASA grants for astrophysics research, demonstrating a direct local economic and scientific stake in NASA's Science Mission Directorate activities. Villanova University received grants for projects like "Solving 150 000 eclipsing binary light curves with an ai powered model" and "Accreting white dwarfs (WDS) in cataclysmic variables (CVS)," while Haverford College received funding for NICER (USAspending, FY2022-FY2024). Villanova also received $854,600 in NASA grants for astrophysics research in 2022 (Villanova University, 2022-02-07).
Advocacy for Community Project Funding: Representative Scanlon has actively secured significant federal funding for community projects in her district, indicating a willingness to advocate for federal investment that benefits her constituents. Her office secured $11.6 million in community project funding in 2024, bringing the total to over $40 million for her community (U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, 2025-01-01).
Challenges
Competing Legislative Priorities: Representative Scanlon's public statements and press releases from the last 24 months frequently highlight a broad range of legislative priorities, including voting rights, education, gun safety, and environmental protection, which may compete for her attention and advocacy efforts with calls for increased NASA science investment.
Limited Direct Committee Influence: Representative Scanlon is not a member of the House Appropriations Committee or the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, which are key legislative bodies directly overseeing NASA's budget and policy decisions.
Absence of Explicit Increased Funding Advocacy: While a member of the Planetary Science Caucus, public records from the last 24 months do not show explicit statements or legislative actions by Representative Scanlon specifically advocating for increased funding for NASA's Science Mission Directorate activities beyond general support for federal research.