2006 Legislative Strategy

1
2006 Legislative Strategy
or You Cant Always Get What You Want

• Eric Webster
• Director, Office of Legislative Affairs
• November 30, 2005

2
Overview

• Developing Legislation
• within the Administration
• on the Hill
• The Legislative Process and Strategy for 2006
• NOAA Priorities, Congress Priorities
• Strategy for FY07 Budget
• Lessons
• Suggestions

3
Legislative Lessons from Unconventional Teachers

• Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones, Cant always get
  what you want
  
• You can't always get what you want
• But if you try sometimes, well you just might
  find
  
• You get what you need
• 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox
• Good base-running can get you further than only
  trying for homeruns
  
• 2004 World Champion New England Patriots
• Focus on the basics blocking and tackling

4
Developing Legislation at NOAA

• Why hasnt NOAA received much support for
  legislation it has drafted?
  
• NOAA Organic Act
• Acquaculture
• Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act (not introduced)
• No enough buy in from outside community
• why should they, what is in it for them?
• we cant share language but can discuss
  priorities/themes/ideas
  
• What role do each of you see yourself playing to
  help NOAA succeed in this legislative process?

5
How to Affect the Congressional Legislative
Process

• Overall goal is to get a seat at the final table
  (where backroom deals are cut)
  
• If you cant get a seat at the table, can you get
  into the room?
  
• If you cant get in the room, who can, and do
  they share our priorities?

6
How to Affect the Congressional Legislative
Process (contd.)

• What tools do we have to ensure NOAAs priorities
  are included in bills moving through Congress?
  
• Administration drafted legislation
• Technical Drafting Assistance (informal and
  formal)
  
• Hearing Witnesses/Meetings with Staff
• Views letters
• Statements of Administration Positions (SAPS)
• Veto
• Finding Interest Groups with similar needs/wants
  
  
• Reaching out early and often
• What do they want? What do we want? Is there
  middle ground?
  
• Do they have a seat at the table, are they in the
  room?

7
The NOAA FY06 Legislative Strategy

• Priorities for the Administration and Congress
• Magnuson Stevens Act Reauthorization. (Senate
  Commerce priority)
  
• Endangered Species Act Reauthorization. (House
  Resources Priority)
  
• NOAA Organic Act (House Science priority)
• Ocean Observations (Community priority)
• Tsunami bills (House Science and Senate
  Commerce)
  
• Aquaculture (anyones priority?)
• NOAA Corps (NOAA priority)
• Maybe National Weather Service Authorization
  (Senate Commerce)
  
• Overall NOAA Authorization (havent had one since
  1992 what does that mean?)
  
• What does NOAA really want (or need) out of each
  of these bills?
  
• What role do each of you see yourself playing to
  help NOAA succeed in this legislative process?

8
What are the Critical Drivers for 2006

• Authorization levels, budget constraints
• Many of the bills have been acted upon
  (Committee, floor)
  
• Ocean Action Plan (brings support of White
  House)
  
• GEOSS (top priority for NOAA)
• Hurricanes/Tsuanmis unknown events
• And (oh yeah), Elections
• What does NOAA really want (or need) out of each
  of these bills?
  
• What role do each of you see yourself playing to
  help NOAA succeed in this legislative process

9
The NOAA FY06 Legislative and FY07 Budget
Strategy(BUDGET LESSONS LEARNED)

• FY06 Appropriations cycle taught us
• NOAA needs to build House Champions
• Reliance on Senate was an overly optimistic
  assumption
  
• We are in a new era for NOAAoutside pressures
  (the deficit) will force the need for better
  justifications.
  
• Need to explain why programs are important, core
  capabilities (a.k.a., programsthe second P in
  PPBES)
  
• Need to have clear and accurate impact
  statements.
  
• When FY06 was on House floor we lost 50MCan it
  happen again? How can we stop it?
  
• How can NOAA Legislative Affairs and the Budget
  Office pool their talents to fight for the
  President's request? What is the role of the
  line offices in this process? And what about
  those champions we just talked about?

WHAT ROLE DO EACH OF YOU SEE YOURSELF PLAYING
TO HELP NOAA ACHIEVE ITS FY07 LEGISLATIVE and
BUDGET STRATEGY?