Capitol Hill Day Congressional Visits

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Capitol Hill Day Congressional Visits

• Orientation
• May 9-10, 2007
• Ronald L. Kelley

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View From A Lobbyist

• Focused on advocacy for ST
• Changes over last 25 years in DC
• Switching party control way of life
• Always have to be effective on both sides of the
  aisle to succeed Rs Ds
• Cant ever assume that Congress understands
  science even with the progress that has been
  made

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Bipartisan Nature of Science

• Not quite as partisan as other areas
• Congressional leaders have important positions on
  science and impact of technology
• Administration and Congress often competing now
  for similar ground global competitiveness
• Cooperation between societies, industry,
  university is at an all time high making a big
  difference in our science advocacy

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Outline

• Experience
• Objectives
• Time Management
• Know Your Audience
• Manage Your Message
• Practical Side Of Congressional Visits

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Experience

• Congressional Visits
• Old Hands
• Newbies
• Art Of Communicating
• Preplan
• Talking Points
• Listening
• Follow Up

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Introductions

• Where Are You From?
• Day Job, Location, Personal Background
• Experience With Congressional Visits
• Role In Your Society or Organization

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Unexpected

• Prepare for Unexpected
• Be Flexible
• Notice Others Who Are In and Out
• Be Ready To Give Elevator Speech

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Your Objectives

• Short Term
• Establish Credibility
• Deliver Key Messages and Requests
• Long Term
• Relationships
• Information Resource

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Be Prepared

• In Each Office - Know The Members Committee
  Responsibilities
• Practice Delivering Your Messages
• Come Ready To Provide Examples For District or
  State Impact
• Know Each Others Roles
• Constituent Is THE Most Important

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Navigating The Capitol
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Time Management

• Overall
• 20-25 Minute Discussion
• Staff (not Member) Meetings
• Member Meeting 10-15 Minutes
• Show Up On Time
• Call Ahead If You Are Delayed
• Dont Overextend Your Visit
• Be Remembered For Respecting Their Time
• Suggestion Appoint A Clock Manager

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Time Management

• Introductions (1/3)
• Who Do You Represent
• Why Are You Here?
• Personal Area of Research
• Thanks To Congressional Member For Previous
  Support
• Messages (1/3)
• RD Funding
• STEM Education
• Impact on District and State
• Ask (1/3)
• Requests For Congressional Action
• Appropriations
• Innovation Bills

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Key Messages

• Science, Engineering, Technology
• Effective competitiveness and innovation policies
  will sustain U.S. technological leadership and
  encourage the development of a skilled, creative
  and competitive workforce
• Maintaining Americas innovative edge in this
  field requires a commitment from Congress to
  invest in basic research and education.
  Americas scientists and engineers need Congress
  to be a partner in these efforts.

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Light/Optics Messages

• Broadband
• Solid State Lighting
• Solar
• Medical Technology

Handout Excellent Tool
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Innovation Legislation

• Increases in ACI related areas
• Research funding
• Science Teacher Retention
• Science Early Career Support
• STEM Education
• Science Communication
• Math Science Partnerships

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Impact on District/State

• Examples
• (1) funding of the physical sciences
• (2) research institutions and companies in your
  area
• (3) immigration legislation, especially with
  respect to visas
• (4) the local effect of pending innovation
  legislation
• (5) any other issues that come to mind  
• It is important that you be knowledgeable about
  your locale related to the research activities in
  your area, the industrial base, jobs, and total
  economic contribution. 
• It helps to convey knowledge through your
  personal experiences, including direct
  experiences. 
• It is especially important to help your
  representatives make this personal connection
  with regard to the effect of these issues on
  their districts.

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Federal Funding RD

• General Trends

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CHD Requests

• Federal RD Budget FY08 Appropriation
• Doubling of Physical Sciences Budgets
• 10 years (or less)
• Support Second Year of American Competitiveness
  Initiative (ACI) Request
• Concern Defense Research
• Support NIST/ATP
• Pass Innovation Legislation
• e.g. House (HR362, HR363, HR364, HR1867)
• e.g. Senate (S.761)

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Do They Understand?

• Ask if the staffer has any questions
• Take pulse to decide where to take meeting.
  (e.g., Is this something the Congresswoman can
  support?)
• If the Member has not been supportive in past,
  ask the staffer how to gain Members support

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Follow Up

• Timely Response
• Thank You Letters or Emails
• Response On Additional Information
• Offer To Have Member or Staff Visit You
• Provide Information In Future
• As Requested
• When It Seems Appropriate
• Always Inform Your Washington Office

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Bill Types

• Authorization
• Appropriations

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Appropriations for FY08

• Proceeding ahead
• Hearings, Scheduled Mark Ups
• Subcommittee Will Be Limited Again in
• Asking for Increases
• ACI Looking Very Positive
• Earmarks Will Be Cut in Half
• TBD
• Expect Democrats To Run A Tight Ship

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Much Has Not Changed

• Overarching Issues
• War in Iraq, Afghanistan
• Terrorism threat
• Decreasing discretionary spending
• Where we get federal research funds
• Lots of non-science priorities
• Great Need for Advocacy by Scientists
• Letters, visits to DC, contact in district

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Challenges

• Getting Beyond CR for FY07 Funding
• New Members To Educate
• Senate Is The Blocking Ground
• Politicians Gearing for 08 Elections
• Understand New Leadership Objectives
• Dems Have Set High Expectations
• Still Learning How To Lead
• Trying To Make The Trains Run on Time