Transcript Document

ENGINEER SMITH GOES TO
WASHINGTON
For the 2005 Leadership Workshop
Dr. Steve E. Watkins, Government Fellow
& Professor of Electrical Engineering,
University of MO, Rolla
and
Erica Wissolik, Program Manager,
Government Relations, IEEE-USA
12 March 2005 Tucson, AZ
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:
PUBLIC POLICY
Why Should You Care?
• Policymakers have the power to affect your livelihood and
transform your profession.
• Policymakers are usually not scientists or engineers; they
rely on information from the experts.
• Policymakers are very open to communication from
constituents especially those with a knowledge of the
legislative process and its participants
OVERVIEW
• S&T Public Policy:
What Are The Issues?
Why Should You Be Involved?
How Can You Be Involved?
• Influencing the Process
• Grassroots Constituent Contact
Interactive Role Play
•Summary & Questions?
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:
PUBLIC POLICY
“I strongly believe that the scientific community as a whole
is much too isolated from the federal decision-making
process, and much too complacent about its own role in
our culture.”
(Former U.S. Congressman George Brown, IEEE-USA's
1996 Technology Policy Symposium on the Role of the
Federal government in Technology Development)
.................
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ISSUES
What are the issues?
• Federal Investment in R&D
• Oversight of Federal Agencies
• Critical National Infrastructures
• Facilitation of Technical Innovation
• Technical Jobs & Education
.................
PERCEPTIONS & RESULTS
Why Should You Be Involved?
“Why is it so hard to get Washington to double the budget for federal
scientific research? The answer is not logic but politics. I have found
scientists and investors to be among the least effective lobbyists and
have watched more focused special interests receive more money than
they deserve while the future was starved of resources.”
(Newt Gingrich, Former U.S. Congressman and Speaker of the House, Excerpt
from Washington Post, 18 Oct. 1999)
To alter perceptions and make an impact.
You have expertise.
Your opinions are valuable.
.................
ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION
How can You Be Involved?
• Support Society-Level Activities
Development of Professional Policy Positions
Education of the Public
• Facilitate Grassroots Constituent Contact
Congressional Visits Days
Personal Informal Contact
• Promote Member Involvement and Knowledge
Student & Member Opportunities
INFLUENCING THE PUBLIC
POLICY PROCESS
“The reluctance of scientists to participate in the policymaking process negatively affects the government's ability
to make good science policy decisions. We need scientists
to enter government service not only as appointees, but
also as elected officials, particularly in Congress.”
(U.S. Congressman Vernon Ehler's (a physicist), National
Academy of Sciences' Committee on Ensuring the Best
S&T Presidential and Federal Advisory Committee
Appointments, 21 July 2004)
.................
1. Congressional Visits Days (CVDs)
“I've got a few things I want to say ... And …,
I'm not gonna leave this body until I do get
them said.”
-- Senator Smith a.k.a. Jimmy Stewart
1. Congressional Visits Days (CVDs)
(cont’d)
RULES FOR PRESENTING AN ISSUE
1. Be prepared.
2. Keep it clear, simple & concise.
“Did you ever have so much to say about something, you just
couldn't say it?” (Sen. Smith a.k.a. Jimmy Stewart)
3. Be ready to answer questions – Who? What? How? Why? And
HOW MUCH?
4. Be respectful.
5. Most of all, don’t accept the inside vs. the outside the beltway
mentality, and know that its OK to be enthusiastic.
2. WISE Student Program
“… WISE provides a unique
opportunity for engineering
students, …particularly as the
importance of technology policy is
becoming more widely
recognized...”
-- Dr. Alan Levin, Chair, 2005
WISE Committee & Senior
Technical Advisor to the Director,
Office of Nuclear Regulatory
Research
2. WISE Student Program
(cont’d.)
•Support for 3rd-year engineering students to spend a paid
summer internship in Washington, DC by several
engineering societies, see http://www.wise-intern.org/
•IEEE-USA selects 2-4 IEEE U.S. student members a
nationwide competition since 1980
• Program Activities
Teach students how engineers contribute to public
policy decisions on complex technology issues
Mentor students on issues of engineering & policy
3. IEEE-USA Fellowships
"Members of Congress, let me just say, are generally not
loath to talk about subjects in which they are not well
trained, except in science. …. And as a result, many of
the aspects of the policy questions before us that involve
science and technology do not get the attention they
should. That is why the congressional fellows program is
so important. It is in many offices the only scientific
expertise that is provided. This technical expertise is very
valuable to Congress; and it allows not only these Fellows
to bring scientific expertise here; it allow them to carry
political expertise back to their professions."
Rep. Rush Holt (New Jersey)
3. IEEE-USA Fellowships
(cont’d.)
• Sponsorship of senior engineers for one-year positions
as congressional staff since 1973
• Sponsorship of senior engineers for a one-year State
Department position since 2003
• Program Purposes
Provide government experience to members
Provide expertise to government
Build a cadre of engineers with policy capabilities
EXPERIENCE AS AN IEEE-USA FELLOW
Selected as a 2004 IEEEUSA Congressional Fellow
Participated in orientation
with other S&T Fellows
Obtained a staff position in
the personal office of
Congressman Dana
Rohrabacher (CA 46th)
FELLOWSHIP DETAILS
Choices:
•House or Senate, Majority or Minority Party
•Personal or Committee Staff
The First Day:
•One room for 6 staff, 2 interns, & copy machine
•Computer, badge, files, building directions, &
op-ed assignment
PERSONAL OFFICE
Staff:
•Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief, Press Secretary,
Scheduler, Leg. Assistants, & Correspondent
•Seniority - 4th out of 9 in one year
Relationships:
•Leadership and other Personal Staff
•Committee Staff and Caucus Groups
•Advocacy and Lobby Groups
•New Organizations
•CONSTITUENTS!
STAFF ACTIVITIES
Responsibilities of “Science” Special Leg. Assistant:
•Committee activities for Science & Resources
•S&T issues related to constituents, district, etc.
Types of Assignments:
•Track legislation, coordinate events, etc.
•Research & analysis of technical issues
•Communication (briefings, talking points,
formal drafts, letters, etc.
•Represent member & office at meetings
MY S&T ISSUES
A question about Alaskan Caribou ...
Funding for Federal S&T Agencies (NSF, NIST, etc.)
Oversight & Special Targeted Programs
Legislation Supporting Innovation & Commerce
Recommendations on Votes, Earmarks, etc.
Promotion of Member’s Views and Objectives
OBSERVATIONS
Enormous Range & Number of Issues
Members Develop Specialties
S&T Expertise is Rare
Influencing Congress
•Difficult legislative process (early commentary)
•Importance of Politics, Credibility, & Constituents
•Examples & outcomes are essential
•Knowledge of member’s votes, philosophy, etc.
INFLUENCING THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS
Engineers & Societies Educating the Public
Engineers & Societies Interacting with Congress
•Professional Policy Development
•Experts for Hearings and Other Events
•Technical Resources and Fellows Programs
Engineering Professionals as Constituents
•Congressional Visits Days
•Other Personal Visits and Messages
•Personal Relationships and Involvement
GRASSROOTS CONTITUENT
CONTACT
“Leaders of the scientific community spend far too much time
with their natural allies, like me; and far too little time
convincing newer or more skeptical Members of Congress
that R&D makes a difference in their districts and to the
nation.”
(U.S. Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, Chair, House
Science Committee, AAAS S&T Colloquium, 3 May 2001)
CONTITUENT COMMUNICATIONS
Avenues:
Visit, Telephone, E-mail, Mail, & Fax
Invite Members to District Events, Tours, etc.
Relationships with Campaigns
Vote
Suggestions for Communications
Identify yourself as a constituent.
Be timely & refer to specific legislation
Give examples/outcomes & ask for a response
Be polite & credible
ROLE PLAY
Planning a visit:
Organize Your Remarks:
•Who - Constituent, Professional Community, etc.
•Acknowledgments & Thanks for Prior Support
•What - Issue or Legislation for Discussion
(Be specific, relate to district, & give examples)
•How - Specific Request
Caveats
•Be flexible; waits & interruptions are not unusual
•Bring business cards & leave-behinds; Follow up
•Respect the Office Staff
SUMMARY
S&T Public Policy has a great impact on the
profession and individual engineers.
Engineers have many opportunities to participate.
Effective interaction requires a knowledge of the
legislative process and the participants.
IEEE and IEEE members have a role to play.
FOR YOUR LOCAL ACTIVITIES
Congressional Visits Days
Student Involvement, e.g. the WISE Program
Member Involvement in the Government Fellows
Program
Training for Grassroots Constituent Contacts
RESOURCES FROM IEEE-USA
• Eye on Washington – a bi-weekly e-newsletter
informing members of state and federal
legislation, White House, executive agency, and
US courts activities.
http://ieeeusa.com/policy/eyeonwashington/default.asp
• IEEE-USA Congressional Directory – reference
guide to who’s who in Congress
• IEEE-USA staff
ENGINEER SMITH GOES TO
WASHINGTON
12 March 2005 Tucson, AZ
QUESTIONS?
www.ieeeusa.org/policy