Transcript Washington Update

Russell Harrison
Senior Legislative Representative
Grassroots Activities
IEEE-USA
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IEEE-USA History, Operations Summary, and
Program Areas
•
Public Policy
•
Congress and Immigration Reform
1972-1973 - IEEE Constitution amended by member
referendum to add “b) Professional, directed toward the
advancement and standing of the members of the
profession it serves,..” to purposes of IEEE.
 1973 - U.S. Activities Committee (USAC) of the IEEE
Board established, with Harold Goldberg as chair.
 1974 – USAC reconstituted as IEEE U.S. Activities Board
(USAB), chaired by IEEE Vice President of Professional
Activities (appointed by IEEE Assembly)
 1997 – USAB reconstituted as IEEE-United States of
America, with member-elected President. IEEE VP,
Professional Activities abolished after transition year.
First elected IEEE-USA President was John Reinert (1998)
 See http://www.ieeeusa.org/about/history/

 Budget:
$5.4 million in 2011
 Volunteer
Structure: Board of Directors, Operating
Committee and Assembly, plus 25 chartered
committees/councils, overseeing programs and
operations of 750+ volunteers (including volunteers
in the PACE Network).
 Staff:
21 full time positions
 Office:
2001 L Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington,
DC (shared with IEEE Computer Society)
 Website:
http://www.ieeeusa.org
Career & Member
Services
Government
Relations
(CareerNavigator, Salary Service,
Consultants, Entrepreneurs, career
webinars, etc.)
(policy advocacy on S&T and
career/workforce issues affecting
member’s careers, CARE grassroots
network, government fellowships, WISE
Internships, etc.)
Professional
Activities
Communications &
Public Awareness
(supporting local
section/chapter/branch professional
activities through the PACE Network,
student/SPAC conferences, Professional
Development Seminars, the Annual
Meeting, etc.)
(Awards & Recognitions, Today’s
Engineer e-zine and digest, Ebooks,
annual E-Week celebration, Future
Cities Competition, Introduce a Girl to
Engineering, “Discoveries &
Breakthroughs”, Mass Media Fellows,
Engineering Video Contest, etc.)
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Represent IEEE members in the U.S. to:
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Congress
State Legislatures
The Executive Branch
The Media
We take positions on policy when:
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The policies uniquely affect engineers, and
We have something unique to say

Federal S&T Funding (America COMPETES versus HR 1
budget cuts)

NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Standards

Patent Reform Legislation (S23)

Immigration Reform

Engineering Education (E2) Act

WISE Internships

Legislative Action Center

Eye on Washington

Intellectual Property

AIA Implementation

SOPA / PIPA

Energy Policy

Cybersecurity

Small Business
2013 Legislative Agenda
2014 Federal Budget
 Budget
 Final
deal due Dec. 13
Appropriations bill due
H-1B Visa
 Temporary
 Non-Resident
 Belong to
Employers
EB Visa
 Green Card
 Permanent legal
residents
 Employment-Based
BAD!
GOOD!
Green cards, not guest workers
 Create





International students
In the United States
Who earn a masters or PhD
In a STEM field, and
Have a job offer
 Reform


an exemption from the EB visa cap for …
the H-1B to …
End outsourcing
Protect foreign and American workers
 Start-Up
Visas
 Eliminate EB Country caps
Current Situation: Gridlock
 Senate has passed comprehensive bill



Unlimited Green cards
H-1b expansion, with protections
Path to citizenship for all
 House
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Judiciary has passed four small bills
E-Verify, boarder security, agricultural workers &
high-tech visas
Limited green card expansion
H-1B expansion without protections
No path to citizenship
 Deal
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
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could be reached if….
A compromise on amnesty can be found
This compromise can be found by early next year
The two parties can talk to each other
Issues:
 Will the Democrats accept piecemeal?
 Will the Republicans accept amnesty?
 Where is President Obama?
 Advocate
Positions
 Bridge
between voters
and politicians
 Research
 Problems
& Solutions
Percent saying the following had “some” or “a lot” of
influence over their boss
Congressional Management Foundation
Percent saying the following had “some” or “a lot” of
influence over their boss
Congressional Management Foundation
 Biographical

Who are you? What do you do?
 Local

How does this affect Muncie, IN?
 Personal

Why do you care?
The American Political System is
the most accessible and easily
influenced political system in
the world!
But you have to push
 Contact
your legislators

www.ieeeusa.org/policy

www.house.gov

www.senate.gov
 Visit
your legislators
 Invite
 Tell
your legislators to visit you
your friends
 Stay
informed
IEEE-USA
Todays
SmartBriefs
Engineer and In Action
IEEE-USA
Webinars
www.ieeeusa.org
ASK!
 Rock
River Valley Section
 Kansas
 Hudson
City Section
River Valley Section
 Houston
Section
 Pittsburgh
Section
[email protected]
202-530-8326