Transcript AOA Washington Office “TLAOACACE” REPORT

Maximizing Your Potential on
Capitol Hill
CEC CAN Meeting
June 2014
Key Points for This Discussion
• Why are we here?
• What can you expect on Capitol Hill?
• Some thoughts and ideas: What Works /
What Doesn’t
• The Competition and The Noise Level in DC
• Strategies for Your Meetings
• Debriefing
• Importance of Follow-up
Welcome to D.C.
− Why are we here?
− Because together, we can make a difference, we can create
change, we can improve the quality of services for all
students and ensure civil rights are upheld.
− What would happen if CEC didn’t exist in DC?
“More than any other issue, education is the civil rights
issue of our generation and it can't wait—because
tomorrow won't wait—the world won't wait—and our
children won't wait.”
– U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan • September 24, 2009
“We in America do not have
government by the majority. We
have government by the majority
who participate”.
- Thomas Jefferson
All Means All
Is IDEA:
1. a Funding
Act, or
2. a Civil
Rights Act
• The answer
is ????
U.S. Constitution
The First Amendment
• Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
government for a redress of grievances.
How lucky are we….
• To be here!
• To have this amazing opportunity!
• To have the right to meet with our representatives!
• And to be heard by our representatives!
• And, to expect them to listen!
HOWEVER…
"The right to be
heard does not
automatically
include the right
to be taken
seriously."
Hubert H. Humphrey
Vice President & U.S.
Senator
Another look at Freedom of Speech
• The constitution gives us the amazing right we call
“Freedom of Speech”.
• The flip side of that right is the “Freedom to not
speak”
• Know when to speak and know when to listen
EFFECTIVE???
CEC-TAG Legislative
Chair, Dr. Julia Roberts
with
Senate Minority Leader,
Senator Mitch McConnell
EFFECTIVE???
EFFECTIVE???
EFFECTIVE???
A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE
ENVIRONMENT
• $3.47 Billion in Lobbying Costs in 2009
($91 million on education)
• 13,739 Registered Lobbyists (about 26
per Member of Congress)
• Diversity of issues, interests, resources,
priorities
Competing With All That
• CEC’s Legislative Agenda,
Initiatives & Strategies
− Outreach Efforts
− Children and Youth Action
Network
− Online Legislative Action
Center
− THIS MEETING
− FOLLOW-UP FROM THIS
MEETING
Use the tabs to find out
who your elected officials are,
email Congress, and much more
Take action on the latest
legislation concerning students
with disabilities and/or gifts and
talents
Enter your zip code and
the legislative action center will
automatically select your
members of Congress
Write your local media!
Just enter your zip code to access
local newspapers, TV, and radio
http://capwiz.com/cek/home
Who are Members of Congress?
• Before they were elected officials they were…
- Lawyers
- Physicians
- Educators
- Journalists
- Business Executives
- Social Workers
- Homemakers
- Veterinarians
- Farmers
- Baseball Player
- Comic (!!)
- Car Dealership
Owner
16
Don’t forget the impact of the Tea
Party!!!
• Cut spending!!
• Laser focus on deficit
reduction
• Eliminate “ineffective”
programs
And in America, isn’t it
wonderful that citizens have
the right to organize, even if we
don’t agree?
Remember the concept of
checks and balances?
Representatives and their staff (cont.)
• Basically, most members of congress are people
just like you and I. They just made a different
career choice than we did.
• Legislative Staff (Legislative Assistant) on average
are 26 years old!
• They don’t have as much knowledge and
experience as you but you may be surprised
about how knowledgeable they are!
What to expect on your visits to
Capitol Hill
Structure and Operations of
A Congressional Office
• Turbulent, Fast-Paced Environment
−Members scheduled to the minute
−Other groups of constituents in town
−Committee Hearings
−The Workload
−The Unexpected
• Senate offices(Dirksen, Russell, Hart bldgs.)- more
spacious, comfortable
• House offices (Cannon, Longworth, Rayburn) –
smaller, cramped, older furniture
• Senate side visits - typically meet in a conference
room
• House side visits – if your lucky, a conference
room, maybe in the greeting area, maybe at the
LA’s desk, maybe in the hallway?
• You might meet with the Representative
• You might meet with the Legislative Assistant
• Maybe you have an appointment with the
representative but they get called to a vote or
meeting, then you meet with someone else…
• Most of our representatives are not on the
Education committees on either side
• Most LA’s have multiple duties: LA for Education,
transportation, workforce, etc.
• DON’T be disappointed if you are not able to
meet with your senator or congressman.
• The reality is that the LA’s do most of the work and
become the experts on education issues
• The LA’s job is to advise the representative on how
to vote
• The LA has the influence!
Advocacy Methods
Phone
Call
Email
Meeting
Pros: Quick, easy
way to discuss
issue
Pros: Efficient,
Can Refine
Message Before
Sending
Pros: Good
relationship
builder,
establishes future
contact
Cons: May be
difficult to
connect, get
message across
Cons: May be
difficult to
connect, easy to
be set aside
Cons: Requires
more time than
calling or
emailing
All Advocacy Methods
Require:
• Planning Ahead
− Assess Past Support When Determining
1-2 Priorities.
− Prepare a Specific, Measurable “Ask.”
Focus Discussion on 1 or 2 Issues
−Know Going in that FOLLOW-UP WILL
BE ESSENTIAL
Know Your Audience
• A typical Member/Aide may ask
themselves:
− Who are these people?
− What will they want me to do?
− Should I care? Will this make a
difference back home?
− What can I ask them to do?
− Will they be satisfied with this meeting?
− Will they follow-up?
My Top / Priority Goal(s) are:
• To establish a relationship (LA’s typically change
from year to year)
• To help them feel comfortable with me
• To be their liaison or sounding board on
educational issues and the impact back home
• To help them understand issues where they have
little to no experience or need clarification
• To help them understand the impact of their
decisions back home and to hopefully guide them
into making good decisions!
A little advice:
Offer to work together on issues, collaborate,
consult, guide…
VS
Demand
Diplomacy is key!
Diplomacy
“The art of having someone else
do something your way and being
happy to do so”
Looking at diplomacy another way…
“The principle of give and take is
the principle of diplomacy-give
one and take ten”
–Mark Twain
Know Your Audience
• Be ready, know who you’re
meeting/emailing/talking with
• Good Intro – Name, Hometown, Any
Connection,Your Practice and Purpose
of Visit
• Deliver Key Message Points
• Be ready to listen and discuss
• Make Intention to Follow-up Clear
Reminders:
• Dress professionally
• Sit up straight
• Be engaged
• Smile, be friendly
• Remember the military definition of being on time:
“If your on time, your late!”
• Don’t be nervous, their just mere mortals!
• And finally, don’t forget, you know more than they
do!!
When we talk about Issues or Legislation• State your purpose up front
• Where your comments pertain to specific
legislation, identify accordingly, e.g., House bill:
H.R. __Senate bill: S.__
• Comment on what it is you like and/or support
• Comment on the impact (In your state or
congressional district) of what is being considered,
tell the story
• Comment on what you would like to see changed
• If a section is unclear, say so
• Always provide model language and suggestions
What do you believe?
• What do you believe is the role of the federal
government in education?
What do you believe?
• Does your belief change depending on the
law/regulation? (IDEA vs ESEA)
What do you believe?
• Is IDEA a funding Act or a Civil Rights Act?
• Is ESEA a funding Act or a Civil Rights Act?
What do you believe?
• Should the federal government have a role in
funding / determining / creating laws or policy
regarding education programs or is that a State’s
Right / responsibility?
Follow-Up is
EVERYTHING
• Relationships Make ALL the Difference
• Be The “Go-To” Resource on Special/Gifted
Education Issues for Your Senators and
Representative
−
−
−
−
Thank You Note
Follow-up E-mail
Congressional Recess Visits / Town Hall Mtgs
Reaching Out to Others…Colleagues, Family,
Neighbors
− Invitation to visit successful special/gifted ed program
− Scheduled, Quarterly Follow-up
Your Turn!
• Any concerns, unanswered questions, fears?
• Does it all seem about as clear as mud?
• Do you feel like your going into a foreign country
and don’t know the language?
• I promise that by the time we get to Capitol Hill,
Deb and Kim will have taught you everything you
need to know and you will be more than
prepared!!
THANK YOU!