How to Talk so Your Legislators Will Listen

Transcription

1 How to Talk so Your Legislators Will Listen Research your legislator Know Your Audience Find out where she/he stands/find out what issues the legislators care about and how they represent them A Few Words about the Legislators and Visiting Legislative Office Legislators and their staff appreciate what you have to say because they know you are an expert and they want to benefit from your expertise. They are not your enemies and you can t hope to make change if you treat them as such. Often legislators are in committee meetings or on the floor of Congress and they personally won t be able to meet with you. Legislative staffers, however, are excellent people to talk to when visiting legislative offices. Part of a staffer s job is to meet with constituents and stay informed, and to pass that information directly on to the member of Congress. Both legislators and their staff are looking for simple explanation of an issue they re working on a story from home complete with some memorable quotes. It s their job to ask tough questions especially when what you present is something they haven t heard of before. They sometimes come to an issue with false assumptions which they will give up when you give them proper evidence to the contrary. Plan What You'll Say/ Before a meeting with a legislator, have a plan and a script Develop 2-3 main talking points along with the policies and practices that support them. Practice by responding to the toughest and best questions you guess the legislator will ask 1

2 During Your Meeting with a Legislator Be passionate, but not hurt or angry Crying or seething takes the legislator s attention away from the issue. Bring a friend and let the friend speak if the topic is upsetting. Respect their time The aide should tell you how long your appointment is when you make it (e.g. I can let you see the Senator for 15 minutes at 2:30 on ). When the aide appears or the legislator signals that your time is up, wrap it up and leave. Scheduling a second meeting is better than overstaying your welcome. Fight fair As in any conversation, avoid alienating your legislators. Don t lump him or her into a group and blame them for the demise of the world. Instead, point out unintended consequences. Make the assumption that the person you are speaking to did not think up what you are opposing, and thus could be your ally in fixing it. He only needs to see things from your point of view. Provide documentation. Stay on message A favorite tactic that some legislators are masters at is shifting the conversation. You came to talk about high stakes testing, and you suddenly realize that the legislator is asking you about public safety. It is perfectly acceptable to say, That is not the issue I came here to discuss and refocus the conversation. Leave one page of talking points and any documentation Be aware that these will usually just be filed. Don t expect your legislator to read anything after you leave. Understand the system and the unwritten rules If your legislator says that the leadership is supporting or opposing the bill, understand that your legislator will be expected to go along with leadership. If that happens, ask for a pilot program or a delay in implementation. These small steps could be significant victories. Tell them what you want them to do Know the bill number. Ask for their support, their opposition, or to ask them to speak to the sponsor about amending the bill. Speak to the committee members before it is brought before their committee, and testify during the public comments portion of the meeting. Aides can be a vital ally Take the time to win the aide. They are in a position to remind the legislator of your concerns at a crucial time. You may want to include a follow-up piece of literature. It reminds the legislator of the conversation and is a good way to promote ongoing dialogue. After a Meeting with a Legislator Track the bill as it moves from committee to committee Don't forget to send a thank you note and include any information you may have offered to provide during your visit -- is the best way. Ask to be consulted when issues arise and, even if you haven't heard, follow up a few months later just to keep in touch by offering your assistance. 2

3 Committee History The Committee's basic jurisdiction is over education and workforce matters generally. While Congress has been concerned over education and workforce issues since its beginning, attempts to create a Committee with jurisdiction over education and labor failed in early Congresses due to Representatives' concern over the constitutional grounds for such a federal role and the belief that education was more properly the responsibility of the states. The first Committee of jurisdiction, the Committee on Education and Labor, was established on March 21, 1867 in the aftermath of the Civil War and the growth of American industry. On December 19, 1883, the Committee on Education and Labor was divided into two standing committees: Committee on Education and Committee on Labor. On January 2, 1947, the Legislative Reorganization Act again combined the Committees, renamed the Committee on Education and Labor. On January 4, 1995, the Committee was renamed the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities. On January 7, 1997, the Committee was renamed the Committee on Education and the Workforce; on January 5, 2007, it became the Committee on Education and Labor; most recently, on January 5, 2011, the Committee was given its current name, the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Committee History The Committee on the Judiciary has been called the lawyer for the House of Representatives because of its jurisdiction over matters relating to the administration of justice in federal courts, administrative bodies, and law enforcement agencies. Its infrequent but important role in impeachment proceedings has also brought it much attention. On June 3, 1813, a standing committee on the Judiciary was established by the House of Representatives to consider legislation relating to judicial proceedings. Since that time, the scope of the committee s concern has expanded to include not only civil and criminal judicial proceedings and Federal courts and judges, but also issues relating to bankruptcy, espionage, terrorism, the protection of civil liberties, constitutional amendments, immigration and naturalization, interstate compacts, claims against the United States, national penitentiaries, Presidential succession, antitrust law, revision and codification of the statutes of the United States, state and territorial boundary lines and patents, copyrights and trademarks. Particularly important in our time is the Committee's oversight responsibility for the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. Hearings on legislation including the Patriot Act have emphasized the Committee on the Judiciary s continuing pursuit of the appropriate balance between constitutional rights and national security 3

4 Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA 3rd District) 1201 Longworth House Office Building, District of Columbia Phone: (202) Appointment Time: 10:00 am with David Dailey Committee Assignments Judiciary Committee & Education and the Workforce Committee Biography Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott is currently serving his tenth term in Congress. From the beginning of his tenure in Congress, Rep. Scott has led efforts to pass comprehensive juvenile justice reform and crime prevention legislation and is doing so now by sponsoring the Youth PROMISE Act, which would provide resources to state and local governments for evidenced-based strategies and programs to prevent juvenile crime. He is also leading efforts to enact legislation designed to reduce high school dropout rates and increase access to a college education for all students with the Every Student Counts Act. And, as a part of developing universal health care for all, Rep. Scott sponsored the All Healthy Children Act to ensure that the 9 million uninsured children in the United States have access to quality health care Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX 2nd District) 430 Cannon House Office Building, District of Columbia Phone: (202) Appointment Time: 10:30 am with Blair Bjellos Committee Assignments Committee on the Judiciary Biography Former Texas Judge for 12 years Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004 to represent the Second Congressional District of Texas, In 2005, Congressman Poe established the bipartisan Victims Rights Caucus (VRC) to advocate on behalf of victims in our nation s capital. As co-chair of the VRC, Ted Poe plays a vital role in passing legislation to safeguard our children and to ensure that the needs and issues facing victims of crime are equally represented. In addition, in

5 Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-MI 14th District) 2426 Rayburn House Office Building, District of Columbia Phone: (202) Appointment Time: 11:30 am Committee Assignments Judiciary Committee, Ranking Member Biography Representative John Conyers, Jr., a Detroit Democrat, was re-elected to represent the 14th Congressional District in November of 2010, to his 24th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Conyers is also one of the 13 founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and is considered the Dean of that group. Formed in 1969 As an outspoken critic of violence against women, Congressman Conyers was also a lead sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which was enacted in 1994 and re-authorized in It provides funding for federal, state, and local programs to combat domestic violence and sexual assault. In addition, Mr. Conyers is the principal author of the "End Racial Profiling Act," legislation that would ensure that the rights of all Americans are protected by banning racial profiling nationwide and by requiring all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to take administrative steps to eliminate the practice. He also introduced the "Hate Crimes Prevention Act," legislation that would place a wide range of hate crimes under federal jurisdiction and allow for enhanced support by the Federal government of local investigation and prosecution. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY 8th District 2334 Rayburn House Office Building, District of Columbia Phone: (202) Appointment Time: 11:30 a.m. with Lisette Morton Committee Assignments Judiciary Committee & Transportation Committee Biography In 1992, following the death of Congressman Ted Weiss, Nadler was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election and has served in Congress ever since. He was re-elected to his tenth full term in 2010, receiving over 75 percent of the vote. Throughout his career, Rep. Nadler has been a champion of civil liberties, civil rights (including women s and LGBT rights), safe and efficient transportation, and a host of progressive issues such as access to health care, support for the arts and protection of the Social Security system. He is considered an unapologetic defender of those who might otherwise be forgotten by the legal system or the economy and is especially respected for his creative and pragmatic legislative approaches to problems Rep. Nadler s district also includes Ground Zero, the site where the Twin Towers once stood 5

6 Rep. Melvin Watt (D-NC 12th District) 2304 Rayburn House Office Building, District of Columbia Phone: (202) Appointment Time: 1:00 pm with Alexandria Tindall Committee Assignments Judiciary Committee & House Financial Services Committee Biography In this term of Congress, I am continuing my service on the two Committees on which I have served since I came to Congress in House Judiciary Committee and the House Financial Services Committee. I have advanced in seniority on these Committees in each successive term of Congress and now am the 7th ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee and the 6th ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee Negotiating the agreement and leading the bi-partisan extension of the Voting Rights Act for an additional 25 years in Rep. George Miller (D-CA 7th District) 2205 Rayburn House Office Building, District of Columbia Phone: (202) Appointment Time: 2:00 p.m. With Amy Peake Committee Assignments Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Biography Rep. Miller has worked throughout his congressional career on behalf of children and the middle class. His priorities have included providing safe, affordable health care for all people, ensuring every child has access to a quality education, standing up against discrimination, and creating jobs and enhancing economic security for middle class Americans. Chair of the Committee that create Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) 6

7 Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA 4th District) 1427 Longworth House Office Building, District of Columbia Phone: (202) Appointment Time: 2:30 Committee Assignments Committee on Education and the Workforce Biography Member since 2009 He has consistently supported legislation to ensure that all Americans have access to employment opportunities and affordable health care. He has championed consumer protection, education, civil liberties and support for public safety. As part of the Whip Team, he played an important role in assembling votes for the historic health care reform act -- the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) 455 Dirksen Senate Office Building, District of Columbia Phone: (202) Appointment Time: 3:00 pm with Lindsey Ward Committee Assignments Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Committee on Rules and Administration, Ranking Member Committee on Appropriations Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) Biography Sen. Alexander has been U.S. Education Secretary, University of Tennessee president, and professor at Harvard 's School of Government. He chaired the National Governors Association and President Reagan's Commission on Americans Outdoors. In private life, he helped found the nation s largest provider of worksite day care. 7

8 Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN 1st District) 419 Cannon House Office Building, District of Columbia Phone: (202) Appointment Time: 4:00 pm Committee Assignments Education and the Workforce Committee Veterans Affair Committee Biography As a physician, Congressman Roe has become an active player in the effort to reform our nation s health care system. He is a member of the Physicians Caucus and the Health Caucus. Prior to serving in Congress, Phil served as the Mayor of Johnson City from 2007 to 2009 and Vice Mayor from 2003 to As a physician, Phil ran a successful medical practice in Johnson City for 31 years, delivering close to 5,000 babies. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA 39th District) 2423 Rayburn House Office Building, District of Columbia Phone: (202) Appointment Time: 3:30pm and Melissa Kiedrowicz, Legislative Assistant Committee Assignment Judiciary Committee & Veteran Affairs Committee Biography Linda Sánchez has represented California s 39th Congressional district since Recognized by her colleagues and the national media as a leading voice for working families, judiciary, and trade matters. A co-founder of the Labor and Working Families Caucus, Sánchez has worked tirelessly to ensure that workers are safe on the job, from industrial accidents as well as from employer intimidation and retaliation. Keeping children safe online has also been a priority for Sánchez, who has introduced legislation to criminalize cyber-bullying and to reduce bullying, harassment, and gang activity in our schools. While in Congress, Sánchez has helped to expand Head Start and modernize the Higher Education Act. 8

9 Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) 2160 Rayburn House Office Building, District of Columbia Phone: (202) Appointment Time: 5:00pm Committee Assignment Judiciary Committee & Transportation Committee Biography She is serving her ninth term (18 years) as a member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the lead sponsor of the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 and is leading the fight once again with her current bill HR 5770 with support from producers Harvey Weinstein and Lee Hirsch - producers of the film Bully. Congresswoman played a significant role in the renewal and reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, and contributed an amendment to the NASA reauthorization bill that will ensure equal access for minority and economically disadvantaged students to NASA s education programs Rep. Maxine Waters (C-35) 2344 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) Appointment Time:3:00 Committee Assignment Judiciary Committee & Finance Services Committee Biography She is serving her tenth term (20 years) as a member of the United States House of Representatives. Congresswoman Maxine Waters serves as a Chief Deputy Whip and as a member of the Steering and Policy Committee, making her an integral part of the House Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters is considered by many to be one of the most powerful women in American politics today. She has gained a reputation as a fearless and outspoken advocate for women, children, people of color and the poor. Leadership 9