Community Action and the 114th Congress National Community Action Foundation
Overview Introduction to Congress Who is the 114th Congress? What are the pressures points? Working with the 114th Congress What are our goals? How do we work with the 114th Congress to meet our goals?
Introduction to the 114th Congress
188 247 AK Total Seats Democrats: 188 Republicans: 247 House Composition 114th Congress
Lost HR 3854 Co-Sponsors Democratic Cong. Tim Bishop (NY-1) Democratic Cong. John Tierney (MA-6) Lost in Primary Democratic Cong. Bill Enyart (IL-2) Democratic Cong. Bruce Braley (IA-I) Unsuccessfully ran for Senate Democratic Cong. Colleen Hanabusa (HI-1) Unsuccessfully ran for Senate Democratic Cong. Mike McIntyre (NC-1) Retired Democratic Cong. Gloria Negrete McLeod (CA-25) -- Retired
New Members of the House 40 Republicans Gary Palmer (AL-6) French Hill (AR-2) Bruce Westerman (AR-4) Steve Knight (CA-25) Mimi Walters (CA-45) Ken Buck (CO-4) Carlos Curbelo (FL-26) Earl Buddy Carter (GA-1) Jody Hice (GA-10) Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) Rick Allen (GA-12) Robert Dold (IL-10) Mike Bost (IL-12) Rod Blum (IA-1) David Young (IA-3) Bruce Poliquin (ME-2) John Moolenaar (MI-4) Mike Bishop (MI-8) Dave Trott (MI-11) Tom Emmer (MN-6) Ryan Zinke (MT- At Large) Cresent Hardy (NE-4) Frank Guinta (NH-1) Tom MacArthur (NJ-3) Lee Zeldin (NY-1) Elise Stefanik (NY-21) John Katko (NY-24) Mark Walker (NC-6) David Rouzer (NC-7) Steve Russell (OK-5) Ryan Costello (PA-6) John Ratcliffe (TX-4) Will Hurd (TX-23) Brian Babin (TX-36) Mia Love (UT-4) Dave Brat (VA-7) Barbara Comstock (VA-11) Dan Newhouse (WA-4) Evan Jenkins (WV-3) Glenn Grothman (WI-6)
New Members of the House 16 Democrats Ruben Gallego (AZ-7) Mark DeSaulnler (CA-11) Pete Aguilar (CA-31) Ted Lieu (CA-33) Norma Torres (CA-35) Gwen Graham (FL-2) Seth Moulton (MA-6 Debbie Dingell (MI-12) Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) Brad Ashford (NE-2) Donald Norcross (NJ-1) Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) Kathleen Rice (NY-4) Alma Adams (NC-12) Brendan Boyle (PA-13) Don Beyer (VA-8)
Changes in Committees of Interest Budget Education and the Workforce Rep. Paul Ryan Rep. Tom Price Rep. John Kline Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services (Labor-HHS) Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Rep. Jack Kingston Rep. Tom Cole Rep. Mike Simpson
House Committee on the Budget Majority Tom Price, Georgia, Vice- Chairman Scott Garrett, New Jersey John Campbell, California Ken Calvert, California Tom Cole, Oklahoma Tom McClintock, California James Lankford, Oklahoma Diane Black, Tennessee Reid Ribble, Wisconsin Bill Flores, Texas Todd Rokita, Indiana Rob Woodall, Georgia Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Alan Nunnelee, Mississippi Scott Rigell, Virginia Vicky Hartzler, Missouri Jackie Walorski, Indiana Luke Messer, Indiana Tom Rice, South Carolina Roger Williams, Texas Sean Duffy, Wisconsin Leaving Committee Paul Ryan, Wisconsin, Chairman Minority Chris Van Hollen, Maryland, Ranking Member John Yarmuth, Kentucky Bill Pascrell, New Jersey Tim Ryan, Ohio Gwen Moore, Wisconsin Kathy Castor, Florida Jim McDermott, Washington Barbara Lee, California Hakeem Jeffries, New York Mark Pocan, Wisconsin Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Jared Huffman, California Tony Cárdenas, California Earl Blumenauer, Oregon Kurt Schrader, Oregon Lloyd Doggett, Texas Dan Kildee, Michigan
Education and the Workforce Committee Majority John Kline, Minnesota, Chairman Tom Petri, Wisconsin Howard McKeon, California Joe Wilson, South Carolina Virginia Foxx, North Carolina Duncan D. Hunter, California Phil Roe, Tennessee Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania Tim Walberg, Michigan Matt Salmon, Arizona Brett Guthrie, Kentucky* Todd Rokita, Indiana Lou Barletta, Pennsylvania Joe Heck, Nevada Luke Messer, Indiana Bradley Byrne, Alabama New Republican Members Rep. Dave Brat (VA- 7) Rep. Buddy Carter (GA- 1) Rep. Mike Bishop (MI- 8) Rep. Glenn Grothman (WI- 6) Rep. Steve Russell (OK- 5) Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL- 26) Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY- 21) Rep. Rick Allen (GA- 12) Minority George Miller, California, Ranking Member Bobby Scott, Virginia Rubén Hinojosa, Texas Carolyn McCarthy, New York John Tierney, Massachusetts Rush D. Holt, Jr., New Jersey Susan Davis, California Raúl Grijalva, Arizona Timothy Bishop, New York David Loebsack, Iowa* Joe Courtney, Connecticut Marcia Fudge, Ohio Jared Polis, Colorado Gregorio Sablan, Northern Mariana Islands Frederica Wilson, Florida Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon Mark Pocan, Wisconsin Mark Takano, California Leaving Committee Tom Price, Georgia Kenny Marchant, Texas Scott DesJarlais, Tennessee Larry Bucshon, Indiana Trey Gowdy, South Carolina Martha Roby, Alabama Susan Brooks, Indiana Richard Hudson, North Carolina George Miller Bobby Scott
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Majority Jack Kingston, Georgia, Chairman Steve Womack, Arkansas, Vice Chair Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee David Joyce, Ohio Andy Harris, Maryland Martha Roby, Alabama Chris Stewart, Utah Hal Rogers, Kentucky Minority Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut, Ranking Member Lucille Roybal- Allard, California Barbara Lee, California Mike Honda, California Nita Lowey, New York
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Majority Mike Simpson, Idaho, Chairman Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, New Jersey Alan Nunnelee, Mississippi, Vice- Chairman Ken Calvert, California Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee Tom Graves, Georgia Jeff Fortenberry, Nebraska Minority Marcy Kaptur, Ohio, Ranking Member Pete Visclosky, Indiana Chaka Fattah, Pennsylvania Ed Pastor, Arizona
Leadership Republicans Speaker of the House John Boehner Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Majority Whip Steve Scalise Democrats Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn
House CRomnibus Votes House 218 Votes Needed to Pass No Votes on Passage Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Yes Votes on Passage Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer Votes by Party Yea Nay Not Voting Republicans 162 67 5 Democrats 57 139 5 Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn Speaker of the House John Boehner Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Majority Whip Steve Scalise Total 219 206 10
44 54 Total Seats Democrats: 44 Republicans: 54 Independents: 2 Senate Composition 114th Congress
New Members of the Senate Democrats Gary Peters, Michigan Republicans Dan Sullivan, Alaska Tom Cotton, Arkansas Cory Gardner, Colorado David Perdue, Georgia Joni Ernst, Iowa Steve Daines, Montana Ben Sasse, Nebraska Thom Tillis, North Carolina James Lankford, Oklahoma Mike Rounds, South Dakota Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
Changes in Committees of Interest Budget Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Sen. Patty Murray Sen. Mike Enzi Sen. Tom Harkin Sen. Lamar Alexander Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services (Labor-HHS) Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Sen. Tom Harkin Sen. Jerry Moran Sen. Dianne Feinstein Sen. Lamar Alexander
Senate Committee on the Budget Democrat Patty Murray, Washington Chairwoman Ron Wyden, Oregon Bill Nelson, Florida Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Bernie Sanders, Vermont[I] Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Mark Warner, Virginia Jeff Merkley, Oregon Chris Coons, Delaware Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Tim Kaine, Virginia Angus King, Maine[I] Republican Jeff Sessions, Alabama, Ranking Member Chuck Grassley, Iowa Mike Enzi, Wyoming Mike Crapo, Idaho Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Rob Portman, Ohio Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Kelly Ayotte, New Hampshire Roger Wicker, Mississippi New Members Bob Corker, Tennessee David Perdue, Georgia
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Democrat Tom Harkin, Iowa, Chairman Barbara Mikulski, Maryland Patty Murray, Washington Bernie Sanders,[I] Vermont Bob Casey, Jr., Pennsylvania Kay Hagan, North Carolina Al Franken, Minnesota Michael Bennet, Colorado Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Chris Murphy, Connecticut Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Republican Lamar Alexander, Tennessee, Ranking Member Mike Enzi, Wyoming Richard Burr, North Carolina Johnny Isakson, Georgia Rand Paul, Kentucky Orrin Hatch, Utah Pat Roberts, Kansas Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Mark Kirk, Illinois Tim Scott, South Carolina New Members Susan Collins, Maine Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Democrat Tom Harkin, Iowa, Chairman Patty Murray, Washington Mary Landrieu, Louisiana Dick Durbin, Illinois Jack Reed, Rhode Island Mark Pryor, Arkansas Barbara Mikulski, Maryland Jon Tester, Montana Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Jeff Merkley, Oregon Republican Jerry Moran, Kansas, Ranking Member Thad Cochran, Mississippi Richard Shelby, Alabama Lamar Alexander, Tennessee Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Mark Kirk, Illinois Mike Johanns, Nebraska John Boozman, Arkansas
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Democrat Dianne Feinstein, California, Chairman Patty Murray, Washington Tim Johnson, South Dakota Mary Landrieu, Louisiana Tom Harkin, Iowa Jon Tester, Montana Dick Durbin, Illinois Tom Udall, New Mexico Republican Lamar Alexander, Tennessee, Ranking Member Thad Cochran, Mississippi Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Richard Shelby, Alabama Susan Collins, Maine Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Lindsey Graham, South Carolina John Hoeven, North Dakota
Leadership Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid
Senate CRomnibus Votes Votes by Party Senate 51 Votes Needed to Pass Yea Nay Not Voting Republicans 24 18 3 Democrats 31 21 1 Independents 1 1 0 Total 56 40 4 No Votes on Passage Corker (R- TN) Crapo (R- ID) Cruz (R- TX) Flake (R- AZ) Heller (R- NV) Grassley (R- IA) Johnson (R- WI) Lee (R- UT) McCain (R- AZ) Moran (R- KS) Paul (R- KY) Portman (R- OH) Risch (R- ID) Rubio (R- FL) Scott (R- SC) Sessions (R- AL) Shelby (R- AL) Vitter (R- LA) Blumenthal (D- CT) Booker (D- NJ) Boxer (D- CA) Brown (D- OH) Cantwell (D- WA) Franken (D- MN) Gillibrand (D- NY) Harkin (D- IA) Hirono (D- HI) Klobuchar (D- MN) Levin (D- MI) Manchin (D- WV) Markey (D- MA) McCaskill (D- MO) Menendez (D- NJ) Merkley (D- OR) Reed (D- RI) Sanders (I- VT) Tester (D- MT) Warren (D- MA) Whitehouse (D- RI) Wyden (D- OR)
Pressures Points
2015 Congressional Calendar with Key Pressure Points House and Senate scheduled to be in session Senate scheduled to be in session ACA Open Enrollment Ends Debt ceiling suspension estimated end Current doc fix patch expires 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 January 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 March 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 April 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Export-Import Bank charter extension ends 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 1 May 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 June 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 July 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 August 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 Highway Trust Fund expires FY 2016 Begins 30 31 September 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 October 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 November 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Source: National Journal Research, 2014.
Republicans Will Face Budget Fights In Early Months of 114 th Congress Prospective Items on Legislative Agenda in 114 th Congress Lame Duck January February March April May June Tax Extenders: Congress is likely to pass another shortterm tax extender fix, pushing the issue into next year Terrorism Risk Insurance Act: A long-term compromise is possible, but a shortterm extension could push the issue into next year Foreign Policy: Congress will likely renew the Syrian arming/training resolution Appropriations: A hybrid Cromnibus, with funding for DHS through March and all agencies through September, looks likely Debt Ceiling: Watch for confrontation over spending and issues Republicans could attach to a debt ceiling deal Immigration: If the CRomnibus passes, Congress could threaten to shut down DHS over Obama s executive action Doc Fix: Expect another short-term fix or a long-term plan paid for primarily through deficit reduction 114th Congress, Timing Unknown Highway Trust Fund: Republicans will likely change spending levels and attempt to eliminate the gas tax in a Highway Trust Fund renewal Fossil Fuel: GOP may push to approve Keystone XL legislatively or reduce regulation on energy exploration Online Sales Tax: Not a high priority, but lobbying efforts from states and small businesses may push GOP to allow for an online sales tax Affordable Care Act: Barring more extreme action (full repeal or major overhaul) in the wake of a Supreme Court decision eliminating federal exchange subsidies in Halbig v. Burwell, medical device tax repeal and smaller regulatory changes to coverage requirements are possible Terrorism Risk Insurance Act: If lame duck results in short-term extension, expect a long-term compromise closer to earlier GOP plans EPA Regulations: GOP may try repealing EPA regulations on carbon emissions through a budget/debt ceiling vote Export-Import Bank: Republicans are split on whether the bank should expire; it may or may not be reauthorized Foreign Policy: Congress may make Syrian reauthorization contingent on new AUMF; Republicans may push for more confrontation with Iran International Trade: The Republican Senate will likely grant Obama Trade Promotion Authority to sign the TPP and TIPP trade agreements Appropriations: A regular-order budget is possible, but another CR is a strong possibility; some GOP members have hinted at reconciliation FCC/Net Neutrality: Republicans may restrict the FCC s authority or withhold its funding if it implements more expansive regulations Tax Reform: Movement on comprehensive tax reform remains unlikely in a Republican Congress, but corporate tax reform is possible Source: National Journal Research 2014. For issue-specific sources, see issue-specific slides that follow. 3
2016 Senate Elections Republicans Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire) Roy Blunt (Missouri) John Boozman (Arkansas) Richard Burr (North Carolina) Dan Coats (Indiana) James Lankford (Oklahoma) Mike Crapo (Idaho) Chuck Grassley (Iowa) John Hoeven (North Dakota) Johnny Isakson (Georgia) Ron Johnson (Wisconsin) Mark Kirk (Illinois) Mike Lee (Utah) John McCain (Arizona) Jerry Moran (Kansas) Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) Rand Paul (Kentucky) Rob Portman (Ohio) Marco Rubio (Florida) Tim Scott (South Carolina) Richard Shelby (Alabama) John Thune (South Dakota) Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania) David Vitter (Louisiana) Democrats Michael Bennet (Colorado) Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) Barbara Boxer (California) Patrick Leahy (Vermont) Barbara Mikulski (Maryland) Patty Murray (Washington) Harry Reid (Nevada) Brian Schatz (Hawaii) Charles Schumer (New York) Ron Wyden (Oregon)
Working with the 114th Congress
Our Goals
1. Reauthorize and increase funding for Weatherization. 2. Using CSBG Reauthorization as a tool to identify a bipartisan coalition of at least 55 percent of members in House and Senate that support Community Action. 3. Get CSBG Reauthorization on legislative anticipation list. 4. Increase funding.
What we know about a Conservative Congress: Cut budgets Reform entitlements Tea Party effect
Lessons from Public Opinion *Using polling results from Center for American Progress and Half in Ten While 79 percent of most people agree that [most] people living in poverty are decent people who are working hard to make ends meet in a difficult economy, 64 percent of conservatives believe the War on Poverty didn t work, 3/4s of white conservatives and libertarians believe poor people would rather live on government benefits and only 54 percent of identified Republicans support the reduction of poverty in general this demographic is most of Congress.
Lessons from the Hill What s Been Persuasive Introducing CSBG Reauthorization as reform legislation Describing Community Action as an efficiency operation for all local efforts to develop the community. Showing Community Action Agencies as nonbureaucratic problem solvers aka addressing community needs as they arise in Community Assessments. Stories of temporary assistance and outcomes that reflect the number of individuals moved off of public support
Ask Lisa Furseth about Paul Ryan LOCAL RELATIONSHIPS Ask Paul Dole about Hal Rogers
Cementing Community Action in the Minds of the114th Congress: Three Steps 1. Local Agency Outreach to District Offices (especially new members ) 2. NCAF Hill Visits 3. Be a Friend
Step 1: Agency Outreach to District Offices in January Stop by the District Office. If a new member: introduce yourself. If a previous relationship: provide updated information to casework staff. Bring a list of services and programs provided that can be a guide for caseworkers to reference when working with constituents. Give a number that caseworkers can call if constituents are having a difficult time with any of your agency s programs a Congressional liaison of sorts. Bring a formal invitation inviting the member to visit your agency that can be left with the Scheduler. Include a specific date if desired and follow-up contact information. Be sure to follow-up via e-mail with the District Scheduler.
Be a Resource It s not political. It demonstrates commonality. Allows your work to be indispensable to the member s office. Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah
Step 2: NCAF Supports Local Efforts on the Hill How you can help us be persuasive: 1. Send us your stats: a list of your Board Members, list of people served, people moved off assistance 2. Identify ways you ve filled gaps in community need as identified by your Needs Assessment. 3. Make your Community Needs Assessment publicly available online. 4. Describe your partnerships. 5. Are you instituting any non-traditional approach to an old program or new program to tackle and unsolved issue? 6. Track important relationships: who in your agency s network has influence or credibility with your representatives. 7. Gather intelligence on new members.
Step Three: BE A FRIEND
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. Winston Churchill