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Beyond the Beltway: Influencing Federal Policy Through Grassroots Engagement

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Beyond the Beltway: Influencing Federal Policy through Grassroots Engagement GMA Annual Convention 2019 Welcome and Goals for Today • Learn about importance of federal issues and how city officials can influence federal policy • Overview of Georgia’s delegation • Facts about Congress and the legislative process • GMA Federal Advocacy • Apply concepts to practical situations • Empower you to talk to federal leaders Group feedback: What are the top two things you would like to learn today? 1 Federal Advocacy: Why is it important? • Federal issues impact cities • Break through Beltway thinking – put a local face on issues • Continuous exchange of ideas and local examples • Strengthen relationships to guide decision making Trust in Government Pew Research Center, November 2015 Poll Gallup, September 2016 Trust & confidence in: • Congress: 35% • State government: 62% • Local government: 71% Congress: An Overview •116th Congress • 435 House Members • 100 Senators • Republicans have 53-seat majority in Senate (45 Dem, 2 Independent) • Democrats have 235-197 seat majority in House (3 vacancies) 2 Congress: An Overview • Salary –Base salary for House and Senate is $174,000 –House speaker gets $223,500 –Average pay for congressional staff is $30-50,000 • Personnel allowance –The average allowance for personnel in the Senate is $3,306,570; –House members are allowed $944,671 for personnel plus office expenses Congress: An Overview Prior Occupations of 116th Prior Occupations of 116th Representatives Congress Senators Congress (2019) (2019) Public service/politics 171 Law 49 Business or banking 165 Public service/politics 49 Law 144 Business or banking 30 Veteran 77 Education 21 Education 64 Veteran 18 Congressional aide 58 Congressional aide 13 Real estate 27 Agriculture 6 Agriculture 22 Real estate 5 Labor leader 21 Medicine 4 Medicine 21 Homemaker/Domestic 4 Military 14 Technical/Trade 4 Healthcare 14 Labor leader 3 Engineering 12 Military 3 Journalism 11 Journalism 2 Secreterial/clerical 10 Artistic/Creative 2 Homemaker/Domestic 9 Secretarial/Clerical 2 Law enforcement 8 Acting/entertainer 1 Clergy 7 Clergy 1 Science 7 Engineering 1 Technical/Trade 6 Healthcare 1 Professional sports 5 Miscellaneous 1 Artistic/Creative 5 Aeronautics 0 Miscellaneous 3 Law enforcement 0 Aeronautics 2 Professional sports 0 Acting/entertainer 1 Science 0 Total 884 220 Some members say they have more than one occupation Congress: An Overview House of Representatives Race/Ethnicity 2019 African American 12% Asian Americans 3% Hispanic Americans 9% White/Other 76% 3 Congress: An Overview Congress: An Overview Senate Race/Ethnicity 2019 African American 3% Asian Americans 3% Hispanic Americans 4% White/Other 88% Congress: An Overview 4 Congress: An Overview Women in the House of Representatives since 1969 House Democrats House Republicans 100 89 90 80 70 62 62 60 57 56 52 50 50 42 40 41 38 40 36 35 31 30 19 20 14 14 14 24 13 13 13 12 23 22 10 11 10 21 21 20 21 17 18 17 10 6 16 16 13 11 11 12 2 999 9 5 55 0 4 3 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st102nd103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th114th 115th 116th Congress: An Overview Women in the Senate since 1969 Senate Democrats Senate Republicans 18 17 16 16 16 14 14 13 12 12 11 10 10 99 8 8 66 6 6 55 555 5 5 4 4 4 3333 222 2 1111 1 1111111 0 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st102nd103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th114th 115th 116th Congress: An Overview Ideological Positions House Party Coalitions, 1947-2015 Entire chamber Democrats Republicans 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 80th 82nd 84th 86th 88th 90th 92nd 94th 96th 98th 100th 102nd 104th 106th 108th 110th 112th 114th (1947) (1951) (1955) (1959) (1963) (1967) (1971) (1975) (1979) (1983) (1987) (1991) (1995) (1999) (2003) (2007) (2011) (2015) -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 5 Congress: An Overview Ideological Positions Senate Party Coalitions, 1947-2015 Entire chamber Democrats Republicans 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 80th 82nd 84th 86th 88th 90th 92nd 94th 96th 98th 100th 102nd 104th 106th 108th 110th 112th 114th (1947) (1951) (1955) (1959) (1963) (1967) (1971) (1975) (1979) (1983) (1987) (1991) (1995) (1999) (2003) (2007) (2011) (2015) -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 Congress: An Overview Congressional Output, 1947-2018 No. of bills enacted Total pages of statutes 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 80th (1947- 83rd (1953- 86th (1959- 89th (1965- 92nd (1971- 95th (1977- 98th (1983- 101st 104th 107th 110th 113th 1948) 1954) 1960) 1966) 1972) 1978) 1984) (1989-1990)(1995-1996)(2001-2002)(2007-2008)(2013-2014) Congress: An Overview Congressional Support Agencies Staff, 1946-2015 Library of Congress Congressional Research Service Government Accountability Office Congressional Budget Office 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 6 Legislative Process Member Bill assigned to Committee sponsors a bill committee markup Bill put on the Simple majority Report bill to calendar for a passes (218/435 the House vote votes) Goes to Senate, Releases to full Simple majority assigned to Senate for vote (51) passes committee Final approval Conference President has 10 by House and committee days to sign Senate Committees • 20 standing committees in House • 16 in Senate • Membership divided between parties • Members nominated at beginning of Congress • Members can serve on 2 committees, 4 subcommittees • Committees have separate staff from Congressional office staff • Knowing which committee a bill lies, and if one of GA congressman serves on the committee, can help with advocacy efforts Georgia’s Senators • Senator Johnny Isakson –1st Republican to be sworn in to a third term in the U.S. Senate representing Georgia. He also holds the distinction as the first Georgian to be elected to the state House, state Senate, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. – Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (known as HELP); Finance, Foreign Relations, Veterans Affairs (Chair) and Ethics (Chair) • Senator David Perdue – Elected in 2014 to his 1st term – Armed Services Committee; Banking Committee; Agriculture Committee; and Budget Committee 7 Georgia’s Representatives • GA-01 Hon. Buddy Carter • GA-02 Hon. Sanford Bishop • GA-03 Hon. Drew Ferguson • GA-04 Hon. Hank Johnson • GA-05 Hon. John Lewis • GA-06 Hon. Lucy McBath • GA-07 Hon. Rob Woodall • GA-08 Hon. Austin Scott • GA-09 Hon. Doug Collins • GA-10 Hon. Jody Hice • GA-11 Hon. Barry Loudermilk • GA-12 Hon. Rick Allen • GA-13 Hon. David Scott • GA-14 Hon. Tom Graves Feedback: Who has met with your Congress member? What was the issue? What was the outcome? What worked or didn’t work? 8 NLC and GMA: Partners in Federal Advocacy Tips for Messaging and Communicating with Federal Leaders Angelina Panettieri, NLC Principal Associate, Technology and Communications Messaging and Communicating with Federal Leaders Overview • Tips for Messaging and Communicating with Federal Leaders • Why is Effective Communication Important? • Building a Strong Message & Communicating It Effectively • Advocacy Resources for Cities •Q&A 9 Why it Matters – By the Numbers • 200-1,000% increase in mail/email volume to most congressional offices over past decade • 0% increase in congressional staffing levels • Increasing levels of turnover on the Hill, decreasing levels of experience • 13,556 measures introduced by 115th Congress – only 443 signed into law You Are Influential! Source: Citizen-Centric Advocacy, Congressional Management Foundation, 2015 NLC University https://learning.govloop.com/nlcuniversity/ 10 Know What You Want • SMART Goals • Specific • Measurable • Attainable • Relevant •Timely Know Who To Talk To In-District Member of Congress District / State Field Office Director Representative District / State Caseworkers Scheduler Know Who To Talk To In DC 11 Elevator Pitch Steps • The “Three W’s” • WHO are you? • Introduce yourself – what are your credentials? • WHAT do you want? • Make your ask – use your SPIT message and keep it simple! • WHY does it matter to your legislator? • Exchange contact information and keep the door open • REMEMBER: Always be courteous, no matter what happens Elements of Success Source: Citizen-Centric Advocacy, Congressional Management Foundation, 2015 Advocacy Resources for Cities 12 Rebuild With Us www.nlc.org/infrastructure Resources for You • Contact GMA: – Becky Taylor Director, Federal Relations & Research 678-686-6276 [email protected] • Or Contact NLC: – Irma Esparza Diggs Senior Executive and Director, Federal Advocacy – 202-626-3176 [email protected] Q&A 13 GMA Federal Priorities • Infrastructure • Telecom/ broadband Group Activity Practice Your Elevator Speech 14 GMA Policy Process Spring Listening Sessions Approval by GMA Legislative Policy Membership/ Council Spring Annual Convention Meeting Legislative Policy Policy Area Council/Annual Meetings/Annual Convention Convention GMA Federal Policy Council • Builds on existing relationships • Part of GMA mission to expand advocacy to all levels • Delivers GMA priorities in DC and in the District GMA Federal Policy Council • Chair is GMA 2nd VP • LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton 15 Building Relationships with Staff • Staff are the experts • Link between you and their boss • Offer to be their resource • Stop by to check in • Get to know schedulers
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