CongressionalCongressional andand LegislativeLegislative AffairsAffairs

Allison Arnold U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Austin Ecological Services Field Office Austin, Texas ObjectivesObjectives „„ ExplainExplain howhow legislationlegislation isis established.established. „„ ExplainExplain thethe importanceimportance ofof developingdeveloping andand maintainingmaintaining positivepositive relationshipsrelationships withwith CongressionalCongressional officesoffices atat bothboth thethe nationalnational andand locallocal level.level. „„ ExplainExplain howhow thethe ServiceService communicatescommunicates itsits policiespolicies andand programsprograms toto Congress.Congress. „„ ExplainExplain howhow thethe ServiceService handleshandles legislativelegislative processesprocesses andand documents.documents. CongressCongress 101101 „ SenateSenate „ 100 members, two from each State „ Term 6 years, 1/3 of the total membership is elected every two years „ Unexpected vacancy can be determined by Governor for the balance of the term or by special election „ HouseHouse ofof RepresentativesRepresentatives „ 435 members, apportioned per State population (not more than 1 per 30,000) „ Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico and Delegates from D.C., American Samoa, Guam, and Virgin Islands „ Serve/vote on Committees, but do not vote on matters before the House „ Term 2 years (one Congress i. e. 110th) CongressCongress 101101

„ ChiefChief functionfunction ofof Congress:Congress: MakeMake lawslaws „ BothBoth bodiesbodies havehave thethe samesame legislativelegislative functionsfunctions andand powers,powers, withwith somesome exceptionsexceptions „ SenateSenate alsoalso advisesadvises andand consentsconsents toto treatiestreaties andand toto certaincertain nominationsnominations byby thethe PresidentPresident „ HouseHouse participatesparticipates inin unexpectedunexpected VPVP vacanciesvacancies andand impeachmentsimpeachments „ BothBoth playplay rolesroles inin thethe PresidentialPresidential ElectionElection inin thethe eventevent ofof aa tietie inin electoralelectoral votesvotes HowHow areare lawslaws made?made? HowHow areare lawslaws made?made?

„ IntroductionIntroduction ofof proposalsproposals „ SourcesSources forfor ideas:ideas: ManyMany butbut primarily:primarily: Members,Members, CongressionalCongressional Committees,Committees, campaigncampaign promises,promises, citizens,citizens, andand ExecutiveExecutive CommunicationCommunication (i.e.(i.e. fromfrom CabinetCabinet membermember oror StateState ofof thethe UnionUnion address)address) „ FormsForms ofof CongressionalCongressional Actions:Actions: billsbills (customary),(customary), jointjoint resolutions,resolutions, concurrentconcurrent resolutions,resolutions, andand simplesimple resolutionsresolutions „ WeWe willwill focusfocus onon thethe billbill herehere BillsBills

„ A BILL For the establishment, etc. [as the title may be]. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, etc. „ Bills may originate from House or Senate with some exceptions: „ Revenue bills must originate from House, Senate may vote on amendments „ Traditionally, appropriation bills originate in House „ Types: public (affects public generally) and private (affects an individual or private entity i.e. claims against U.S.) BillsBills

„ SponsorSponsor // CoCo--sponsorssponsors „ HouseHouse == H.H. R.R. ## ;; SenateSenate S.S. ## ;; CompanionCompanion BillBill isis oneone introducedintroduced inin onon househouse butbut isis similarsimilar oror identicalidentical toto oneone introducedintroduced inin thethe otherother househouse „ AA billbill thatthat hashas beenbeen agreedagreed toto inin identicalidentical formform byby bothboth bodiesbodies becomesbecomes thethe lawlaw ofof thethe landland onlyonly afterafter---- „ Presidential approval; or „ failure by the President to return it with objections to the house in which it originated within 10 days (Sundays excepted) while Congress is in session; or „ the overriding of a presidential veto by a two- thirds vote in each house. CommitteesCommittees „ Divided by political party determined by the Majority Party „ Members elected to Committees based on expertise or interest „ Referral to Committee „ House – Placed in “hopper” „ Senate – presented to clerks at Presiding Officer’s Desk „ Copies of proposed bills are furnished to Committee Chairs and placed on the Legislative Calendar „ Professional Staff are elected to Committees by Committee Members apportioned by Party makeup

MajorityMajority ofof billsbills nevernever makemake itit outout ofof CommitteeCommittee CommitteeCommittee ProceedingsProceedings

„ Committee Meetings „ Public Hearings „ Mark up „ Subcommittee review after hearings „ Final Committee Action – quorum „ Committee Reports „ Action to report bill to a house „ Committee reports are perhaps the most valuable single element of the legislative history of a law. They are used by the courts, executive departments, and the public as a source of information regarding the purpose and meaning of the law. CommitteesCommittees // SubcommitteesSubcommittees thatthat wewe workwork withwith „ HouseHouse –– CommitteesCommittees on:on: Appropriations,Appropriations, Budget,Budget, EnergyEnergy andand Commerce,Commerce, HomelandHomeland Security,Security, NaturalNatural ResourcesResources,, EnergyEnergy IndependenceIndependence andand GlobalGlobal WarmingWarming ...... „ SenateSenate –– CommitteesCommittees on:on: Agriculture,Agriculture, Nutrition,Nutrition, andand Forestry,Forestry, Appropriations,Appropriations, Budget,Budget, EnergyEnergy andand NaturalNatural Resources,Resources, EnvironmentEnvironment andand PublicPublic Works,Works, HomelandHomeland SecuritySecurity ...... „ AuthorizersAuthorizers andand AppropriatorsAppropriators DivisionDivision ofof CongressionalCongressional && LegislativeLegislative AffairsAffairs

WhatWhat wewe dodo ...... „„ ResponsibleResponsible forfor thethe Service'sService's legislativelegislative andand CongressionalCongressional relationsrelations activities,activities, includingincluding developingdeveloping andand implementingimplementing thethe ServiceService’’ss legislativelegislative agenda.agenda. „„ Review,Review, analyze,analyze, commentcomment andand reportreport onon legislationlegislation referredreferred byby thethe DepartmentDepartment ofof thethe Interior.Interior. „„ CoordinateCoordinate ServiceService commentscomments onon testimony,testimony, legislationlegislation andand otherother legislativelegislative documentsdocuments withwith otherother bureausbureaus andand officesoffices withinwithin thethe DepartmentDepartment and,and, throughthrough DOI,DOI, otherother federalfederal agencies.agencies. „„ ServeServe asas thethe primaryprimary liaisonliaison betweenbetween CongressionalCongressional officesoffices andand thethe Service.Service. EstablishingEstablishing andand MaintainingMaintaining RelationshipsRelationships withwith CongressionalCongressional Offices:Offices: HelpsHelps MembersMembers ofof CongressCongress andand theirtheir staffstaff betterbetter understandunderstand andand supportsupport thethe ServiceService’’ss missionmission andand ourour effortsefforts toto accomplishaccomplish thatthat mission.mission. GeneralGeneral GuidelinesGuidelines forfor CommunicatingCommunicating withwith Congress:Congress: „ CommunicateCommunicate onon aa regularregular basis;basis; dondon’’tt waitwait untiluntil therethere isis aa problemproblem „ GetGet toto knowknow MembersMembers’’ CommitteesCommittees andand SubcommitteesSubcommittees „ InvolveInvolve CongressionalCongressional staffstaff andand MembersMembers inin ourour workwork viavia sitesite visits,visits, tours,tours, eventsevents „ IncludeInclude aa detaileddetailed CongressionalCongressional componentcomponent inin outreachoutreach plansplans TheThe ServiceService’’ss PolicyPolicy onon LobbyingLobbying

FederalFederal lawlaw provides:provides: ““NoNo partpart ofof thethe moneymoney appropriatedappropriated byby anyany actact ofof CongressCongress shall,shall, inin thethe absenceabsence ofof expressexpress authorizationauthorization byby Congress,Congress, bebe ususeded directlydirectly oror indirectlyindirectly toto paypay forfor anyany personalpersonal service,service, advertisement,advertisement, telegram,telegram, telephone,telephone, letter,letter, printedprinted oror writtenwritten mattermatter oror otherother devise,devise, intendedintended oror designeddesigned toto inflinfluenceuence inin anyany mannermanner aa MemberMember ofof Congress,Congress, aa jurisdiction,jurisdiction, oror anan officialofficial ofof anyany governmentgovernment,, toto favor,favor, adoptadopt oror oppose,oppose, byby votevote oror otherwise,otherwise, anyany legislation,legislation, law,law, ratification,ratification, policypolicy oror appropriationappropriation byby Congress,Congress, whetherwhether beforebefore oror afterafter thethe introductionintroduction ofof anyany bill,bill, measuremeasure oror resolutionresolution proposingproposing suchsuch legislation,legislation, law,law, ratification,ratification, policypolicy oror appropriation.appropriation.”” 1818 U.S.C.U.S.C. 19131913 TheThe ServiceService’’ss PolicyPolicy onon LobbyingLobbying

We Can: „ Support the Service’s official position on legislation „ Keep Congressional offices advised of status on the Service’s position „ Participate in conferences or forums to promote awareness of a Service legislative proposal (so long as it is not organized for the purpose of advocating support for or opposition to the proposal) TheThe ServiceService’’ss PolicyPolicy onon LobbyingLobbying

WeWe Cannot:Cannot: „ AskAsk forfor fundingfunding oror taketake aa contrarycontrary positionposition onon currentcurrent oror pendingpending legislationlegislation „ DistributeDistribute materialsmaterials onon pendingpending legislation,legislation, draftdraft testimony,testimony, oror pendingpending appropriationsappropriations „ AppealAppeal toto thethe publicpublic toto contactcontact theirtheir electedelected representativesrepresentatives inin orderorder toto influenceinfluence legislationlegislation „ InfluenceInfluence legislativelegislative actionaction byby Members,Members, staff,staff, oror committeescommittees ofof CongressCongress MethodsMethods toto communicatecommunicate policiespolicies andand programsprograms toto CongressionalCongressional officesoffices

„„ LegislativeLegislative ReferralsReferrals „„ TestimonyTestimony „„ CorrespondenceCorrespondence „„ ContactContact withwith CongressionalCongressional officesoffices „„ CongressionalCongressional Briefings/MeetingsBriefings/Meetings „„ CongressionalCongressional Tours/SiteTours/Site VisitsVisits LegislativeLegislative ReferralsReferrals

„„ OriginateOriginate from:from: „ thethe SecretarySecretary’’ss OfficeOffice ofof LegislativeLegislative CounselCounsel „ OfficeOffice ofof ManagementManagement andand BudgetBudget throughthrough OCLOCL „ OpportunityOpportunity toto provideprovide input/commentinput/comment on:on: „ legislationlegislation „ otherother federalfederal agenciesagencies’’ testimonytestimony „ officialofficial correspondencecorrespondence betweenbetween DOI/bureausDOI/bureaus andand CongressCongress LegislativeLegislative ReferralsReferrals

„„ ServiceService CommentsComments onon referralsreferrals „„TwoTwo types:types: technicaltechnical andand policypolicy „„ShouldShould notnot conflictconflict withwith establishedestablished policypolicy „„OftenOften requiresrequires quickquick turnaroundturnaround (OMB(OMB clearance)clearance) TestimonyTestimony

„ AddressAddress issuesissues raisedraised inin thethe letterletter ofof invitationinvitation fromfrom CongressionalCongressional committeecommittee „ DoDo NOTNOT establishestablish newnew policypolicy „ DoDo NOTNOT requestrequest fundingfunding outsideoutside PresidentPresident’’ss budgetbudget CongressionalCongressional CorrespondenceCorrespondence

„„ MostMost lettersletters wewe receivereceive fromfrom CongressCongress addressaddress constituentconstituent lettersletters

Dear Senator . . . Dear Congresswoman . . .

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Dear Congressman . . . CongressionalCongressional Briefings/MeetingsBriefings/Meetings

„ AppropriateAppropriate for:for: „ ““hothot”” issuesissues „ newnew proposalsproposals „ ToTo setset upup aa briefing,briefing, wewe workwork with:with: „ RegionalRegional && WashingtonWashington LegislativeLegislative SpecialistsSpecialists CongressionalCongressional FieldField Trips,Trips, SiteSite Visits,Visits, andand SpecialSpecial EventsEvents

„„ OfficialOfficial visitsvisits toto federalfederal facilitiesfacilities areare AllowedAllowed

„„ CampaignCampaign eventsevents atat federalfederal facilitiesfacilities areare NotNot allowedallowed FindingFinding InformationInformation onon thethe WebWeb

„ Thomas:Thomas: http://thomas.loc.govhttp://thomas.loc.gov „ Congress.Org:Congress.Org: http://congress.orghttp://congress.org „ FirstGov.gov:FirstGov.gov: http://www.firstgov.govhttp://www.firstgov.gov „ TheThe U.S.U.S. Senate:Senate: http://www.senate.govhttp://www.senate.gov.. „ TheThe U.S.U.S. HouseHouse ofof Representatives:Representatives: hhttp//www.house.govttp//www.house.gov „ GovernmentGovernment PrintingPrinting Office:Office: http://http://www.access.gpo.govwww.access.gpo.gov FindingFinding InformationInformation onon thethe WebWeb

LiveLive BroadcastsBroadcasts „ CC--SPAN:SPAN: http://www.chttp://www.c--span.orgspan.org „ Capitolhearings:Capitolhearings: http://www.capitolhearings.orghttp://www.capitolhearings.org..

Publications/CommercialPublications/Commercial SitesSites „ CQ:CQ: http://www.cq.comhttp://www.cq.com „ RollRoll Call:Call: http://www.rollcall.comhttp://www.rollcall.com „ TheThe HillHill http://www.hillnews.comhttp://www.hillnews.com ExampleExample legislationlegislation thethe ServiceService hashas beenbeen involvedinvolved inin 106TH CONGRESS

Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session

ARCTIC TUNDRA HABITAT EMERGENCY CONSERVATION ACT

July 29, 1999- Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H.R. 2454] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 2454) to assure the long-term conservation of mid-continent light geese and the biological diversity of the ecosystem upon which many North American migratory birds depend, by directing the Secretary of the Interior to implement rules to reduce the overabundant population of mid-continent light geese, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. SanSan JuanJuan RiverRiver BasinBasin RIPRIP

http://www.fws.gov/southwest/sjrip/index.cf m Public Law 106–392 106th Congress An Act to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to provide cost sharing for the endangered fish recovery implementation programs for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to authorize and provide funding for the Bureau of Reclamation to continue the implementation of the endangered fish recovery implementation programs for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins in order to accomplish the objectives of these programs within a currently established time schedule. 110th Congress, 1st Session, H.R. 1462 AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the implementation of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Species in the Central and Lower Platte River Basin and to modify the Pathfinder Dam and Reservoir.

• H. R. 1462 was reported to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in March 2008 and was rolled into S.2739 Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 which included many natural resource bills, authorizations, appropriations, and amendments • S.2739 became Public Law 110-229 on May 8, 2008 and will terminate in 2020. http://www.platteriver.org/ Upper Colorado River RIP

„ H.R. 2348 / P.L.106-392 was signed into law on October 30, 2000 and authorizes the Bureau of Reclamation to provide cost sharing of capital construction and annual operations for the endangered fish recovery programs for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River basins. Capital projects include fish passages, fish screens, hatcheries, flood plain and instream habitat, and a reservoir to provide flow augmentation. „ P.L. 106-392 has been amended twice (P.L.107-375 extended the period for capital construction to 2008; and P.L.109-183 extended the period for construction of capital projects through FY 2010, authorized an additional $15 million in capital expenditures, and recognized an additional $11 million in non-federal cost share contributions. „ Currently proposed amendments to H.R. 2348 would authorize an additional $12 million in federal expenditures for the San Juan Recovery Program, an additional $15 million in federal expenditures for the Upper Colorado River Program, and recognize additional nonfederal contributions of $56 million. S. 728 110th CONGRESS, 1st Session To authorize the Secretary of the Army to carry out restoration projects along the Middle Rio Grande. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 1, 2007, read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works . . . . . A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Army to carry out restoration projects along the Middle Rio Grande.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act-- „ (1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and „ (2) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 throughthrough 2016.

„ Currently in Committee QuestionsQuestions ??

Allison Arnold U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Austin Ecological Services Field Office Austin, Texas