changing legislation larry hollar, north central regional organizer
TRANSCRIPT
Changing Legislation
Larry Hollar, North Central Regional Organizer
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The Legislative Process and Sausage
School House Rock gives us a brief overview…
How does a bill become a law?
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Let’s Start at the Beginning!
So…when does the legislative process actually start?
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• November, even years
• Incumbency
• Safe for one party
Elections
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Congress Forms
A Congress lasts two years—two one-year Sessions
Committees and Subcommittees take shape
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Straw Poll! Why Join a Committee?
Clap if you think it’s a factor:
• Skills of the Member
• Needs of the district
• Power and prestige
• Chance to raise reelection $
• Cool name of committee
• Comfy chairs
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• Authorizing
• Appropriations
• Budget
• Select and Joint
Committees
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Bills and Resolutions
• Bill (H.R. 123, S. 456)
• Joint Resolution (H.J.Res. 78, S.J.Res. 90)
• Concurrent Resolution (H.Con.Res. 111, S.Con.Res. 222)
• Simple Resolution (H.Res. 33, S.Res. 44)
1. Where do bills originate?2. Number (the “Hopper”)3. Cosponsors — Original and
Additional
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Each bill and resolution:
• Referred to one or morecommittees for possibleaction
• Fewer usually better
Referral
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Subcommittee/Committee Action
• NO Action(bill dies)
• Hearings
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Subcommittee/Committee Action
• Markups • Committee Reports
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Floor Action — The House
• Calendars
• Rules (Committee and Resolution)
• Floor—Debate, Germaneness
• Voting
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Floor Action — The Senate
• Scheduling• Debate• Filibuster, cloture• Voting
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Straw Poll!
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE:
• House Floor Process
• Senate Floor Process
• Both
• Neither
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•Appointment of Conferees
•Approval of “conference report” by conferees and then by each house, without amendment
Conference
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The President in the Legislative Process
• Approval
• Veto
• Possible congressional override
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Public Law (P.L. 111-62)
Statistics—Congress, “the great winnowing machine”
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
Bill and jointresolutionsintroduced
Public laws
98th Congress
105th Congress
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The remainder of the legislative process circle
• Oversight, investigation
• Reauthorization and Appropriations
• Accountability—Media, advocacy groups
• Elections
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Where can we as advocates influence this process?
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Bread members can…
• Study current legislation
• Write, call or visit members of Congress
• Organize Offerings of Letters
• Pray for success
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Why Do This Challenging Work?
So Cadence’s Generation Can
See the End of Hunger in God’s World
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Example—The Farm Bill
2007 Offering of Letter campaign www.bread.org
The Farm Bill 2007 Offering of Letter campaign
• No “typical” OL campaign
• Reauthorized--five years
• Many committees
• Advocacy groups, coalitions
• Bread goals: equitable support for U.S. farmers and rural communities, help hungry U.S. people, support global farmers
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The Farm BillSpring actions
• Statement of Principles by faith groups; OLs begin
• Budget Committee--Grassley-Dorgan amendment; Bread calls
• Ag Committee hearings—Bread testifies
• Listening sessions
• “Marker” bills
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The Farm BillSummer actions--House
• House Ag Committee bill—status quo
• Bread pressure (calls, Offerings of Letters) improvements
• Floor action—partisan, veto threat
• “Fairness Amendment” loses
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The Farm BillFall actions--Senate
• Senate Ag Committee bill – helpful provisions, but…
• On floor, amendments fail without 60 votes
• Former OL bill—Hunger Free Communities Act—included
• To be continued in 2008…
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The Farm Bill2008 actions
• Conference bill—good on nutrition, few changes on commodities
• Presidential veto overridden
• We “changed the conversation” -- religious voices stronger
• Bill Moyers, Diane Rehm, NPR interviews
• 5 years hence…
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Larry Hollar, Regional OrganizerBread for the World1-800-82-Breadwww.bread.org