Making Government Work

For You:IFMA’S

ADVOCACY TUTORIAL

IFMA EFFORTS IN WASHINGTON

Advocacy Government Partnerships Coalition Building

ADVOCACY

Energy Efficiency – EISA, ACES Carbon Cap and Trade Workplace Issues - ADA Sustainability Brownfields Workforce Development Health Care / Indoor Air Quality

Government Partnerships

General Services Administration (GSA) Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Department of State Department of Labor Food and Drug Administration Department of Energy U.S. Coast Guard

Coalition Building

High Performance Buildings Congressional Caucus Coalition (HPBCCC)

Federal Facilities Council (FFC) American Society of Heating Refrigeration and

Air Conditioning Engineer (ASHRAE) U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Institute of Building Science (NIBS) Design Build Institute (DBI)

Government Funding Resources:

The Stimulus Package The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 distributes the $787 billion as follows: Tax Credits                         $288 billion Contracts, Grants $275 billion

and Loans         Entitlements $224 billion

Stimulus Funding of Interest to IFMA Department of Energy

Received $35.1 billion Weatherization (Authorized in EISA) - $5 billion Energy Efficiency Block Grants – 68% to 1700 Cities

Department of Labor Received $7.3 billion

$500 million for Green Job Training and Education GSA

Received $5.7 billion $4.5 billion to convert federal buildings to HPB $700 billion to renovate and construct federal buildings

Other Government Funding:The Federal Budget Process

Begins in February when president submits his budget to congress.

Funded through annual appropriations process and supplemental spending bills

2008 budget contained $1.8 trillion in mandatory spending and $1.2 trillion in discretionary spending

Other Government Resources

IFMA Government Affairs Website Recovery.gov Department of Energy Reports Federal Facilities Council

Available www7.nationalacademies.org/ffc/ EPA Energy Star Program

Available www.ifma.org

How to Make Government Work for You

Be Proactive….Understand the ProcessGet InvolvedReach out to your elected

officials – Local, State, Federal

The constitution gives the legislative branch “the power of the purse”

It oversees how the executive branch is organized and how it operates

It provides legislative authorities necessary for agencies to carry out their missions

It confirms executive and judicial branch nominations

Legislative Branch

BicameralBicameral

The House of RepresentativesThe House of RepresentativesTwo-year termTwo-year termLocal focus Local focus Populist bodyPopulist body

The SenateThe SenateSix-year termSix-year termState focusState focusImperial bodyImperial body

U.S. Congress

House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

435 voting members ~ 1/500,000 435 voting members ~ 1/500,000 peoplepeople

257 democrats257 democrats178 republicans178 republicans

Five additional non-voting Five additional non-voting delegatesdelegates

American SamoaAmerican SamoaDistrict Of ColumbiaDistrict Of ColumbiaGuamGuamU.S. Virgin IslandsU.S. Virgin IslandsPuerto RicoPuerto Rico

The 111th CongressThe 111th Congress

111th Congress

100 Members=Two From Each 100 Members=Two From Each StateState57 democrats 57 democrats 41 republicans41 republicansTwo independentTwo independent

The United States The United States SenateSenate

How is Congress Organized?

Leadership Personal offices Committees –

Authorization Appropriations Oversight

Authorization Bills

Authorization bills Create programs Define scope and key components Multi-year Time limited Recommend funding levels Authorizing committees also provide oversight of

executive departments’ operation of programs

Appropriation Bills

Appropriations bills Set actual funding levels one year at a time

12 Appropriations Subcommittees

Bill Bill IntroducIntroduceded

Bill Bill IntroducIntroduceded

HousHousee

Senate

Referred to Referred to CommitteeCommittee

Referred to Referred to CommitteeCommittee

House House Floor Floor ConsideratConsiderationion

Senate Senate Floor Floor ConsideratiConsiderationon

Conference Conference CommitteeCommittee

Full Full House House ApprovesApproves

Full Full Senate Senate ApprovesApproves

Signed by Signed by the the

PresidentPresident

Final PassageFinal Passage

The Legislative ProcessThe Legislative Process

IntroductionIntroduction

Bill must be introduced by a member of congress.

Bill receives number HR numbered bills

are house bills S. numbered bills are

senate bills

All spending bills must originate in the house

Referral to Committee

Bills are assigned to appropriate committee Assignment to subcommittee Deliberations Hearings Mark-up Subcommittee reports back to committee

Committee reports to House/Senate

House option: discharge petition & order

Floor Action

Most readily identifiable activities: debates and speeches

In the senate only: filibuster option Ending debate requires 3/5 vote of senators present

Also creates opportunities for amending bills – that is, changing existing provisions.

Votes

Conference Committee Deliberations

Conference committee: compose of key participants on bill from both houses

Purpose: produce one bill out of the versions passed by two houses, and report back to both houses (conference report)

Final version must be passed by both houses

To the White House

Review

Options Sign Veto (subject to override) Neither (two possible outcomes, depending on whether

congress is in session or not)

The matter of the line-item veto

If successful:

Agency Implementation

Referred to Agency of Jurisdiction Develop regulations and guidelines

for implementation Published in federal register Provides opportunity for comment –

best chance to shape implementation

Meeting with Meeting with Members of CongressMembers of Congress

A Week in the Life Congressional schedules are very hectic…

Sunday (In the District)

6:30 a.m. Gym

8:00 a.m. Breakfast mtg.

9:30 a.m. Arrive at office

12:15 p.m. Leave to attend event

1:00 p.m. Attend event, make speech

4:00 p.m. Return home from event

6:00 p.m. Leave for black tie dinner

7:00 p.m. Attend black tie dinner, make speech

Monday (In the District)

6:30 a.m. Gym

8:00 a.m. Breakfast mtg.

9:30 a.m. Arrive at office

10:00 a.m. In-Office mtg.

11:00 a.m. In-Office mtg.

11:45 a.m. Leave for luncheon

12:15 p.m. Luncheon

2:00 p.m. Leave luncheon for out of office mtg.

Monday (In the District), Cont.

2:30 p.m. Out of office mtg.

3:30 p.m. Arrive back at office

4:00 p.m. Conference call

5:00 p.m. In-office mtg.

6:00 p.m. Arrive at reception

7:00 p.m. Leave reception to go to dinner

7:30 p.m. Arrive at dinner, make speech

10:00 p.m. Arrive at home

Tuesday (In the District/Travel)5:30 a.m. Gym

8:00 a.m. Flight leaves

4:00 p.m. Flight arrives in D.C.

5:00 p.m. Arrive at office

6:00 p.m. Votes – five votes on suspension bills

7:30 p.m. Attend reception

8:00 p.m. Attend reception

8:30 p.m. Attend reception

9:00 p.m. Return home

Wednesday (At the Capitol)

6:30 a.m. Gym

8:00 a.m. Breakfast mtg.

9:00 a.m. Party caucus

10:00 a.m. Committee hearing starts

10:00 a.m. House meets, give five min. presentation

10:20 a.m. Arrive at hearing

10:30 a.m. Step out of hearing to meet with constituents

10:45 a.m. Step back into hearing

Wednesday (At the Capital), Cont.11:00 a.m Ask question at hearing

11:15 a.m. Two votes called

11:25 a.m. Arrive at Capitol for first votes

11:30 a.m. Step into Rayburn for meeting with constituents

11:40 a.m. Take second vote

11:45 a.m. Walk with constituents back to office

12:00 p.m. Leave for luncheon with constituent group

12:10 p.m. Arrive at lunch meeting

12:23 p.m. Vote called

Wednesday (At the Capital), Cont.12:30 p.m. Arrive at Capitol, vote, go back to

luncheon

1:00 p.m. Return to office

1:15 p.m. Constituent meeting

1:30 p.m. Constituent meeting

1:45 p.m. Constituent meeting

2:00 p.m. Constituent meeting

2:00 p.m. Committee hearing starts

2:07 p.m. Series of three votes called

2:15 p.m. Arrive at Capitol for first vote

Wednesday (At the Capital), Cont.2:20 p.m. Step into Rayburn room for constituent

meeting

2:25 p.m. Take second vote

2:33 p.m. Take third vote

2:35 p.m. Finish meeting with constituents

2:45 p.m. Arrive at hearing

3:00 p.m. Step out of hearing for constituent meeting

3:07 p.m. Run back into hearing to ask question

3:10 p.m. Return to constituent meeting

3:30 p.m. Leave hearing for meeting of caucus

Wednesday (At the Capital), Cont.3:52 p.m. Two votes called

4:00 p.m. Arrive at Capitol for first vote, continue meeting in cloakroom

4:17 p.m. Take second vote

4:30 p.m. Arrive at office, join staff meeting

5:15 p.m. Leave office, attend first reception of the evening

5:45 p.m. Arrive at second reception

6:10 p.m. Arrive at third reception

6:33 p.m. Arrive at fourth reception

7:00 p.m. Leave hill to attend dinner

Wednesday (At the Capital), Cont.7:10 p.m. Arrive at dinner

7:36 p.m. Final vote called

7:45 p.m. Arrive at Capitol for vote

8:00 p.m. Return to dinner, make speech

10:00 p.m. Arrive at office, check e-mails, schedule, pressing matters

11:30 p.m. Arrive at home

Thursday (At the Capitol)

See Wednesday Only difference is possible flight at 5:00 p.m.

to the west coast.

Friday (In the District)

Much like Monday schedule, with meetings during the day, dinners and receptions in the evening.

Saturday (In the District)

Much like Sunday with limited meetings during the day (members do try to get a bit of a break!) and a potential dinner or other reception in the evening.

How Do We Break Through the Chaos?Effective Communication Overview What do you want? Who should you ask? How should you ask? How should you follow-up?

Focus On…Focus On…

Relationships, not just substance Systems, not just meetings and

letters Information, not just lobbying Pulling it all together

Establishing a StrategyEstablishing a Strategy

Identifying Issues Setting Your Strategy Identifying Your Stakeholders Identifying Your Champions Putting the Strategy into Action

Identifying IssuesIdentifying Issues

Every Member of Congress has identifiable issues that he or she is concerned about.

Your first task in preparation for meetings should be to identify those issues and relate them to yours.

Issues of concern should be linked to the federal legislation that serves as the source of funding or regulation for these top issues.

Focus on using examples as much as possible.

Questions to Think AboutQuestions to Think About

What congressional members, staff and/or officials would have an interest in or concern about the project or issues?

Are these individuals on relevant committees or in leadership positions to address the issue?

Setting Your StrategySetting Your Strategy

In preparation for hill meetings, you should…

1. Review any issue of significance related to your issues currently being considered.

2. Decide the priority of your issues.3. Review any relevant legislative

initiatives that could be used to advance your issue.

Identifying Your StakeholdersIdentifying Your Stakeholders What related individuals and

organizations can be of assistance to your efforts?

Examples include: Local, state or

national officials Industry leaders Opinion leaders

Other individuals who have personal and political contacts that can impact your issue efforts

Identifying Your ChampionsIdentifying Your Champions

It is important to identify your champions.

These individuals’ support for the issue or

industry in general is so strong that they will actively work for your interests.

When you set your yearly strategy and regular meetings in Washington, these people must be consulted and given the special treatment and care that is given to close friends.

Putting the Strategy into Putting the Strategy into ActionAction

D.C. Meetings Local Meetings  National

Meetings General Mailing

List

Problem Solving Political Events

and Fundraisers Telephone Calls

and Letters

Examples:

Communicating a MessageCommunicating a Message A message is how you want to focus your position. Individuals and groups who want to effectively

communicate must develop messages that resonate with their target audiences.

These audiences are usually the news media, congress and policy leaders. They are “influencers” and “decision makers.”

With members of congress and their staff, it is focusing on the impact of public policy.

Winning Messages Winning Messages Contain the Following Contain the Following

Ingredients:Ingredients: Focus on results and public benefits. Relevance can be at a certain time for

a certain audience. Messages should be simple and direct. Use facts, figures and statistics. Finally, messages change as issues

change.

What to Expect in a What to Expect in a Meeting?Meeting? Though a meeting may be with a member,

always know things that come up. Many legislative staff tend to be young. Do not expect meeting rooms. You may

meet in the member’s office or even a hallway passage.

Meetings can range in time from 15 minutes to an hour.

Be sure to get your three main points in. Follow up with any necessary additional

information.

Meeting With Members of Meeting With Members of Congress and Congressional Congress and Congressional StaffStaff

Be prompt and patient Be prepared Be political Be responsive Follow up, follow up, follow up!

ReviewReview

Lobbying - The Basics

Lobbying - The Basics

Know the Legislative Process

Begin by understanding how bills get written and considered by your legislature, city council, or whatever body you are targeting.

Know the rules of committee hearings, legislative floor debates, the budget process and the executive branch.

Lobbying - The BasicsGet Your Allies Together

Effective lobbying is a team effort, and at the start of any lobbying campaign it is important to put together the coalition of support that you will need to win.

Seek to build a coalition that is diverse and that brings together the array of different contacts, skills and resources you will need.

Lobbying - The BasicsDo Your Homework

Research issues thoroughly. Know all the essential facts, both about the policy involved and the politics. Prepare informational material for your allies and supporters to help educate them as well. Prepare your arguments and messages. Know your opposition’s arguments and how to refute them. Know their weak spots and how to exploit them. Figure out if there is the possibility of compromise and whether it is worth it.

Lobbying - The Basics

Pick Your Lobbying Targets and Go to Work

The public officials you might wish to influence fall into very different categories.

Some will already be with you, some you will never win over, and most will likely be somewhere in the middle.

It is the ones in the middle you need to focus on most.

Once you know your targets, lobby them with visits, letters, and calls from their constituents.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU