ENGINEER SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON

Dr. Steve E. Watkins, Government Fellow & Professor of Electrical Engineering,

University of MO, Rollaand

Erica Wissolik, Program Manager, Government Relations, IEEE-USA

For the 2005 Leadership Workshop

12 March 2005 Tucson, AZ

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: PUBLIC POLICY

Why Should You Care?

• Policymakers have the power to affect your livelihood and transform your profession.

• Policymakers are usually not scientists or engineers; they rely on information from the experts.

• Policymakers are very open to communication from constituents especially those with a knowledge of the legislative process and its participants

OVERVIEW

• S&T Public Policy: What Are The Issues?

Why Should You Be Involved? How Can You Be Involved?

• Influencing the Process

• Grassroots Constituent Contact Interactive Role Play

•Summary & Questions?

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: PUBLIC POLICY

“I strongly believe that the scientific community as a whole is much too isolated from the federal decision-making process, and much too complacent about its own role in our culture.” (Former U.S. Congressman George Brown, IEEE-USA's 1996 Technology Policy Symposium on the Role of the Federal government in Technology Development)

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ISSUES

What are the issues?

• Federal Investment in R&D

• Oversight of Federal Agencies

• Critical National Infrastructures

• Facilitation of Technical Innovation

• Technical Jobs & Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PERCEPTIONS & RESULTS

Why Should You Be Involved?

“Why is it so hard to get Washington to double the budget for federal scientific research? The answer is not logic but politics. I have found scientists and investors to be among the least effective lobbyists and have watched more focused special interests receive more money than they deserve while the future was starved of resources.”(Newt Gingrich, Former U.S. Congressman and Speaker of the House, Excerpt from Washington Post, 18 Oct. 1999)

To alter perceptions and make an impact. You have expertise. Your opinions are valuable.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION

How can You Be Involved?

• Support Society-Level ActivitiesDevelopment of Professional Policy PositionsEducation of the Public

• Facilitate Grassroots Constituent ContactCongressional Visits DaysPersonal Informal Contact

• Promote Member Involvement and KnowledgeStudent & Member Opportunities

INFLUENCING THE PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS

“The reluctance of scientists to participate in the policy-making process negatively affects the government's ability to make good science policy decisions. We need scientists to enter government service not only as appointees, but also as elected officials, particularly in Congress.”(U.S. Congressman Vernon Ehler's (a physicist), National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Ensuring the Best S&T Presidential and Federal Advisory Committee Appointments, 21 July 2004)

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1. Congressional Visits Days (CVDs)

“I've got a few things I want to say ... And …, I'm not gonna leave this body until I do get them said.” -- Senator Smith a.k.a. Jimmy Stewart

1. Congressional Visits Days (CVDs) (cont’d)

RULES FOR PRESENTING AN ISSUE

1. Be prepared.

2. Keep it clear, simple & concise.

“Did you ever have so much to say about something, you justcouldn't say it?” (Sen. Smith a.k.a. Jimmy Stewart)

3. Be ready to answer questions – Who? What? How? Why? And HOW MUCH?

4. Be respectful.

5. Most of all, don’t accept the inside vs. the outside the beltway mentality, and know that its OK to be enthusiastic.

2. WISE Student Program

“… WISE provides a unique opportunity for engineering students, …particularly as the importance of technology policy is becoming more widely recognized...”

-- Dr. Alan Levin, Chair, 2005 WISE Committee & Senior Technical Advisor to the Director, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

2. WISE Student Program(cont’d.)

•Support for 3rd-year engineering students to spend a paid summer internship in Washington, DC by several engineering societies, see http://www.wise-intern.org/

•IEEE-USA selects 2-4 IEEE U.S. student members a nationwide competition since 1980

• Program ActivitiesTeach students how engineers contribute to publicpolicy decisions on complex technology issuesMentor students on issues of engineering & policy

3. IEEE-USA Fellowships

"Members of Congress, let me just say, are generally not loath to talk about subjects in which they are not well trained, except in science. …. And as a result, many of the aspects of the policy questions before us that involve science and technology do not get the attention they should. That is why the congressional fellows program is so important. It is in many offices the only scientific expertise that is provided. This technical expertise is very valuable to Congress; and it allows not only these Fellows to bring scientific expertise here; it allow them to carry political expertise back to their professions."

Rep. Rush Holt (New Jersey)

3. IEEE-USA Fellowships (cont’d.)

• Sponsorship of senior engineers for one-year positions as congressional staff since 1973

• Sponsorship of senior engineers for a one-year State Department position since 2003

• Program PurposesProvide government experience to membersProvide expertise to governmentBuild a cadre of engineers with policy

capabilities

EXPERIENCE AS AN IEEE-USA FELLOW

Selected as a 2004 IEEE-USA Congressional Fellow

Participated in orientation with other S&T Fellows

Obtained a staff position in the personal office of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (CA 46th)

FELLOWSHIP DETAILS

Choices:•House or Senate, Majority or Minority Party•Personal or Committee Staff

The First Day:•One room for 6 staff, 2 interns, & copy machine•Computer, badge, files, building directions, & op-ed assignment

PERSONAL OFFICE

Staff:•Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief, Press Secretary, Scheduler, Leg. Assistants, & Correspondent•Seniority - 4th out of 9 in one year

Relationships:•Leadership and other Personal Staff•Committee Staff and Caucus Groups•Advocacy and Lobby Groups•New Organizations•CONSTITUENTS!

STAFF ACTIVITIES

Responsibilities of “Science” Special Leg. Assistant:•Committee activities for Science & Resources•S&T issues related to constituents, district, etc.

Types of Assignments:•Track legislation, coordinate events, etc.•Research & analysis of technical issues•Communication (briefings, talking points, formal drafts, letters, etc.•Represent member & office at meetings

MY S&T ISSUESA question about Alaskan Caribou ...

Funding for Federal S&T Agencies (NSF, NIST, etc.)

Oversight & Special Targeted Programs

Legislation Supporting Innovation & Commerce

Recommendations on Votes, Earmarks, etc.

Promotion of Member’s Views and Objectives

OBSERVATIONS

Enormous Range & Number of Issues

Members Develop Specialties

S&T Expertise is Rare

Influencing Congress•Difficult legislative process (early commentary)•Importance of Politics, Credibility, & Constituents•Examples & outcomes are essential•Knowledge of member’s votes, philosophy, etc.

INFLUENCING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

Engineers & Societies Educating the Public

Engineers & Societies Interacting with Congress•Professional Policy Development•Experts for Hearings and Other Events•Technical Resources and Fellows Programs

Engineering Professionals as Constituents•Congressional Visits Days•Other Personal Visits and Messages•Personal Relationships and Involvement

GRASSROOTS CONTITUENT CONTACT

“Leaders of the scientific community spend far too much time with their natural allies, like me; and far too little time convincing newer or more skeptical Members of Congress that R&D makes a difference in their districts and to the nation.” (U.S. Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, Chair, House Science Committee, AAAS S&T Colloquium, 3 May 2001)

CONTITUENT COMMUNICATIONS

Avenues:Visit, Telephone, E-mail, Mail, & FaxInvite Members to District Events, Tours, etc.Relationships with CampaignsVote

Suggestions for CommunicationsIdentify yourself as a constituent.Be timely & refer to specific legislationGive examples/outcomes & ask for a responseBe polite & credible

ROLE PLAY

Planning a visit:Organize Your Remarks:

•Who - Constituent, Professional Community, etc.•Acknowledgments & Thanks for Prior Support•What - Issue or Legislation for Discussion (Be specific, relate to district, & give examples)•How - Specific Request

Caveats•Be flexible; waits & interruptions are not unusual•Bring business cards & leave-behinds; Follow up•Respect the Office Staff

SUMMARY

S&T Public Policy has a great impact on the profession and individual engineers.

Engineers have many opportunities to participate.

Effective interaction requires a knowledge of the legislative process and the participants.

IEEE and IEEE members have a role to play.

FOR YOUR LOCAL ACTIVITIES

Congressional Visits Days

Student Involvement, e.g. the WISE Program

Member Involvement in the Government Fellows Program

Training for Grassroots Constituent Contacts

RESOURCES FROM IEEE-USA

• Eye on Washington – a bi-weekly e-newsletter informing members of state and federal legislation, White House, executive agency, and US courts activities.http://ieeeusa.com/policy/eyeonwashington/default.asp

• IEEE-USA Congressional Directory – reference guide to who’s who in Congress

• IEEE-USA staff

ENGINEER SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON12 March 2005 Tucson, AZ

QUESTIONS?

www.ieeeusa.org/policy