Lauren LugoCongressional Affairs Specialist

NOAA Office of Legislative AffairsAugust 30, 2007

2Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

OverviewOverview

Review legislative successes from 2006

Learn about pressures affecting this CongressNote: I use several editorial cartoons to demonstrate my points. These do not necessarily represent my views or those of NOAA.

Review Committee leadership relevant to NOAA

Understand NOAA’s legislative priorities

Talk about strategies for effective communication with Congress

3Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

2006 Accomplishments2006 AccomplishmentsNOAA’s Legislative Successes

1. Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act

2. Marine Debris 3. Tsunami Warning and

Education Act4. National Integrated Drought

Information System (NIDIS)

NOAA’s Congressional Activities

51 Congressional Hearings (most ever?)900 Briefings to Members and Staff20,000 Communications between OLA and Congress

Phone calls, inquires, requests, emails, etc.

Trips, Outreach and Education

Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act

Monk Seal trapped in marine debris

4Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

2006 Election Results2006 Election Results

5Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

Democrats in the 110th Congress

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Democrats in the 110th Congress

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Democratic take over of Committees, Floor, Staff—The Whole Agenda!

Dr. Jekyll: More receptive audience for NOAA Issues (i.e. oceans and environment)

Mr. Hyde: Goal to Criticize Administration and make headlines.

Oversight and Investigations (i.e. Scientific Integrity, Climate Change, and Satellites)

6Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

Pressure 1: Cutting Pork

Pressure 1: Cutting Pork

7Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

Pressure 2: Lobbying Reform

Pressure 2: Lobbying Reform

8Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

Pressure 3:Oversight &

Investigations

Pressure 3:Oversight &

Investigations

9Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

Pressure 4: Environmental

Campaigns

Pressure 4: Environmental

Campaigns

10Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

Pressure 5: Re-Election

Pressure 5: Re-Election

11Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

Key NOAA Committees

Key NOAA Committees

House Science & TechnologyChair—Bart Gordon (D-TN)Ranking Republican—Ralph M. Hall (R-TX); Boehlert (R-NY) retiresNew Subcommittee on Energy and Environment—Chair Lampson and Ranking Member InglisNew Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee—Chair Miller and Ranking Member Sensenbrenner

House ResourcesChair Nick Rahall (D-WV)Ranking Member Don Young (R-AK)Subcommittee on Fisheries, Oceans and Wildlife—Chair Bordallo and Ranking Member Brown

Bart Gordon

Ralph M. Hall

Nick Rahall

Don Young

12Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

Key NOAA Committees

Key NOAA Committees

Senate CommerceChair—Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI)Ranking Republican—Ted Stevens (R-AK)New Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard—Chair Cantwell and Ranking Member Snowe

Senate AppropriationsChair—Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)Ranking Republican—Thad Cochran (R-MS)CJS Subcommittee: Chair—Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Ranking—Richard C. Shelby (R-AL)

Daniel K. Inouye Ted Stevens

Robert C. Byrd Barbara Mikulski

Richard C. Shelby

13Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

Key NOAA Committees

Key NOAA Committees

House AppropriationsChair—David R. Obey (D-WI)Ranking Republican—Jerry Lewis (R-CA)CJS Subcommittee: Chair—Alan B. Mollahan (D-WV), Ranking—Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)

What does this mean?

Jerry LewisDavid R. Obey

Alan B. Mollahan

Rodney Frelinghuysen

14Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

DOC Legislative Priorities

DOC Legislative Priorities

Top 101. Immigration Reform2. Trade Promote Authority3. Free Trade Agreement-

Columbia4. Free Trade Agreement- Peru5. Aquaculture6. Export Act7. Environmental Stewardship

(Corals, Sanctuaries, Marine Mammals, Cooperative Conservation)

8. U.S. PTO Fees9. NIST Reauthorization10.Hydrographic Services

What Does this Mean?These are issues the Secretary will talk about during speeches, participate in events, play some sort of active role, etc.

15Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

NOAA Legislative Priorities

NOAA Legislative Priorities

NOAA Congressional Priorities

NOAA Organic ActAquacultureCorals, Sanctuaries, Marine Mammals, Cooperative ConservationHydrographic Services

Line Office PrioritiesNOS: Corals, Sanctuaries, Hydrographic Services, IOOS, CZMANMFS: Aquaculture, Funding to Implement MSA, ICCAT, IWC, Regional PrioritiesNWS: Services Elevation (CONOPS), Aviation Weather, TsunamisOAR: Scientific Openness, Hurricane Research, UAS’s, Sea Grant ReauthorizationNESDIS: Outreach/CommunicationNMAO: NOAA Corps, Vessel Authorization

16Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

NOAA Office of Legislative Affairs

NOAA Office of Legislative Affairs

We serve all of NOAA—Strategic Consultants

Tremendous Opportunities with New Members and Staff—We already started

To facilitate interaction between NOAA and Congress NOAA OLA developed guidance on:

Congressional TravelBriefingsCorrespondenceTestimony/Testifying

17Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

Legislative StrategyLegislative Strategy

Factors to consider…Magnuson-Stevens Act negotiations set the standardAdministration term is coming to an end–More aggressive approachThird Party Validation—Coalitions move billsCompeting priorities—Limited time for Congress to act

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ResultsResults

So, what has happened…Several NOAA bills are under considerationOversight hearingsProvided responses to several investigationsNOAA FY’08 Budget is still pendingHosting Congressional travel and special events

19Congressional Relations: Know Your Audience

Effective Communication:

What works and what doesn’t

Effective Communication:

What works and what doesn’t

You may be asked to go to the Hill.

What works: What doesn’t:Understand the Member’s sensitivities!

Presenting one-sided views

Honest talk Jargon

Frequent updates “Know-it-all” attitudes

Keep it short Bad timing

Anticipate questions

Consult your Congressional Specialist

Eric Webster – Director

Brook Davis – Deputy Director