Legislative Education for Educators: Resources for Teaching and Action on Current Events

1. Scott Barstow Carrie Wilde, Ph.D., CRC National Training Conference on Rehabilitation Education October 19, 2003 Legislative Education for Educators: Resources for Teaching and Action on Current Events

2. The Importance of Legislative Advocacy Training • Counselors & clients are affected by public policy and legislation everyday • Legislative advocacy is a necessary function of the professional and its organizations • Yet it is not a professional activity in which many counselors participate • By providing training (early), counselors may be more inclined to get involved

3. Why incorporate advocacy training in Rehabilitation Counselor Education? • Reduce anxiety • Excite, empower, motivate, energize • Provide information • Develop skills and confidence • Professional identity development • Knowledge of social issues • Employability skills • Advancing the profession and the country

4. Counselors & clients are affected by public policy and legislation everyday • Licensure/certification • Recognition under state/federal laws and programs • Funding for counseling positions • Laws and regulations affecting counseling practice (HIPAA, ADA, Rehab Act) • Laws and regulations affecting counselors’ clients (minimum wage, TANF, SSI/SSDI, Medicaid funding, education funding)

5. Legislative Update:WIA & Rehabilitation Act • House passed bad bill in May (H.R. 1261) • Block granted adult, dislocated worker, youth • Allows Governors to unilaterally take money from VR, Medicaid, mental health, disability, other programs to fund One-Stop “infrastructure development” • Allows publicly-funded religious discrimination in hiring of employment, training, and rehabilitation personnel • Ended Commissioner status for head of RSA • Senate bill (S. 1627) approved by HELP committee • Avoids major mistakes of House bill, still taps “program partners” for infrastructure development • May not reach Senate floor before end of session, but Rehab Act reauthorization may still occur this year ACA PP&L, 2003

6. Legislative Update:TANF Reauthorization • ON HOLD: Six month extension passed, through March, 2004 • House passed bad bill in February (H.R. 4) • Significantly increases beneficiary work requirements, state participation rates • Restricts access to education and training services • Contains only marginal increase for child care funding • Senate bill approved by Finance Committee • Somewhat increases beneficiary work requirements and state participation rates • Largely maintains education and training services access • Vote likely on Senate floor on large increase in federal spending on child care

7. Legislative Update:Medicare • H.R. 1, S. 1, Medicare prescription drug and program update legislation, now in conference committee • $400 billion bill, biggest change in Medicare since program’s inception • S. 1 contains counselor, MFT coverage language, sponsored by Senators Craig Thomas (R-WY) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) • H.R. 1 Significantly increases beneficiary work requirements, state participation rates • Action may be completed soon, otherwise election year politics may polarize positions

8. Legislative Update:IDEA • “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,” establishes special education programs and services • House bill (H.R. 1350) opposed by ACA and most education groups • undermines services and protections for students with disabilities and their families • removes current statutory language requiring state education agencies to support personnel standards based on highest requirements in the state • Senate bill (S. 1248) approved by HELP Committee, may be brought to floor by end of October, but may also be put off until January of next year • ACA working with CCD, NAPSO coalitions to maintain emphasis on qualified personnel

9. Legislative advocacy is a necessary function of the professional and its organizations • NO ONE is going to do it for us • Numbers count!: • Professional organization membership dues are the primary source of funding for legislative work (lobbyist, information dissemination, web page, mailings, fly-ins, Legislative Institute, trainings, studies…) • Bigger membership = more clout (especially if members are active!) AARP v. us

10. Other “ACA’s” • Am. Camping Assn • Am. Canoe Assn • Am. Correctional Assn • Am. Communications Assn • Am. Collectors Assn • Am. Chiropractic Assn • Am. Citizens Abroad • Am. Council on Alcoholism • Am. Cycling Assn • Amputee Coalition of America • Arms Control Assn • Adult Children of Alcoholics • Assn of Consulting Actuaries • Appalachian College Assn • American Callers Assn • American Canine Assn

11. “Why be an advocate? It won’t make a difference, anyway.” • Cause and effect—voting/participation rates; you get out of the system what you put into it • Policy is made the 364 days out of the year when there aren’t elections • How does your member of Congress or state legislator know about your issue? • The squeakiest wheel gets the grease, and there are lots of wheels squeaking • There is no end to what you can do: writing, meeting, campaigning, picketing, talking, organizing, running for elected office • It’s your only alternative if you want to change anything: ”Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried.”—Winston Churchill

12. “Why be an advocate? It won’t make a difference, anyway.” • The importance of swinging (baseball analogy) • Congress was not constituted to enact laws, but rather to keep bad laws from being enacted; legislative change is supposed to happen slowly • You don’t hit a single (or a double, or a homer) without coming up to the plate, time and again, and taking your swings • Asking for a specific law/regulation change = getting in line

13. How does your member of Congress or state legislator know about your issue, and take action? • He/She is smart • He/She probably knows a counselor • Someone else is probably talking to them • We’ve got a lobbyist • He/She will do the right thing, it’s her/his job

14. “Why be an advocate? Someone else will do it.” • Someone else may not be doing it! • Even if someone else is doing it, what if there were two voices instead of one? • It only takes a few contacts to make a difference on minor issues • Your call or letter may not be the 10th or 20th one that goads a legislator into action, but it makes that 10th or 20th call or letter possible

15. Preparing for Your District Visit: Know What you Want What your lawmaker can do for you: • Introduce or co-sponsor a bill or amendment • Vote for/against legislation • Send a “Dear Colleague” letter; talk/write a committee chair on your behalf • Speak in favor of your position in public • Say “I support you” or “I’ll consider your comments” • Help answer questions, solve problems ACA PP&L, 2003

16. Preparing for your District Visit:Getting to Know Your Legislator DO YOUR HOMEWORK: • Who are your senators, representatives? • What is their legislative record and general philosophy? • What issues are they passionate about? • What committees are they on? • What party do they belong to? • Are they newly elected, a senior or ranking member, chair?

17. Preparing for your District Visit:Getting to Know the Office Who’s Who: • District/State Scheduler • Field Representative(s) • District/State Office Director What to Expect: • Limited time • Limited space • Limited attention

18. Out of the Mouths of Babes:Tips from Congressional Staffers In a recent survey, staffers agreed most on the following: • Abide by the 5 minute rule (98%) • Advocates should know something about the district (80%) • Leave limited, highly relevant and focused materials (80%) • 1-3 people is the ideal number to come to a meeting in the office (78%) • Don’t chat, have an action plan (76%) Advanced Consulting, 2003

19. Planning your District Visit:The Logistics • Limit the number of people involved • If you are visiting as a group, know who will say what • Plan for parking • Plan for security • Plan for time • Expect delays • Meeting length = 15 minutes • Keep content to 5 minutes, 1- 3 talking points

20. January 7 February 17 - 21 April 14 - 25 May 26 - 30 June 30 - July 4 July 28 – Labor Day September 3 September 30 November - December Congress reconvenes Presidents Day DWP Spring Break Memorial Day DWP July 4th DWP August DWP Return to DC Fiscal year ends Adjourn for the year Timing is Everything: District Work Periods (DWP) 2003 :

21. How Should You Ask?Visiting or Talking with a Legislator/Staffer • Legislators are hungry for front-line information, and talking to their constituents is the best way to get it • Legislators put their pants/pantyhose on one leg at a time—they’re not dukes and duchesses, they are your employees! • Legislators want to—and need to—be liked • Pretend legislators and their staffs are in customer relations at your local Sears or Wal-Mart ACA PP&L, 2003

22. How Should You Ask?Developing your Message • Know your facts • Make it your own message • Share personal and professional stories • Be positive • Be specific – Ask for something • Adhere to the 5 Minute Rule ACA PP&L, 2003

23. Communicating with Legislators and Staff • Develop a long-term relationship – BE A REHAB COUNSELOR • Always be courteous, dependable, honest • Don’t be afraid to say “ I don’t know” – this can turn out to be a great tool for follow up! • Dealing with staff rather than legislators has its advantages - Expect (and appreciate) youth • Institutional memory in an elected official’s office can be short • Don’t assume they know anything about your issue ACA PP&L, 2003

24. How to Conduct a Lobbying Visit • Walk into office and introduce yourself to the receptionist • Begin meeting by explaining who you are , who you represent, and who rehabilitation counselors are • Hit the issue – ask for something specific! • Provide materials for future reference • Thank the legislator. staff member for their time/help, and exchange business cards • Follow up!! ACA PP&L, 2003

25. Follow through on your visit: Maintaining Contact • Telephone calls • Letter, email, fax, postcard • Write a letter to editor, or a newsletter article • Be sure to share a copy with the legislator • Invite Legislator to your classroom or professional meeting • Support the legislator • Volunteer • Send money ACA PP&L, 2003

26. ACA Public Policy & LegislationResources • “Washington Update” section of Counseling Today • ACA web pages • http://www.counseling.org/site/PageServer?pagename=public • http://capwiz.com/counseling • Reports and briefing papers • Available at conferences and on the web • Government relations listserv • ACA Legislative Institute—February 22-24, 2004, in Alexandria, Virginia ACA PP&L, 2003

27. Legislative Advocacy ResourcesARCA & NCRE • ARCA Public Policy & Legislation • Chair: Carrie Wilde, wildec@stjohns.edu • Web page, listserv, ARCA newsletter • NCRE Public Policy & Legislation • Webpage, listserv, NCRE newsletter

28. Legislative Advocacy Resources:How to Track Legislation • Library of Congress, “Thomas” http://thomas.loc.gov • www.senate.gov • www.house.gov • State Legislative web sites ACA PP&L, 2003

29. Legislative Advocacy Resources:ACA Public Policy & Legislation Phone: 800-347-6647 Fax: 800-473-2329 Scott Barstow, x234 rehab, vocational, employment, career sbarstow@counseling.org counseling, state counseling issues Chris Campbell, x241 grassroots, communications, ccampbell@counseling.org education issues Dara Alpert, x242 mental health, substance abuse, dalpert@cousneling.org healthcare, social advocacy Christie Lum, x354 administration & logistics clum@counseling.org publications, listserv, web page Call us with questions, and with comments and input!

30. A Parting Thought “You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no results.” Mahatma Ghandi