Washington Update NAFSA Region XI Conference Burlington, VT October 24, 2007 Chairs: Kenneth Reade, Asst. Director Dartmouth College International Office, Hanover, NH (NH State Whip for NAFSA) David Shallenberger, Associate Professor of International Education School for International Training, Brattleboro, VT (VT State Whip for NAFSA)

CURRENT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION ISSUES IN CONGRESS Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Yeah, right, are you serious?) –Failure to enact any legislation prior to summer 2007 Congressional recess –No realistic movement prior to the 2008 presidential elections –Some potential “fixes” or amendments are remotely possible (i.e., H-1B reform), though most legislators will be wary

CURRENT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION ISSUES IN CONGRESS Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act –Senate Bill S. 991 Original sponsor: Richard Durbin (D-IL_ Co-sponsor total: 43 (including 25 Democrats, 2 independents, and 16 Republicans) –House Bill H. R Passes June 2007 unanimously on the House floor Original sponsor: Tom Lantos (D-CA 12 th ) Co-sponsor total: 46 (40 Democrats and 6 Republicans)

CURRENT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION ISSUES IN CONGRESS Senate “Competitiveness” bill –Proposed by international education community / NAFSA –Possibly forthcoming, stay tuned.. Other: –Cuba - US Travel Bill S. #721 –Funding for Exchanges –Real ID –WHTI (passports for Canada, etc)

What is Grassroots Advocacy? Activating Members Constituent Influence No Special Skills Passion for Issue

How to be a Grassroots Advocate Writing Letters Phone Calls Personal Visits Building Relationships

Who Else is Lobbying Congress? In 2006, there were nearly 42,000 registered lobbyists and lobbying entities Between 1998 and 2004, more than 17,200 companies/organizations lobbied Congress

NAFSA’s Grassroots Team Kari Lantos Associate Director for Grassroots Advocacy State Whip Network –Come from states where Congressional members serve on key committees (Budget, Foreign Relations, Appropriations, Judiciary, etc.) –Mobilize NAFSA members –Build and maintain relationships –+20 State Whips (incl. MA, NH, VT in Region XI) Press Liaisons –Congressional members on key committees –Raise awareness and monitor coverage in local media –Currently recruiting

NAFSA Grassroots Tools

What can you do? Register for Advocacy Centered Team (ACT) A team of advocates who want to communicate with their elected officials about important international education issues. The Team serves as the grassroots core network for international education. Anyone who wants to promote federal policies to advance international educational exchange can join ACT.

Advocacy Centered Team (ACT)

What can you do? Register for Advocacy Centered Team (ACT) A team of advocates who want to communicate with their elected officials about important international education issues. The Team serves as the grassroots core network for international education. Anyone who wants to promote federal policies to advance international educational exchange can join ACT. Take Action Center (

Take Action Center

What can you do? Register for Advocacy Centered Team (ACT) A team of advocates who want to communicate with their elected officials about important international education issues. The Team serves as the grassroots core network for international education. Anyone who wants to promote federal policies to advance international educational exchange can join ACT. Take Action Center ( Participate in Washington, DC Advocacy Day 2008 March 11-12, 2008 (registration coming soon)

NAFSA Advocacy Day 2007: Illinois participants presenting Senator Richard Durban (D-IL) with NAFSA Global Leader Award

What can you do? Register for Advocacy Centered Team (ACT) A team of advocates who want to communicate with their elected officials about important international education issues. The Team serves as the grassroots core network for international education. Anyone who wants to promote federal policies to advance international educational exchange can join ACT. Take Action Center ( Participate in Washington, DC Advocacy Day 2008 March 11-12, 2008 (registration coming soon) Advocacy Handbook How to be an effective advocate –Communicating with Congress –Developing relationships Legislative Process Key Committees Sample letters (updated to reflect new Congress)

Advocacy Do's and Don’ts... DO… Communicate with your federal relations officer on campus before initiating contact with your members of Congress Research member of Congress’ personal and legislative background (alumni connections? Previous appropriations to your institution? Children attending your institution?) Build a relationship -- stay in touch, invite the Member of Congress to events on your campus (i.e. International Education Week) Recruit others to support your cause Provide reliable, concise information

Show local impact with data and anecdotes: – e_economic_benefits

State-level initiatives

While not legally binding: –A good tool to influence state-level policy; –An opportunity to benefit the state economically, culturally, socially, and academically; –A signal to Washington, a point of leverage to “bubble up” to the federal government?

State-level initiatives Goal: 25 by NAFSA 2008 Conference Now: 13 (7 added last spring alone!) It doesn’t have to be that hard: –Make personal connections with local representatives –Present an irrefutable argument –Use NAFSA resources (financial impact statements, other states’ materials). –How can they say no?

State-level initiatives Having continued impact: –Building on relationships –Heightening visibility of the issues –Becoming an advocacy tool to support positive legislation or buffer against harmful actions.

After the State-level Initiative At the Institutional Level Share it within your institution – study abroad and international students and scholars, government relations people, decision-makers -- to lobby for resources to achieve international competence, increase study abroad and international students. Have an event and present an original (or great duplicate) copy to a special guest who needs to know your issues.

After the State-level Initiative At the State Level Send a letter and a copy to every legislator of your state during IEW. Share it with other professionals in the state and region and use it as a springboard upon which you can work together to identify areas of regulatory concern, and to lobby local and state legislators, and others. –For example, work with your DMV to see how the REAL ID act is going to affect your state, and how you can partner in this effort, given the contents of the resolution.

After the State-level Initiative At the Federal Level Invite a national-level legislator to your one- year (or six-month) mark celebration and present him/her with a copy. Encourage them to replicate this at the national level with a national education policy or strategy, with your state blazing the trail. Use it when speaking with legislators about NAFSA advocacy alerts, immigration reform and visa concerns.

Thank You For more information: Kenneth Reade, Asst. Director Dartmouth College International Office, Hanover, NH (NH State Whip for NAFSA) David Shallenberger, Associate Professor of International Education School for International Training, Brattleboro, VT