Lecture 5 Communicating with Policymakers Andy Schneider, J.D. Former Chief Health Counsel House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Why Should You Interact with Federal Policymakers To establish a working relationship in which the Member or staffer seeks your advice To establish a working relationship in which the Member or staffer seeks your advice To understand what Members or staffers are concerned about To understand what Members or staffers are concerned about To educate Members or staff about your research and your agenda To educate Members or staff about your research and your agenda

Opportunities to Speak with Federal Policymakers Congress (Legislative Branch) Congress (Legislative Branch) – Capitol Hill visits – District Office visits – Hearing Testimony Department of HHS (Executive Branch) Department of HHS (Executive Branch) Government Commissions (MedPAC, MACPAC, Long-Term Care Commission) Government Commissions (MedPAC, MACPAC, Long-Term Care Commission)

Legislative Visits Typically initiated by you or an organization you work with Typically initiated by you or an organization you work with Specified appointment (30 minutes) Specified appointment (30 minutes) More likely with staff than Member More likely with staff than Member Small groups (2-3) can work well Small groups (2-3) can work well Large groups tend not to be effective Large groups tend not to be effective

Whom Are You Representing? Generally not yourself unless it is a personal story Generally not yourself unless it is a personal story Your university? Your university? Your professional organization? Your professional organization? A community-based organization? A community-based organization? A coalition of groups? A coalition of groups? Get explicit authorization Get explicit authorization

Anticipating Your Audience Jurisdictional – How does your issue relate to the Member’s State, District and committees? Jurisdictional – How does your issue relate to the Member’s State, District and committees? Personal – What is the Member ’ s or staffer’s understanding of or commitment to your issue? Personal – What is the Member ’ s or staffer’s understanding of or commitment to your issue? Political – When is the Member’s next election? What is his/her voting record on your issue? Political – When is the Member’s next election? What is his/her voting record on your issue? Experience – How much legislative experience does the Member/staffer have? Experience – How much legislative experience does the Member/staffer have?

Resources Websites Websites –Legal –Foundations and other knowledge brokers RWJ Foundation, Commonwealth Fund, Kaiser Family Foundation RWJ Foundation, Commonwealth Fund, Kaiser Family Foundation –Members of Congress websites Government relations experts (lobbyists) working for knowledge brokers can quickly get you up to speed Government relations experts (lobbyists) working for knowledge brokers can quickly get you up to speed

Dress Formally and Be On Time Government is a formal place Government is a formal place –Business suits are the norm The pace is brisk The pace is brisk –Members and staff will act casual about time but they are not –Be on time but not too early –Stay on time (even though Members and staff likely will not)

Setting the Stage to Deliver Your Message Briefly introduce yourself, what your organization does, and whom it serves Briefly introduce yourself, what your organization does, and whom it serves Acknowledge anything constructive the Member/staffer has done on your issue Acknowledge anything constructive the Member/staffer has done on your issue To the degree possible, make a connection between your issue and how it affects the Member’s State or District To the degree possible, make a connection between your issue and how it affects the Member’s State or District

Boiling Down Your Message You ’ ve got somewhere between 30 seconds and 3 minutes to introduce yourself, explain your issue, and make your ask You ’ ve got somewhere between 30 seconds and 3 minutes to introduce yourself, explain your issue, and make your ask Use one-pager to organize your presentation Use one-pager to organize your presentation Avoid jargon/technical terms Avoid jargon/technical terms Do a dry run before the visit Do a dry run before the visit If it’s a small group visit, choreograph the presentations in advance If it’s a small group visit, choreograph the presentations in advance

The One Pager A brief synopsis of your issue, your solution and your ask A brief synopsis of your issue, your solution and your ask Simply phrased bullet points with lots of white space on paper Simply phrased bullet points with lots of white space on paper Include pointed examples that make it relevant for the particular Member Include pointed examples that make it relevant for the particular Member Include contact information or card Include contact information or card

Telling a Story to Explain Your Issue A highly effective way to build a bond with a Member or staffer around your issue A highly effective way to build a bond with a Member or staffer around your issue Focus on a person or a family and include a few special details to help make it real to the Member or staffer Focus on a person or a family and include a few special details to help make it real to the Member or staffer Bonus points if the affected party is from Member ’ s State or District Bonus points if the affected party is from Member ’ s State or District

The Ask Don ’ t just describe your issue, ask for specific help in resolving it Don ’ t just describe your issue, ask for specific help in resolving it Members like to help and want to say yes - tell them what you want them to do Members like to help and want to say yes - tell them what you want them to do Your “ask” should be reasonable in relation to the Member/staffer’s power and jurisdiction Your “ask” should be reasonable in relation to the Member/staffer’s power and jurisdiction

Some Things You Can Ask of a Member or Staffer Provide a letter of support Provide a letter of support Attend a community meeting Attend a community meeting Speak at a conference Speak at a conference Hold (or request) a hearing Hold (or request) a hearing Request an investigation Request an investigation Support pending legislation Support pending legislation Introduce legislation Introduce legislation

The Follow Up Plan Figure out who is doing what next Figure out who is doing what next Make it clear how you think you can help move your issue forward Make it clear how you think you can help move your issue forward Plan for the next interaction Plan for the next interaction

What to Leave Behind A business card A business card A one-pager A one-pager Possibly a research summary Possibly a research summary No gifts No gifts

Executive Branch Visits Similar objectives and techniques apply for meetings Similar objectives and techniques apply for meetings Less need to emphasize State or District-specific details Less need to emphasize State or District-specific details Ask relates to flexibility agency has in issuing regulations within limits of law Ask relates to flexibility agency has in issuing regulations within limits of law Note ethical limits on Member/staff assistance Note ethical limits on Member/staff assistance

Hearings Congressional hearings can be on proposed legislation or to conduct oversight of Executive Branch or the private sector Congressional hearings can be on proposed legislation or to conduct oversight of Executive Branch or the private sector Testifying at a hearing is more formal than a visit and is a public event open to the press with live webcasts Testifying at a hearing is more formal than a visit and is a public event open to the press with live webcasts Witnesses usually testify as a part of a panel and legislators will often ask questions Witnesses usually testify as a part of a panel and legislators will often ask questions You are either a majority or minority witness You are either a majority or minority witness

Government Commissions Intended to formalize expert advice of stakeholders Intended to formalize expert advice of stakeholders Often include representation of key stakeholders Often include representation of key stakeholders Generally bipartisan Generally bipartisan Researchers often prepare background or summary papers and testify Researchers often prepare background or summary papers and testify Commission staff will provide guidance on protocol for visits or open meetings Commission staff will provide guidance on protocol for visits or open meetings

Be Strategic In every interaction think about how you can use it to further your agenda In every interaction think about how you can use it to further your agenda All talk is for a purpose; use it wisely to try to make a difference All talk is for a purpose; use it wisely to try to make a difference In interacting with Membes and their staffs you are always “live”. Watch the jokes and “ off the record ” comments. In interacting with Membes and their staffs you are always “live”. Watch the jokes and “ off the record ” comments.

One-Pager Homework Assignment Your chance to practice boiling down your message to 1 page Your chance to practice boiling down your message to 1 page Use bullet points Use bullet points What is your policy issue What is your policy issue How does your research support a particular policy approach How does your research support a particular policy approach What is your ask of the policymaker What is your ask of the policymaker Be prepared to share it in class next week Be prepared to share it in class next week