Playing to Our Strengths The Engineer Advocate Ron Tabroff Russell Harrison Region 1 IEEE-USA Government Affairs Chair

IEEE-USA Government Affairs Representing IEEE members in the United States to Congress, the media, state and local governments. Representing IEEE members in the United States to Congress, the media, state and local governments. Sen. Ted Kennedy

Overview of Washington Republicans don’t want to give the Democrats a win. Democrats think they will get a better deal next year. Nobody wants to do anything.

Intellectual Property _________________ Patent Reform Act of 2007 –H.R and S Mostly Dead for 2008

Student Loan Forgiveness H.R – STEP Act Scholarships for engineering students Loan forgiveness for professional engineers Good support, but no luck.

Immigration Reform U.S. Citizenship Temporary Workers Permanent Legal Residents H-1B Visas EB Visas Theory

Immigration Reform U.S. Citizenship 500,000 Temporary Workers 60,000 EB Visas Practice Don’t Move!

Immigration Reform Permanent residents are better than temporary workers. Permanent residents are better than temporary workers. Current system favors temporary workers. Current system favors temporary workers. Legislative Goals: Legislative Goals: –No increase in H-1B’s until reforms –More EB visas –Path from student to citizen –Protections for American & foreign workers

EB Visa Reform o HR Exempt all students with Masters or PhD from U.S. school from EB cap. o HR Recapture unused visas. o HR Eliminate EB country caps.

Energy Policy

Energy Bill Tax credits for alternative energy production Tax credits for alternative energy production –Solar power –Wind power –Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles Status – Hostages Status – Hostages –Democrats want taxes on oil companies –Pres. Bush refuses to raise taxes on oil companies

Smart Grid Dept. of Energy instructed to create standards in 2005 Energy Bill Dept. of Energy instructed to create standards in 2005 Energy Bill –IEEE is part of that process –Process is moving very slowly Interconnectivity Standards took 12 years. Interconnectivity Standards took 12 years.

Nuclear Power Legislative efforts focus on removing red tape from: Legislative efforts focus on removing red tape from: –Siting decisions –Waste removal and storage Some talk of insurance and tax credits. Some talk of insurance and tax credits.

Other Issues E-Health E-Health Association Healthcare Association Healthcare Pensions Pensions Budget – R&D Budget – R&D _________________

What do Lobbyists Do? Advocate Positions Advocate Positions Bridge between voters and politicians Bridge between voters and politicians Research Research Information on specific populations Information on specific populations Ideas & Solutions Ideas & Solutions

What do Lobbyists Do? Advocate Positions Advocate Positions Bridge between voters and politicians Bridge between voters and politicians Research Research Information on specific populations Information on specific populations Ideas & Solutions Ideas & Solutions

Politicians listen to lobbyists because voters don’t talk to them.

A Politician’s World YOU

Politicians cast votes based on what will get them re-elected. This is not bad. It is exactly how the system is supposed to work. _________________

Accommodating Self-Interest Democracy’s Secret Strength

Does it work? Percent saying the following had “some” or “a lot” of influence over their boss. Visit from constituent – 98% Visit from constituent – 98% Letter from constituent – 96% Letter from constituent – 96% Lobbyist – 92% Lobbyist – 92% Form Letter – 65% Form Letter – 65% Congressional management Foundation

What does this have to do with you?

Government Relations at Your Section Government Relations is …. Government Relations is …. -A member benefit -A great way to excite and involve your members -A help to our profession, our members and our country

What Can Your Section Do?  * Discuss policy issues at your meetings Simply mentioning public policy helps raise awareness.  * Add policy articles to your newsletter  IEEE-USA can draft the articles, or you can find a member who is interested. * Participate in IEEE-USA’s Grassroots Network * Participate in IEEE-USA’s Grassroots Network

IEEE-USA Grassroots The CARE Network – Giving IEEE-USA permission to tell you about legislation that will affect you. The CARE Network – Giving IEEE-USA permission to tell you about legislation that will affect you. –Several sections have signed their members up for the network, as an added member benefit. –Network members receive between 6 and 10 Alerts each year, as legislation affecting them is considered in Congress

IEEE-USA Grassroots Legislative Action Center: Legislative Action Center: –Easy access to your state and federal elected officials. –Information on current bills. –Quick s to your legislators. –Biographical, committee and staff information on your legislators.

Stories Wisconsin – Individual effort Wisconsin – Individual effort Rock River – Cheap entertainment Rock River – Cheap entertainment Seattle – Engaging politicians Seattle – Engaging politicians California – Students efforts California – Students efforts New York – Education our Leaders New York – Education our Leaders Pittsburgh – Embarrassing the Powerful Pittsburgh – Embarrassing the Powerful

IEEE-USA has 215,000 members in the U.S., which is a big number politically. Despite our numbers, we are often ignored by politicians because they don’t know who we are. It is our responsibility and in our interests, as engineers, as IEEE leaders and as Americans, to change this. IEEE-USA has 215,000 members in the U.S., which is a big number politically. Despite our numbers, we are often ignored by politicians because they don’t know who we are. It is our responsibility and in our interests, as engineers, as IEEE leaders and as Americans, to change this.

Questions or Comments Wild Applause?

What do politicians want? A chance to impress you. A chance to impress you. A chance to help you A chance to help you Anecdotes. Anecdotes. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Senator Chuck Schumer

Life of a Grassroots Message Sent by a voter. Sent by a voter. Read / listened to by a kid. Read / listened to by a kid. Sorted by issue into a folder. Sorted by issue into a folder. Response sent. Response sent. Read by a senior staffer when: Read by a senior staffer when: –A decision needs to be made on how to vote, or –The folder reaches a specific size. Impact: Impact: –Bring attention –Decide as vote