1. Ghost Story: Public Policy Briefing Emily Steinberg & Betty Jo Schafer

2. Adapted with permission from:

3. Overview of Reported Elimination of CNCS Promising Trends
Agenda
Overview of Reported Elimination of CNCS
Promising Trends
Prohibited Activities
Action Items
FY 2017 Appropriations Outlook
Questions and Discussion Items
A poll conducted by TargetPoint Consulting last year confirmed that American voters are united in support for national service, and want Congress to maintain or increase federal spending on national service programs. Strong support for national service cuts across demographic groups and party lines, demonstrating national service is an issue on which Americans can agree. TargetPoint Consulting surveyed voters across the political spectrum in nine battleground states, including Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Here are the results:
83% of voters would like to maintain or increase the federal investment in national service.
This includes 78% of Republicans, 84% of Independents, and 90% of Democrats.
24% of Republicans, 39% of Independents and 57% of Democrats support an increase in spending for national service.
Only 9% of voters, including only 14% of Tea Party supporters, would support cutting all federal funding for national service.

4. Overview
The NY Times reported on February 17 that the White House budget office has drafted a list of programs that could be eliminated in its FY2018 budget proposal.

5. Overview The list includes:
Corporation for National and Community Service 
White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Legal Services Corporation
National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Humanities
Export-Import Bank
Appalachian Regional Commission

6. Overview
A number of these agencies and programs are longstanding conservative targets and have been included in recent Heritage Foundation and Republican Study Committee budget proposals.

7. Overview
May not necessarily reflect President Trump’s personal policy priorities
Candidate Trump promised large but unspecified cuts to rein in the deficit, but promised to protect programs for working-class voters.

8. Overview
Total amount of annual savings would be $2.5 billion out of $4 trillion the federal government is projected to spend this year. These cuts are more symbolic than substantive.
Administration officials want to highlight examples of agencies that misuse taxpayer dollars in their budget proposal.

9. Overview
Proposals for more extensive cuts in cabinet- level agencies are expected to follow.
Office of Management and Budget officials plan to ask agencies targeted for elimination for their responses by Friday, February 24 and to finalize the list by March 13. 

10. Overview
An internal memo circulated within the Office of Management and Budget notes that the list could change.

11. Important Notes

12. Overview
The administration is expected to release a detailed FY 2018 budget in the next few weeks (potentially as early as March 14th).

13. Overview
If CNCS was zeroed out in FY 2018, some funds would be necessary to close out operations and this program year.

14. Strong Bi-Partisan Support from Poll of Voters
Promising Trends
Strong Bi-Partisan Support from Poll of Voters
83% of voters would like to maintain or increase the federal investment in national service.
A poll conducted by TargetPoint Consulting last year confirmed that American voters are united in support for national service, and want Congress to maintain or increase federal spending on national service programs. Strong support for national service cuts across demographic groups and party lines, demonstrating national service is an issue on which Americans can agree. TargetPoint Consulting surveyed voters across the political spectrum in nine battleground states, including Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Here are the results:
83% of voters would like to maintain or increase the federal investment in national service.
This includes 78% of Republicans, 84% of Independents, and 90% of Democrats.
24% of Republicans, 39% of Independents and 57% of Democrats support an increase in spending for national service.
Only 9% of voters, including only 14% of Tea Party supporters, would support cutting all federal funding for national service.

15. Site Visits and Hill Days
Promising Trends
Site Visits and
Hill Days
This week in DC!
September 2016

16. Recent Op-Ed in support of AmeriCorps, CNCS
Promising Trends
Recent Op-Ed in support of AmeriCorps, CNCS
(Eric Tannenblatt)

17. Recent Op-Eds in support of AmeriCorps, CNCS
Promising Trends
Recent Op-Eds in support of AmeriCorps, CNCS
(Stephen Goldsmith)

18. National Service “Call Congress” Day Results
Promising Trends
National Service “Call Congress” Day Results
- February 22: 2,453 calls made
- By February 24: 4,551 calls made
- March 1: TBD

19. National Service “Call Congress” Day Results
Promising Trends
National Service “Call Congress” Day Results
Senator Cruz: 135 calls
Senator Cornyn: 115 calls
Rep. Roger Williams: 17 calls
Rep. Lamar Smith: 15 calls
Rep. Michael McCaul: 13 calls

20. The President’s Budget is expected to be finalized by March 14th.
Action Items
The Time to Act is NOW.
The President’s Budget is expected to be finalized by March 14th.

21. Action Items
REMINDER: You are prohibited to do the following while on CNCS federal grant time:
Attempting to influence legislation;
Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials;

22. Action Items
Additionally, please be aware of CNCS’s Prohibited Political Activity on Social Media policy:
Members, volunteers, and sponsor/grant-funded staff are strictly prohibited from engaging in the following types of communications on social media as part of their service or grant-funded activity:
Lobbying Activities – attempting to influence the passage or defeat of legislation or proposals by initiative petition;
Electoral Political Activities – engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to a public office;

23. Action Items
Other Political Activities – participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials;
Organizing Activities – assisting, promoting, or deterring union organization, or organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes; and,
Voter Registration Activities – conducting a voter registration drive, or discussing options regarding transportation to the polls. 

24. Action Items
If in doubt, please use, board members, volunteers, service beneficiaries, alumni, and/or keep detailed records when utilizing unrestricted funds.
The CNCS Office of Inspector General is watching, especially as advocacy efforts will be increased.

25. CNCS is currently sharing infographics via its social media channels
Action Items
CNCS is currently sharing infographics via its social media channels
that can be leveraged

26. Call your Congressional delegation again on
Action Items
Call your Congressional delegation again on
Wednesday, March 1

27. Action Items
ASC in partnership with the Service Year Alliance and Voices for National Service is hosting a National Call Congress Day.
We will have a tool for you to use that makes it really easy and we can track the number of calls our network is generating.

28. Action Items
There are more than 750 AmeriCorps State programs - program staff, boards, host site representatives, alumni should generate thousands of calls.

29. Action Items
AmeriCorps State Program partners, colleagues and family should also generate a great number of calls.
We will utilize the Service Year Alliance tool that will automatically connect callers to their members of Congress via a link that will be unique to ASC for tracking purposes.

30. Action Items
Fax a letter opposing elimination of CNCS to each member of your congressional delegation.
ASC and OneStar have provided a template letter.
Share the letter broadly and ask volunteers, board members, partners, and stakeholders to fax the letter to their members of Congress.

31. Action Items
Quantity is important. The number of calls and faxes the members of Congress receive is counted and if a significant amount are received it can result in action.
The timing is CRITICAL. These elimination proposals are being floated and we need to take action immediately to stop them from moving forward and being implemented. We need to create a tidal wave of opposition before these cuts gain any momentum.

32. Action Items
Leverage AmeriCorps Week (March 4-11) and future congressional recesses to keep the full court press on.

33. Key Action Items Summary
Make phone calls again on March 1: use this link for call instructions and a call script: 
Fax letters to members of congressional delegation
Encourage board members, host site contacts, board members, and key partners to call/fax letters as well
Leverage AmeriCorps Week to engage officials in the districts you represent!

34. Sign up with these groups to stay informed:
Action Items
Sign up with these groups to stay informed:
Voices for National Service:
Service Year Alliance:
ASC:

35. What’s Next?

36. Federal Appropriations
Funding for the current fiscal year is set to expire on April 28.
The administration is expected to make a supplemental request before then for money to go to the military — and possibly a wall on the Mexican border.

37. Federal Appropriations
Either a final five month, year-end CR or an omnibus spending bill will need to be completed at the end of April.
Other scenarios include cuts to domestic programs to increase defense spending and/or contentious riders that could lead to Senate filibusters that lead to a partial government shutdown.

38. Federal Appropriations
Budget Control Act of 2011 goes back into place for FY 2018 unless budget deal is struck.
If no budget deal in place for FY 2018, it would mean major cuts in federal spending and could have a dramatic impact on CNCS funding.

39. Federal Appropriators
Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies – Republican Members
Chairman Roy Blunt (R-Missouri)
Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi)
Richard C. Shelby (R-Alabama)
Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee)
Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina)
Jerry Moran (R-Kansas)
Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia)
James Lankford (R-Oklahoma)
John Kennedy (R-Louisiana)
Marco Rubio (R-Florida)

40. Federal Appropriations
Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies – Democratic Members
Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Washington)
Richard J. Durbin (D-Illinois)
Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island)
Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire)
Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon)
Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)
Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin)
Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut)
Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia)

41. Federal Appropriations
House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies – Republican Members
Tom Cole, Oklahoma, Chairman
Mike Simpson, R- Idaho
Steve Womack, R-Arkansas
Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tennessee
Andy Harris, R-Maryland
Martha Roby, R-Alabama
Charlie Dent, R-Pennsylvania

42. Federal Appropriations
House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies – Democratic Members
Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut
Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-California
Barbara Lee, D-California
Mark Pocan, D- Wisconsin
Katherine M. Clark, D - Massachusetts

43. Closing It can seem bleak, that is why we must take action.
The future of national and community service is in our hands, but we must TAKE ACTION.

44. What do you need from OneStar to support you?
Closing
What do you need from OneStar to support you?
Questions?
Clarifications?
A poll conducted by TargetPoint Consulting last year confirmed that American voters are united in support for national service, and want Congress to maintain or increase federal spending on national service programs. Strong support for national service cuts across demographic groups and party lines, demonstrating national service is an issue on which Americans can agree. TargetPoint Consulting surveyed voters across the political spectrum in nine battleground states, including Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Here are the results:
83% of voters would like to maintain or increase the federal investment in national service.
This includes 78% of Republicans, 84% of Independents, and 90% of Democrats.
24% of Republicans, 39% of Independents and 57% of Democrats support an increase in spending for national service.
Only 9% of voters, including only 14% of Tea Party supporters, would support cutting all federal funding for national service.