Communication with Congress One Pager Background Information Written

Communication with Congress • One Pager • Background Information • Written and Oral Testimony • One on One discussion • Need a plan and a good lobbyist

One Pager • What is it? – Vehicle for communicating your organization’s position on an issue • Make your problem a major issue for the congressman – Make them see how its solution would be a key to their re-election • Convince the reader you know the issue and have something to contribute • Short and to the point

Steps for Writing a One Pager 1. Have a Single Objective – Tempting to have multiple objectives – They will distract from your main issue 2. Know your Audience/Listener – How they voted – Their home district – Their position on your issue and related issues – The majority they won by in the last election

Steps for Writing a One Pager 3. The Right Approach – A single thought sentence that leads directly to your Objective – Do not offer multiple solutions – Describe the Approach in Technicolor 4. Use a Hook that makes the listener buy the product or idea – Statement to get and keep attention – Can be serious or humorous – Visual is better than verbal

Steps for Writing a One Pager 5. Subject This is where you have 30 seconds to get your point across – Make sure it reinforces the Objective – Relate the Objective to your Listener – Make sure Subject corresponds to the Approach 6. Closing your Message – Ask for what you want – Use imagery – paint a picture

Steps for Writing a One Pager • First Impression – Dress and Act the part • Be sure of yourself but NOT cocky • You are the expert • Do not fidget, maintain eye contact, etc. • Answer questions briefly, without the bull – Be prepared for questions; anticipate the questions and have short but complete answers • Offer to provide background information to support approach • Do NOT bypass the 1 Pager with a “Report”

One Pager

One Pager for Congress • One Pager carried to Congressional offices – Meet with the staffer responsible for the area or the issue – Staffers NOT Congressmen are who you want to talk with – Cold Calls work, but appointments are more productive • Do not blanket Congress, find out who is on the Committee and see ALL of their offices: Ds and Rs

Background Material - Reports • Clean, concise finished reports • Clearly state the issue • Your organization’s position on the issue – Offer a solution -- Approach • Present EVIDENCE, not rambling hearsay – Show the Dollars and Cents of the issue – Show why your solution will work better than other proposals • KISS -- no more than 10 pages!

Oral Testimony • Experts are requested to testify • Never volunteer to present testimony (if Univ. ) – Very poor taste, looked on with suspicion – If lobbyist, have a spokesperson (President) present the testimony • If you have something to contribute then: – Get to know the Committee staff in charge of the issue – Educate Staff as to the issue and what you know about the issue, provide background reports – Provide information on the issue to convince them you are an expert • Make the Committee want you to testify

Testimony Preparation • Prepare written testimony ahead of time • Send written testimony with 4 -5 questions in a week early – The questions are things you want asked so you can better explain particular points • Testimony should be 5 -8 pages double spaced • Something you can read in 5 – 8 minutes – Maybe asked to summarize it in 1 -2 minutes when it is your turn

Writing Testimony • Your outline should be: – Objective: single clear cut objective of what you want – Approach: right approach for audience & issue – Hook: get and keep attention, make it simple – Subject: explain and reinforce your objective • What, Who, Where, When, Why, and How • Provide supporting evidence – Close: Ask or yea shall not receive

Know Your Audience • Know everything about each Member and their stance on the issue • What other Committees they serve • How they voted on related issues • Be able to recognize each member in case you meet them in the hallway • Be prepared for all possible of questions – Answer questions directly and work in you message

Presentation of Testimony • Seated as a panel – 3 to 4 presenters • Fixed time allocated to each – Know your time by Red Yellow Green lights • Questions during presentation count against your time • Questions afterwards do not count against your time • “Read” testimony but maintain eye contact with Chair and Ranking Member – Never memorize

Other Thoughts on Testimony • Don’t read your testimony • Don’t memorize • Outline your speech, write a draft using short words, reduce it to notes on 3 x 5 cards, avoid technical jargon, just the facts, control your emotions • Rehearse you speech, use small words easy to pronounce, avoid stories • Know when to stop

Hire a Lobbyist • Characteristics of successful lobbyists – Know their topic VERY well – Know who to approach on both sides of the isle – Know likes and dislikes of Committee Members – Select the correct person for presentation – Know policy process – Not bi-partisan – Know budget situation -- where there is money to support the issue

What to Expect in Real Life • Present testimony to a Sub-Committee or the Full Committee • Most of the Members will not be present • Members come and go • Staffers are whispering questions and passing notes to the Members – This is how your submitted questions are brought to the Members • You will not get 5 minutes