Advocating for Research Funding and Science Policy: An Introduction

1. Advocating for Research Funding and Science Policy: An Introduction Jennifer Zeitzer & Kimberly McGuire FASEB Office of Legislative Affairs

2. Contents • The Political Environment • FASEB Policy Priorities • Communicating With Elected Officials • Congressional Visit Toolbox Overview • Plan Your Visit • Learn About Your Elected Officials • Make the Most of Your Meeting • Legislative Visit Best Practices • Print Materials to Leave Behind • Ongoing Advocacy & Staying Engaged

3. The Political Environment • Democrats control the White House and enjoy majorities in the House and Senate but bipartisanship remains essential • A $1.8 trillion deficit and “pay-as-you-go” rules make funding increases more difficult across the board • Many worthy federal programs are vying for a limited amount of taxpayer dollars • Research agencies received large investments from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) • Research funding and science policy must compete for time and attention with a busy Congressional schedule and ambitious national agenda

4. FASEB Priorities: Recommendations for FY2010 Research Funding • National Institutes of Health (NIH): 7%increase over FY 2009 • National Science Foundation (NSF): $7 billion (7.9 % increase over FY 2009) • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical and Prosthetics Research Program: $575 million (12.8% increase over FY 2009), and an additional $142 million for research infrastructure to begin to address the deterioration of VA research facilities. • Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science: 8% increase over FY 2009 ($5.2 billion) • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: $300million

5. FASEB Priorities: Agency Talking Points • NIH: NIH funded research has successfully  the mortality and morbidity of heart disease, cancer and AIDS. 83% of NIH funding  50,000 competitive, peer-reviewed grants  350,000+ researchers  3,000+ universities, medical schools, teaching hospitals & other research institutions in every state. In 2007, NIH funds sent to medical schools, universities & research institutions generated $50.5 billion in new state business activity & 350,000+ jobs, with average salaries of $52,000 per year. $2+ of business activity is generated for every $1 from NIH • NSF: NSF is the principal source of federal research support in mathematics, computer science and social science. Each year, NSF funding provides grants to more than 200,000 scientists, teachers and student researchers at thousands of institutions across the country.

6. FASEB Priorities: Agency Talking Points • VA: An increase in fiscal year 2010 funding for the Medical & Prosthetics Research Program to $575 million (current funding is $510 million) and funding for VA research infrastructure at $142 million will provide an infusion necessary to meet the health challenges of our growing veteran population through research to prevent, treat and cure combat-related and other illnesses and disabilities. • DOE: An 8% increase will provide the DoE Office of Science with the ability to sustain support for cutting-edge science & technological innovations that strengthen our economy and improve lives. This increase is also essential to fulfill President’s Obama’s goal of doubling federal funding for basic research. • USDA: Greater investment in agricultural research is essential to maintain the safety of our food supply. Research supported by the USDA has identified the critical role that nutrition plays in cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

7. FASEB Priorities: Science Policy • Animals in Research & Education • Benefits of Biomedical Research • Clinical Research • Communicating Science • Federal Funding • Evolution Resources • Homeland Security & Visas • Human Subjects Protection • Indirect Costs • International Science Policy • Peer Review & Priority Setting • Regulatory Burden • Research Integrity • Scientific Publication • Stem Cells & SCNT • Tech Transfer / Intellectual Property • Training & Career Opportunities For more information on specific policy issues, please visit: http://opa.faseb.org/pages/PolicyIssues/

8. Communicating With Your Elected Officials: Email Advocacy • Address only one issue in each message and include it in the subject line of your email • State your purpose for writing in the first sentence of the email • If possible, identify a specific bill no. or piece of legislation you are writing about • Clearly state your position on the bill and/or issue • State why you support/oppose the bill or issue & include relevant facts • Explain why the issue matters to you • Make a specific request • Include your postal address in the message • Keep it short, polite and to the point • Use proper grammar, punctuation and writing style

9. Communicating With Your Elected Officials: Phone Advocacy • Ask to speak with the health aide or personwho handles science issues • State that you are a constituent • Identify a specific bill no. or piece of legislation you are calling about • Clearly state your position on the bill and/or issue • State why you support/oppose the bill or issue • Ask the aide what the member’s position is on the bill/issue • Be prepared to give your name, mailing address and a phone number where you can easily be reached for follow-up

10. Communicating With Your Elected Officials: In Person Visits • Make an appointment • Be prompt….and patient if you are kept waiting • Be prepared • Explain why the issue matters to constituents • Describe how you or your organization can be of assistance • Ask for a commitment • Be responsive – send promised follow-up information quickly! • Remember to send a “thank-you” message after the meeting • Remember that a meeting is only the first step toward building a relationship with your elected officials

11. Communicating With Your Elected Officials: Building Effective Relationships Over Time • Establish connection with members and their staff – e.g. college alumni, church, hometown, local business, neighborhood/volunteer group, etc. • Note the connection along with the contact information of anyone you speak to so you can refer back to it later • Attend town hall meetings held by your member of Congress • Be a resource • Communicate on a regular basis – at least once every few months • Document visits in your organization or institution’s newsletter (with photos as appropriate) • Ask the staff person with whom you met if you may add them to your newsletter list • Send a letter of congratulations if the member of Congress receives an award – especially if it’s connected to your issue • Remember to say “thank you”

12. Congressional Visit Toolbox Overview • Advocacy 101: How to Communicate With Elected Officials • Advocating for Research Funding and Science Policy: An Introduction (FASEB Slideshow) • Meeting With Your Senators and Representatives (ASBMB Video) • Plan Your Visit • Congressional Calendar and Recess Schedule • Find Your Elected Officials • Request a Meeting (Customizable sample) • Make the Most of Your Meeting • Legislative Visit Best Practices • Talking Points & Discussion Guide (Customizable sample) • Follow-Up/Thank You Letter (Customizable sample) • Visit Report Form (Optional: return to FASEB) • Print Materials to Leave Behind • Investing In Our Future: A Stronger NIH for a Healthier America • FY2010 Federal Funding Recommendations Brochure (Print as trifold) • Biomedical Research in Your State Slide Set (Select your state) • Breakthroughs in Bioscience Article (Choose a topic) • Science Fortune Brochure (Print as trifold) • Ongoing Advocacy & Staying Engaged • Join the FASEB E-Action List • Subscribe to the Washington Update • Visit the 111th Congress Information and Advocacy Center

13. Plan Your Visit • Find out who your Representative and 2 Senators are • Learn about your elected officials, what their positions are and how they can support research • Find a time when the person you would like to meet with is in town • Request a meeting using our customizable template

14. Learn About Your Elected Officials • Find your elected officials http://capwiz.com/faseb/dbq/officials/?command=local • Visit www.house.gov • Visit www.senate.gov • Sign-up to receive constituent newsletters via email • Check Facebook, Twitter or other social networking sites • Visit http://www.votesmart.org/

15. Learn About Your Elected Officials: Tracking Votes and Positions • Track HOUSE Roll Call votes: http://clerk.house.gov/legislative/legvotes.html • Tracking SENATE Roll Call votes: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/a_three_sections_with_teasers/votes.htm (SENATE) • Learn more about the legislative process at: http://thomas.loc.gov/ • Use organization “issue scorecards” carefully • Know that one bill can cover multiple issues • Search the Congressional Record for speeches your member of Congress may have given on a specific issue • Read local newspapers/blogs to search for quotes on a specific issue from your member of Congress • Write your member of Congress and ask for an explanation about a specific vote

16. Make the Most of Your Meeting • Before the meeting: • Read “Legislative Visit Best Practices” • At the meeting: • Utilize our customizable “Talking Points & Discussion Guide” • After the meeting: • Send the office a thank you letter using our customizable template • Consider filling out a Visit Report form to send to FASEB – we would love to hear about your activities!!!

17. Legislative Visit Best Practices • Open with your message • Let the person you are meeting with know: • You are a constituent • Your expertise and how issue affects you • How your issue will help with other constituents • You would like to help in the area of your message • Assume they know about your topic • Educate if needed • Big picture – this is not a science class • Ask about the Member’s position and what they plan to do about the issue • Be collegial, not adversarial • Close with your message • Leave them with printed materials and your business card

18. Print Materials to Leave Behind • Print the following materials to prepare a “leave-behind” folder; you may also wish to add your own documents • Investing In Our Future: A Stronger NIH for a Healthier America • FY2010 Federal Funding Recommendations Brochure (Print as tri-fold) • Biomedical Research in Your State Slide Set (Select your state) • Breakthroughs in Bioscience Article (Choose a relevant topic) • Science Fortune Brochure (Print as tri-fold)

19. Ongoing Advocacy: Next Steps • Join the FASEB E-Action List to receive timely alerts on key issues • Subscribe to the Washington Update to stay informed • Visit the 111th Congress Information and Advocacy Center to learn more about Congress and how you can advocate for the issues that matter to you • For more information, go to: http://opa.faseb.org/ or check us out on Twitter at http://twitter.com/FASEBopa