Communicating with External Stakeholders

1. Communicating with External Stakeholders Scott Rayder NOAA Chief of Staff August 24, 2005

2. NOAA Business Model Communicating with External Stakeholders

3. Why Are External Stakeholders Important? $ $ X Communicating with External Stakeholders

4. How Does NOAA get its message to External Stakeholders? • Directly • The Administration does so via briefs or updates in person (e.g. briefings to Hill, press, NGOs and industry) • Through the press • We use the media as a means to leverage the importance of NOAA’s programs • Through constituents • 3rd party validation of the NOAA program is critical for support of our organization Communicating with External Stakeholders

5. Surprise Reorganizations in 109th Congress • Senate Commerce Committee expands from 7 to 10 subcommittees • Science and Space: NESDIS • Fisheries and the Coast Guard: NMFS except MSA • Global Climate Change: NOAA climate change research programs • Disaster Prevention and Prediction: National Weather Service • National Ocean Policy Study: Ocean Commission Recommendations Communicating with External Stakeholders

6. The HillAppropriations Reorganization a Surprise • House Appropriations Committee contracted from 13 to 10 Subcommittees • Senate appropriations Committee, despite opposition, eventually acceded to most changes • In House, NOAA’s funding subcommittee has been renamed the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Subcommittee • In the Senate, the funding subcommittee has been renamed the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee Communicating with External Stakeholders

7. The HillAppropriations Reorganization a Surprise • NOAA will now be considered by both the Senate and House subcommittees with: • =$16.5B FY ‘06 budget request • =$5.6B FY ’06 budget request • =$3.6B FY ’06 budget request • Although budget allocations should cover all of the requests, it is ultimately up to the Subcommittees to divvy up the money Communicating with External Stakeholders

8. The HillNOAA’s Unique Hill Relationship • Viewed as a “non-political” science-based agency • Intense support from key leaders • Positive public image —programs touch constituents lives daily • Fisheries regulations causes most controversy and Member concerns Communicating with External Stakeholders

9. How Does NOAA Legislative Affairs Work • Pro-active 24/7/365 • Meeting member’s needs • Keeping NOAA Legislative Affairs in the loop (e.g. one NOAA) • Respond promptly • Get members and staff into the field (202) 482-4981 BUILDING TRUST! Communicating with External Stakeholders

10. How Does NOAA Legislative Affairs Work (contd.) • Legislative coordination: • Drafting Assistance • Monitoring bill and amendment introductions • Maintaining communication with bill sponsors • Coordinating Views Letters, Statement of Administration Policy and unofficial views Communicating with External Stakeholders

11. How Does NOAA Legislative Affairs Work (contd.) • Communications: • Initiate meetings and briefings with members and staff • Respond promptly to Congressional inquiries • Introduce key staff to NOAA through meetings, site visits and written materials • Maintain website • Keep DOC and NOAA leadership informed through written and oral reports http://www.legislative.noaa.gov/ Communicating with External Stakeholders

12. The Press DO YOU KNOW THE RULES? • On the record • Off the record • On background As you move upwards in NOAA you need to know the rules! Communicating with External Stakeholders

13. The Press • On the record • Your name in print • Off the record • You provide information but that information can’t be used directly, however, it will enable a reporter to ask sharper questions of others • On background • The information you provide is used but your name is not in print (e.g. “A Commerce official noted...”) Ask the reporter before you talk! Communicating with External Stakeholders

14. The Press • Be careful — names in lights get shot at! • You may get burned! • Reporters can get information wrong! • Report to your NOAA PA rep on your dealings. The goal here is to speak as “one NOAA” • Getting cross-wired in the press is embarrassing Communicating with External Stakeholders

15. 3rd Party Endorsements • Implementation of US Ocean Action Plan • NOAA needs to work with key constituents Communicating with External Stakeholders

16. 3rd Party EndorsementsCampaigns • Letters • Emails • Telephone • Faxes • Events in DC to support specific initiatives (e.g. CHOW) • Our constituents target the following: • The Hill â Enacted Budget • DOC â Formulated Budget • OMB â Formulated Budget } • Goal: Constituents care about programs! We want them to care about NOAA programs! Communicating with External Stakeholders

17. 3rd Party Endorsements • We cannot ask people to lobby on our behalf. This is illegal! • If you are asked by a constituent if support for this organization would help, you can... • Any correspondence in support of NOAA programs/budget needs to go to AAs and Ed Shaw in NOAA Business Liasion BE RESPONSIBLE! Communicating with External Stakeholders