From the Lab to the Legislature: A Postdoc’s Guide to Advocacy

1. From the Lab to the Legislature: A Postdoc’s Guide to Advocacy Jennifer Zeitzer Jennifer A. Hobin Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology National Postdoctoral Association Annual Meeting March 14, 2010

2. What is FASEB? • Umbrella society representing 23 biomedical research societies and over 90,000 scientists

4. What is FASEB? • Umbrella society representing 23 biomedical research societies and over 90,000 scientists • Advances biological science through collaborative advocacy for research policies that promote scientific progress and education and lead to improvements in human health • Policy research and development • Government liaison and advocacy • Coalition building • Communication and outreach

6. Funding for Biomedical Research Training and Workforce Peer Review Animals in Research & Education Core Public Policy Issues International Issues Regulatory Burden Biosecurity Human Subjects Research

7. FASEB and NPA • FASEB is a sustaining NPA member • Many postdocs are FASEB society members • Shared interests and common goals • Advance U.S. research enterprise • Maximize effectiveness of research community • Improve quality of postdoctoral experience • Stipends, benefits, mentoring, research support

8. Our Goal: Help You to Raise the Voice of Postdoctoral Researchers • Role postdocs can play as individuals and as organizations • Overview of legislative and regulatory processes • Knowing when and how to get involved • Communicating effectively with policy makers • Tools and resources to use in your advocacy efforts

9. Scientists as Advocates • Science impacts policy and policy impacts science • Scientists have credibility and expertise • Not enough for national organizations to advocate on behalf of science—lawmakers want to hear from their own constituents • You are the best—and sometimes only— advocate for your interests!

10. “You are a stronger force than you realize.” -Dr. Francis Collins

11. Favorable Environment for Science “Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been before.”

12. Support for Science Funding FY 2011 Budget • President proposed increases for NIH, NSF, DOE Office of Science, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, VA Medical and Prosthetics Research Program, NASA…. • 6% increase in NIH NRSA postdoc stipends • 6% increase in NSF faculty early career awards

13. Public Support for Science In today’s society, how important do you think scientific research is?

14. Support for Science Training How important is it for the U.S. to educate and train individuals qualified to conduct medical, health and scientific research?

15. Don’t Get Too Comfortable…. • Science Advocacy Challenges • Economy: concern about jobs is the #1 issue • Debt: reluctance among policy makers to increase spending • Pay as you go philosophy • Health care reform is major priority • Increasing level of partisanship

17. Advocacy “ad-vo-ca-cy” • The act or process of advocating or supporting a cause or proposal (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary online) • The act of arguing in favor of, or supporting something; the practice of supporting someone to make their voice heard (AllWords.com) • Advocacy is speaking, acting and writing with minimal conflict of interest on behalf of the sincerely perceived interests of a disadvantaged person or group to promote, protect and defend their welfare and justice (used in the disability community)

18. Lobbying Any attempt to influence legislation by: • Stating a position on specific legislation to legislators or other government employees who participate in the formulation of legislation OR • Urging your members or the general public to contact their legislators with a position on specific legislation (a “call to action”)

19. Advocacy Activities That Are NOT Lobbying • Providing technical assistance or advice to legislative body or committee in response to a written request • Making available nonpartisan analysis, study or research • Providing examinations and discussions of broad, social, economic and similar problems • Communicating with a legislative body about matters affecting the existence of the organization, its powers and duties, tax-exempt status, or the deduction of contributions to the organization (the "self-defense" exception) • Updating the members of your organization on the status of legislation without a call to action

20. What Is A Lobbyist? • A person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of an individual special interest or a specific group • Must register with appropriate federal & state entities • Is someone who (under federal law): • spends 20% or more of their time on lobbying activities • spends more than $11,500 on lobbying activities • reports on their activities 4x/year and political contributions 2x/year

21. Are Non-Profit Organizations Allowed to Lobby? YES…but there are rules/laws: • 501(c)(3) organizations can engage in a limited amount of lobbying • 501(c)(4) organizations can engage in an unlimited amount of lobbying • Non-profits must decide if they will follow the “expenditure test” or the “insubstantial part” test • Preparation and research time spend in anticipation of lobbying ALWAYS counts as reportable lobbying

22. Top 10 Reasons to Lobby for Your Cause • Individuals CAN make a difference • Groups working together can make a difference as well • New laws can be enacted and old laws can be changed • Lobbying is a democratic tradition • Lobbying helps identify solutions to problems big and small • Lobbying is not difficult • Policymakers need your expertise • Lobbying helps people in your community • The views of local organizations are important • Lobbying advances your cause and builds public trust Resources on lobbying: Independent Sector – www.independentsector.org Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest – www.clpi.org Alliance for Justice – www.afj.org

23. Who Are You Lobbying? FEDERAL AGENCIES enforces laws makes laws interprets laws

24. Lobbying on Behalf of NPA’s “Agenda for Change”

25. The Legislative Process

26. The Regulatory Process • Congress passes “enabling legislation” • Federal agencies create regulations required to administer/enforce laws • Federal agencies must publish all proposed regulations in the Federal Register at least 30 days before they take effect • Federal agencies must allow for public comment on the proposed regulations • Final regulations are printed in the Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations and posted on regulatory agency website

27. The Relationship Between Congress and Federal Agencies The America COMPETES Act • Required NSF-funded investigators to describe in their research grant applications how they would mentor postdocs funded on their grants • Mandated that mentoring plans be evaluated by NSF • Required investigators to describe their mentoring activities in their annual and final grant reports NSF Response • Formed 5 internal working groups to write regulations implementing the mentoring provisions • Mentoring requirements implemented via revisions to the existing Grant Proposal Guide and the FastLane Project Report System • Mentoring plans must not exceed 1 page • New policy adopted – no description of mentoring activities = “no review”

28. Key Congressional Committees • Appropriations-House and Senate • House Science and Technology • Senate Commerce Science and Transportation • House Energy and Commerce • Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee

29. Federal Budget & Appropriations Process FEBRUARY • President submits budget request to Congress MARCH – APRIL • Congress adopts “Budget Resolution” – overall budget blueprint • Appropriations Subcommittees hold hearings MAY - SEPTEMBER • Appropriations Subcommittees approve funding bills • House & Senate vote on bills We are here

30. Bill Language vs. Report Language • Once legislation is passed by Congress and is signed by the President, the text of the bill becomes an enforceable law • However, Congressional committees often publish reports explaining the purpose of bills they have approved, in order to provide implementation guidance to federal agencies “The conference agreement includes funding for a one percent increase in research training stipends instead of a two percent increase as proposed by the House. The Senate did not identify a specific training stipend increase.” H.Rept. 111-366. FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

31. Advocacy Starts with a Message • Your message should be clear and specific • Increase stipends vs. increase stipends for postdocs supported on the NIH NRSA to $43,000 • Be realistic • Are you asking for a 5% or 50% increase? • How does this compare to faculty salaries? • What’s the funding climate like? • Be aware of trade offs and prepared to address them • Quality vs. quantity of slots • Impact on availability of research funding • Impact on postdocs supported on research grants • Impact on PI budgets

32. Supporting Arguments • Use data to support your position • Only 1% increases in last two years • Postdoctoral stipends have failed to keep pace with inflation • Stipends for NRSA postdocs are well below the level provided to NSF postdocs • Stipends are appropriate in light of other salaries • Higher stipends are consistent with agency goals As scientists you’re good at this!!

33. Historical NRSA Stipend Data Actual stipends vs. stipends projected with cost of living adjustments

34. $38,000 Postdocs Faculty Salaries

35. Looking for Data? FASEB’s Got It

36. Consistent with Agency Positions “The NIH supports higher stipends for NRSA recipients and announces…tentative targets of $45,000 for entry-level postdoctoral stipends.  Future budget requests will incorporate 10 to 12 percent stipend increases until these targets are reached.  After attainment of these targets, the real value of stipends will be maintained with annual cost-of-living adjustments.” --NIH Statement in Response to Addressing the Nation’s Changing Needs for Biomedical and Behavioral Scientists, 2001

37. What’s Your Story? • Personalize your message • How do (stipends, mentoring, funding, visas…) impact you, your family, your science?

38. Building Support • Within postdoctoral community • Helps if the postdocs are united • Related communities • Other scientific societies • Investigators • Institutions and their associations • Graduate student organizations • Can you find common ground?

39. Knowing When to Compromise • Is there room for compromise? • Phase in stipend increases vs. single boost? • Cap stipends at five years of postdoc training? • Know your bottom line • Must have annual cost of living adjustments?

40. Identifying Champions • Best champions are people who care about postdoc issues AND have influence in the community you want to influence • They can inspire others to care about issues that are important to postdocs • They can motivate policy makers and other leaders to take action! • Reach out, find out if they’re willing to work with you, maintain contact and positive relations

41. Who are Your Champions? NPA Distinguished Service Awardees

42. Who are Your Champions? Prominent Scientists Supportive of Postdocs

43. Who are Your Champions? Members of Congress • Appropriations Committees • Tom Harkin • Science and Health Committees • Bart Gordon, John Rockefeller, Kay Bailey Hutchison • Members who are scientists • Rush Holt, Vern Ehlers, Bill Foster, Jerry McNerny, John Olver, Brian Baird, Roscoe Bartlett, Tim Murphy

44. Building Effective Relationship With Your Elected Officials • Establish connection with members and their staff – e.g. college alumni, church, hometown, local business, volunteer group, etc. • Note the connection along with the contact information of anyone you speak to so you can refer back to it later • Sign-up to receive constituent newsletters via email • Find your elected officials on Facebook, Twitter or other social networking sites • Attend town hall meetings held by your member of Congress • Communicate on a regular basis – at least once every few months • Document visits in your organization or institution’s newsletter (with photos as appropriate)

45. Understanding The Role of Congressional Staff • Provide advice/recommendations to the member of Congress • Research specific issues • Monitor legislative schedules • Meet with constituents • Represent the position of the member of Congress on specific issues or pieces of legislation • Communicate the member of Congress’ views to the public and the press • Schedule events and meetings for the member of Congress • Assist in resolving constituent problems with federal agencies

46. Communicating With Your Elected Officials: By Email • Address one issue in each message and include it in the subject line • State your purpose for writing in the first sentence • Identify a specific bill/legislation you are writing about • Clearly state your position on the bill/ issue and why you support/oppose it • Include relevant facts and 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 • Address your message to a specific staff person or use House/Senate website forms: • https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml • http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

47. Communicating With Your Elected Officials: By Phone • Ask to speak with the aide or personwho handles the specific issue • 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

48. Communicating With Your Elected Officials: In Person Visits • Make an appointment. Expect to have 20 minutes for your meeting • Be prompt….and patient if you are kept waiting • Introduce all participants in the meeting • Open and close the meeting by stating your message • Explain why the issue matters to their constituents • Describe how you or your organization can be of assistance • Bring business cards and “leave behind” materials • Ask for a commitment • Get staff contact information – phone/email • Remember that a meeting is only one step toward building a relationship with your elected officials

49. Thank You & Follow-Up • Send a thank you note via email/fax after every meeting. Sample letter available at http://www.faseb.org/portals/0/pdfs/opa/lobbytoolbox/Follow_Up_Thank_You_Customizable.doc • Send any follow-up information you promised within 24 – 48 hours • Remind staff/members about any outstanding requests or information they promised to get for you • Keep NPA informed about your meetings – send a short email or submit a written report. Sample report available at http://www.faseb.org/portals/0/pdfs/opa/lobbytoolbox/Report_Form.doc

50. Be A Resource….Not A Pest! • Be credible – if you don’t know the answer to a question say “I’ll get back to you on that” • Assume they know something about your topic but educate if needed. Focus on the big picture – it is not a science class! • Be collegial, not adversarial – don’t argue • Respond quickly to requests (same day if possible but always within 24 hours) • Do not spam or stalk staff • Package information for staff concisely • Always provide references for materials you send to staff