Lauren Lugo

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• Lauren Lugo
• Congressional Affairs Specialist
• NOAA Office of Legislative Affairs
• August 30, 2007

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Overview

• Review legislative successes from 2006
• Learn about pressures affecting this Congress
• Note I use several editorial cartoons to
  demonstrate my points. These do not necessarily
  represent my views or those of NOAA.
• Review Committee leadership relevant to NOAA
• Understand NOAAs legislative priorities
• Talk about strategies for effective communication
  with Congress

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2006 Accomplishments

• NOAAs Legislative Successes
• Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act
• Marine Debris
• Tsunami Warning and Education Act
• National Integrated Drought Information System
  (NIDIS)
• NOAAs Congressional Activities
• 51 Congressional Hearings (most ever?)
• 900 Briefings to Members and Staff
• 20,000 Communications between OLA and Congress
• Phone calls, inquires, requests, emails, etc.
• Trips, Outreach and Education

Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act
Monk Seal trapped in marine debris
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2006 Election Results
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Democrats in the 110th CongressDr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde

• Democratic take over of Committees, Floor,
  StaffThe Whole Agenda!
• Dr. Jekyll More receptive audience for NOAA
  Issues (i.e. oceans and environment)
• Mr. Hyde Goal to Criticize Administration and
  make headlines.
• Oversight and Investigations (i.e. Scientific
  Integrity, Climate Change, and Satellites)

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Pressure 1 Cutting Pork
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Pressure 2 Lobbying Reform
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Pressure 3Oversight Investigations
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Pressure 4 Environmental Campaigns
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Pressure 5 Re-Election
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Key NOAA Committees

• House Science Technology
• ChairBart Gordon (D-TN)
• Ranking RepublicanRalph M. Hall (R-TX)
  Boehlert (R-NY) retires
• New Subcommittee on Energy and EnvironmentChair
  Lampson and Ranking Member Inglis
• New Oversight and Investigation
  SubcommitteeChair Miller and Ranking Member
  Sensenbrenner
• House Resources
• Chair Nick Rahall (D-WV)
• Ranking Member Don Young (R-AK)
• Subcommittee on Fisheries, Oceans and
  WildlifeChair Bordallo and Ranking Member Brown

Bart Gordon
Ralph M. Hall
Nick Rahall
Don Young
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Key NOAA Committees

• Senate Commerce
• ChairDaniel K. Inouye (D-HI)
• Ranking RepublicanTed Stevens (R-AK)
• New Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries
  and Coast GuardChair Cantwell and Ranking Member
  Snowe
• Senate Appropriations
• ChairRobert C. Byrd (D-WV)
• Ranking RepublicanThad Cochran (R-MS)
• CJS Subcommittee ChairBarbara Mikulski (D-MD),
  RankingRichard C. Shelby (R-AL)

Daniel K. Inouye
Ted Stevens
Robert C. Byrd
Barbara Mikulski
Richard C. Shelby
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Key NOAA Committees

• House Appropriations
• ChairDavid R. Obey (D-WI)
• Ranking RepublicanJerry Lewis (R-CA)
• CJS Subcommittee ChairAlan B. Mollahan (D-WV),
  RankingRodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)

Jerry Lewis
David R. Obey
What does this mean?
Alan B. Mollahan
Rodney Frelinghuysen
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DOC Legislative Priorities

• Top 10
• Immigration Reform
• Trade Promote Authority
• Free Trade Agreement- Columbia
• Free Trade Agreement- Peru
• Aquaculture
• Export Act
• Environmental Stewardship
• (Corals, Sanctuaries, Marine Mammals, Cooperative
  Conservation)
• U.S. PTO Fees
• NIST Reauthorization
• Hydrographic Services

• What Does this Mean?
• These are issues the Secretary will talk about
  during speeches, participate in events, play some
  sort of active role, etc.

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NOAA Legislative Priorities

• NOAA Congressional Priorities
• NOAA Organic Act
• Aquaculture
• Corals, Sanctuaries, Marine Mammals, Cooperative
  Conservation
• Hydrographic Services

• Line Office Priorities
• NOS Corals, Sanctuaries, Hydrographic Services,
  IOOS, CZMA
• NMFS Aquaculture, Funding to Implement MSA,
  ICCAT, IWC, Regional Priorities
• NWS Hurricane issues, Aviation Weather, Tsunamis
• OAR Scientific Openness, Hurricane Research,
  UASs, Sea Grant Reauthorization
• NESDIS Outreach/Communication
• NMAO NOAA Corps, Vessel Authorization

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NOAA Office of Legislative Affairs

• We serve all of NOAAStrategic Consultants
• Tremendous Opportunities with New Members and
  StaffWe already started
• To facilitate interaction between NOAA and
  Congress NOAA OLA developed guidance on
• Congressional Travel
• Briefings
• Correspondence
• Testimony/Testifying

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Legislative Strategy

• Factors to consider
• Magnuson-Stevens Act negotiations set the
  standard
• Administration term is coming to an endMore
  aggressive approach
• Third Party ValidationCoalitions move bills
• Competing prioritiesLimited time for Congress to
  act

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Results

• So, what has happened
• Several NOAA bills are under consideration
• Oversight hearings
• Provided responses to several investigations
• NOAA FY08 Budget is still pending
• Hosting Congressional travel and special events

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Effective Communication What works and what
doesnt

• You may be asked to go to the Hill.

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• Eric Webster Director
• Brook Davis Deputy Director