AWS Federal Affairs

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AWS Federal Affairs

• Damian J Kotecki, AWS Vice President
• James F. Key, AWS Past President
• Ernest Levert, AWS President

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• Founded in 1919
• 47,000 members
• Headquarters in Miami, FL
• Technical and professional society
• ANSI and ISO Standards
• Professional Certification

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Foundations for Influence

• Constitution and Bylaws permit limited lobbying
• 501 C (3) (h) allows defined lobbying up to 10
  of operating budget
• Organizational Structure Government Affairs
  Liaison Committee governs this area
• Washington Office

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Strategy

• Leverage investment by participating in
  coalitions like FMS
• Sponsor AWS Congressional Fellow
• Develop network of contacts in agencies and
  congressional staff
• Judicious use of consultants

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Tactics

• Monitor agency web sites for opportunities
• Organize communications to provide prioritized
  opportunities to staff and volunteer leaders
• Periodically visit or communicate with contacts
  in Washington
• Follow-up opportunities with proposals,
  whitepapers, etc.

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Government Affairs Liaison Committee (GALC)

• Reports to Executive Committee and Board of
  Directors
• Members are Volunteers
• Damian J. Kotecki, Chair

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GALC Duties

• Develop a system to facilitate quality research,
  development and technology partnerships using the
  available programs sponsored by the Federal
  Government
• Provide oversight for the Congressional Fellow
  Program
• Identify gaps in Welding RD programs, try to
  enhance funding

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GALC Duties (continued)

• Develop a database of individuals in Government
  who are interested in industrial and technical
  matters, supply them with facts about the welding
  industry
• Develop quality cooperative proposals for
  government grants related to welding and
  materials joining

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GALC Duties (continued)

• Communicate to sister societies actions proposed
  by the Federal Government and get them to
  participate in supporting (or defeating) them
• Broaden dissemination of Federal and State issues
  to AWS members and request their participation as
  citizens

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Impact of Welding Study

• Research study completed in 2001
• Weldings contribution to the U.S. economy in FY
  2000 was 33.7 Billion
• Labor represents 3/4 of total welding-related
  production costs
• There is a lack of a consistent method of
  measuring welding productivity.

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Washington Office

• Staffed by AWS counsel Hugh Webster, Esq.
• Authors Washington Watchword, a monthly column
  in the Welding Journal
• Focuses on regulatory, trade, and research
  legislation
• Resource for member inquiries

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Congressional Fellow Program

• Began in 1998 with Dr. Mike Cieslak, assigned to
  Senator Jeff Bingaman (D - NM)
• Ralph D. Day in 2000 worked for the Asia and
  Pacific Subcommittee of the House International
  Relations Committee under Representative Doug
  Bereuter

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Congressional Fellow Program

• Dr. Timothy J. Fitzsimmons in 2000 worked on the
  Minority Staff of the Senate Committee on Energy
  and Natural Resources
• Matthew W. White served Senator Olympia Snowe
  (ME) from late 2000 to late 2001
• Dr. Jonathan Epstein began in late 2000 to work
  for Senator Bingaman, continues to this day

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Congressional Fellow Program

• Congressional Fellows have drafted legislation
  concerning RD, Energy, etc.
• AWS support for Fellows ranged from only paying
  boot camp expenses to paying full salary.
• AWS have found it difficult to recruit additional
  Congressional Fellows.

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Scorecard

• Foundation in place
• Limited network of contacts
• Member of FMS and other coalitions
• Excellent Congressional Fellows for five years
• Part-time consultants in place
• Tactics need implementation
• Culture needs work