January 2007
- New Congress...New Relationships to Build!
- Perkins Reauthorization
- Perkins Appropriations
- FY 2008 Executive Budget
New Congress...New Relationships to Build!
The elections of November 2006 have delivered major changes in the United States Congress for January 2007. The first session of the 110th Congress begins this month with many new faces in Washington, DC, representing our interests in our home states and Congressional districts.
Advocacy is all about building relationships. We simply must build positive, working relationships with our elected officials BEFORE we actually need them to do something for us (such as support Perkins programs in the annual Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill). Now is the time to build relationships with the new members of the United States Congress and to strengthen relationships with the returning Representatives and Senators.
At the state leaders luncheon during the 2006 NAAE Convention, I asked for a show of hands from NAAE state leaders who had newly elected officials in the U. S. Congress. Many, many hands went up. So, we know we have work to do to bring these new elected officials up to speed on our agriculture education programs in their states and Congressional districts.
Please keep in mind that your elected officials are your representatives. They work for you -- paid by your tax dollars. You don’t have to travel to Washington, DC to see your federal elected officials. Here are a few ways you can begin to build relationships with your elected officials from home.
1. Visit with your elected officials when they are in your local community at town hall meetings or other local events. Your visit may be more meaningful if it occurs in the home state or district.
2. Invite your elected officials to local agriculture education events. Now that it is January, FFA parent/member nights, FFA banquets, field days, and other spring events are not far away! Now is the time to invite key decision makers to attend your local events. There is no better way of showcasing your excellent program than to host your elected officials at your school. You can get the contact information for your state and federal elected officials from th e NAAE Legislative Action Center at naae.org/advocacy/legactioncenter.
3. Make an appointment to visit with the Congressional staff in state and district offices. Your federal elected officials have offices back at home in their respective states and Congressional districts. Get to know the local staff who work for your elected officials. The local staff have the ear of the elected officials and they can be very instrumental in arranging for the elected officials to visit your program.
Seek out ways to build relationships with your elected officials this year. We cannot wait until there is a crisis to build relationships. We must build the relationships in advance, so when there is a crisis, we know who to call upon for assistance … and, more importantly, they know us!
Everyone knows by now that we were successful in getting the Perkins legislation reauthorized by the 109th Congress. Generally speaking, we are pleased with the new legislation. However, we encourage you to visit with the state staff in your respective state to learn how the new Perkins legislation will affect your local program.
Before the 109th Congress adjourned in December 2006, it passed a continuing resolution that continues federal funding for Perkins programs at the FY 2006 levels. This means we still do not have the new appropriations for FY 2007 (which began on October 1, 2006). There has been quite a lot of speculation as to what the new Congress will do about appropriations for FY 2007. Time will tell. Regardless of how the scenario plays out, it looks as though Perkins appropriations will be maintained at FY 2006 levels throughout FY 2007.
On the first Monday in February, President Bush is to present his executive budget request for FY 2008 to the United States Congress. Even though the President signed the new Perkins bill into law, it is unclear what he will do regarding Perkins appropriations for FY 2008 and beyond. Keep in mind that the President has recommended the elimination of Perkins programs in his past several executive budgets. What will he recommend for Perkins programs for FY 2008? Time will tell on that as well. We expect we will once again have an uphill fight to maintain federal funding for Perkins programs for FY 2008.
So, as pleased as we are regarding the Perkins reauthorization, we must not rest. We have new members of Congress with whom to build relationships and we have a new executive budget recommendation forthcoming in a few weeks. There’s much to do … and plenty of room for all agricultural educators to become involved in advocating for school-based agricultural education.
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