PSM: Taking Action Catholic Charities USA's Guide to Effective Advocacy

Taking Action: Catholic Charities USA’s Guide to Effective Advocacy

Catholic Charities USA Sixty-Six Canal Center Plaza Suite 600 Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 549-1390 www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

Table of Contents
Introduction Part I: Understanding our Call and Commitment What is Advocacy? Understanding the Task Before Us Why Advocacy? Understanding our Call and Commitment Part II: Building a Framework for Action Know Your Rights: Lobby Laws and What You Can Do Getting Started: Building Your Capacity for Advocacy Getting Started: Creating Your Advocacy Strategy Getting Started: Framing Your Issue Part III: Tools You Can Use Cultivating Relationships with Your Elected Officials That Powerful Pen: Write to Your Legislator Effectively It’s Your Call: Connecting with your Legislator by Phone Face to Face: How to Visit your Legislator Show and Tell: How to Host a Site Visit Your Expert Advice: How to Give Legislative Testimony The Power of Press: How To Work Effectively with the Media Face the Facts: How to Create Effective Fact Sheets Stronger Together: Building and Working in Coalitions Part IV: Appendices and Resources Appendix Appendix Appendix Appendix Appendix A: B: C: D: E: Catholic Social Teaching Resources Glossary of Common Legislative Terms The Federal Legislative Process The Federal Budget Process Players in the Federal Legislative Process Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 7 Page 11 Page Page Page Page 12 13 17 22

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Introduction to the Manual

Introduction
From the beginnings of the movement, Catholic Charities agencies have recognized their dual mission to serve the poor and advocate for effective social policies to eradicate the causes of poverty. We are called by Scripture, the tradition and leadership of the Church, and Catholic social teaching to raise our voices for the common good, speaking with and on behalf of the vulnerable. We are called to be architects – to partner with others and rebuild our nation on a framework of justice. As an architect begins to build with a vision and a blueprint to guide him, so must we have a vision and strategy for our advocacy work. Advocates can use this manual as a blueprint for building a campaign around an issue, ultimately leading to a more just nation. The manual aims to assist Catholic Charities agencies and staff members as they build their capacity to participate in policy development and advocacy efforts in local, state, and national government and at Catholic Charities USA. Like a good blueprint, the manual contains both basic frameworks and specific details inside those frameworks. You will find the basics in sections about the meaning of advocacy, our call to embrace it, and summaries of the legislative and budget processes. You will find details to guide your work within those frameworks in “How To” tips for strategies ranging from communicating with legislators and the media to designing your advocacy action plan. You will find links to suggested further resources throughout the manual and listed in the Appendices. Also, many sections link to Catholic Charities USA’s E-Advocacy Tool (http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/home/), an online tool that enables you to search for information about elected officials and media and then contact them directly. We urge you to use these resources as you build your strategy. Finally, be sure to contact the Social Policy staff at CCUSA with further questions as you proceed. Your membership in Catholic Charities USA offers you a wealth of advocacy resources. The Social Policy Staff at the National Member Service Center is here to provide you with tools to connect with your legislators, tips on how to do so effectively, on-site advocacy training in your agency, in-depth legislative analysis, and representation to federal lawmakers of your interests and the interests of those you serve. Acknowledgements: This manual is an updated version of the advocacy manual produced in 2003 by Catholic Charities USA. The principal author of the original manual was consultant Karabelle Pizzigati. This updated version was edited and authored by consultant Natalie Halbach, with assistance from Catholic Charities USA staff: Candy Hill, Senior Vice President for Social Policy; Christin Driscoll, Senior Director for Policy Development and Advocacy; and Karen Wong, Legislative Policy and Research Analyst.

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Part I: Understanding our Call and Commitment

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Understanding our Call and Commitment

What is Advocacy? Understanding the Task Before Us
The specific definition of advocacy varies with its source. Yet, our call and responsibility to engage in advocacy is unwavering and clear. Our commitment to the poor and vulnerable compels us, as Catholic Charities agency staff, to go beyond our direct service and call attention to the need to change the structures and policies that perpetuate poverty. The section below outlines a few definitions of advocacy and positive outcomes that can result from advocacy work. What is Advocacy? How Can Advocacy Help Those We Serve?

What is Advocacy? Advocacy means supporting and defending a cause that you believe in. Advocates support and argue for the rights and needs of the poor and vulnerable. They also provide them the skills and opportunities to speak on their own behalf. Advocates work for justice by impacting the public conversation about an issue, leading to changed responses and solutions. Advocacy takes place on many different levels. For example, professional lobbyists advocate for specific legislation, nonprofits advocate for their clients and legislation that impacts them, and individual citizens advocate for a community need or a cause about which they feel strongly. Each advocate uses his or her right to participate in our nation’s democratic process. How Can Advocacy Help Those We Serve? Effective advocacy can come in many forms. Ultimately, by changing the public understanding of an issue and its solutions, advocacy can lead to a more just world. As an advocate, you make an impact in the following ways: • You Educate. As an advocate, you can change how the public and elected officials understand your issue and the challenges facing your clients. Some legislators will have in-depth knowledge about your issue. Others will know very little about it. All will be constantly bombarded with information and requests from various interests groups and constituents. Your job is to keep your issue front and center among competing priorities, and shape how the public perceives it and its importance. You Witness. Your direct service work at your agency gives you expertise as a real-life witness to the challenges faced by the poor and vulnerable. You can inform public opinion using the data and stories you gather about the needs of the poor, the solutions that would be most effective to address these needs, and the resources required to battle the root causes and effects of poverty.

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You Enlist Allies. As you educate the public and elected officials, you enlist individuals and organizations to support your cause and join a movement for change. You Tap Resources. Politics and policy are about the distribution of scarce resources. By educating the public and drawing attention to your issue, you help to raise it in importance among competing causes. • You Improve Services for the Poor. Using your knowledge of how programs actually work at your agency, you can call attention to policies that are ineffective or create unnecessary barriers to services, and work to improve them. Advocates also hold legislators accountable for their decisions, helping to ensure that they make informed and careful choices.

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You Facilitate Connections between Legislators and Constituents. Legislators want to connect with and be responsive to their constituents. As an advocate, you can facilitate those connections. Legislators will welcome opportunities to better understand their constituents’ needs and build relationships with them. In the process of connecting them to your programs and clients, you will establish yourself as an experienced resource that legislators and their staff will turn to with questions as discussion of your issue moves forward. • • You Empower your Clients. By including your clients in conversations and relationship building with their legislators, you empower your clients with skills and opportunities to speak for themselves.

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Understanding our Call and Commitment

Why Advocacy? Understanding our Call and Commitment
Advocacy has been central to the purpose of Catholic Charities agencies since the foundation of the movement. Our commitment to advocacy is rooted in our Catholic Charities mission, God’s word, our faith tradition and Catholic social teaching based on that tradition. This section provides a brief understanding of why we must respond to our call and commit time, talent, and resources to advocacy work. It also links to resources for a deeper exploration of Scripture and the themes of Catholic social teaching. Advocacy is Central to our Catholic Charities Mission Scripture Commands us to Work for Justice Catholic Social Teaching Calls us to Build a Just Nation

Advocacy is Central to our Catholic Charities Mission
By responding to injustice through advocacy, we maintain a long tradition within the Catholic Charities movement to speak for the poor and vulnerable. In 1910, the first meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Charities (NCCC) took place in Washington, D.C. At that meeting, delegates charged the network of agencies to act as “the attorney for the poor in modern society, to present their point of view and defend them unto the days when social justice may secure to them their rights.”1 The delegates recognized the dual role of Catholic Charities agencies to serve the poor and advocate for an end to the root causes of poverty by creating a more just and fair society: “To humanize and transform the social order entails social action … the necessity of pursuing social justice for all (and particularly for those unable to do so for themselves unaided) which, in turn, involves effecting changes in the existing social systems.” “One integral component of social action is that of advocacy, the courageous calling of attention to the root causes of poverty and oppression.”2 The call to advocacy continued to be central to Catholic Charities identity and mission as the 20th century progressed. Between 1969 and 1972, the NCCC conducted a study to reexamine the identity, mission, and programs of Catholic Charities agencies. In the resulting report, NCCC proposed that Catholic Charities continue to devote energy to three commitments:

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Cadre Study. Toward a Renewed Catholic Charities Movement. (1972; Alexandria, VA: Catholic Charities USA, 1992, reprint). 2 Cadre Study. 1992.

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Service: Catholic Charities would be committed to providing the services needed by people and by families, but these services would also be delivered in a manner in which the persons/families themselves would find a sense of “The demands of justice liberation. Humanizing and Transforming the Social Order: Catholic Charities would be committed to social action, which, “involves effecting changes in the existing social systems.”3

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Convening: Catholic Charities would commit itself to “a reaching out to others to stimulate them to social awareness and to recruit them as active partners in the pursuit of the goals of the Catholic Charities’ movement.” Convening involves raising the public awareness of injustice and social issues so that all can understand and be moved to act for a more just world.

must be satisfied first of all; that which is already due in justice is not to be offered as a gift of charity.” ~ St. John Chrysostom

Advocacy is central to these three commitments. Through our service we identify needs and issues, and empower the vulnerable with opportunities to speak for themselves. By raising our voices as advocates and calling attention to these needs, we educate the public and decision makers, convene supporters of a movement for justice, and change social systems that perpetuate poverty and injustice.

Scripture Commands us to Work for Justice
This mission and identity of Catholic Charities agencies is based on both the word of God and the traditions of the Church, explained in Catholic social teaching. Both the Old Testament and New Testament make it clear that we are called and commanded to defend the needs of the poor and vulnerable (Isaiah 1:17). We must fulfill this call not only through acts of service and charity, but also by speaking out and calling attention to issues and unjust structures (Proverbs 31:8-9) The New Testament reiterates many times these responsibilities, and reminds us that the measure of a moral and just society is how it cares for the least of its members (Matthew 25:34-40).

Catholic Social Teaching Calls us to Build a Just Nation
Finally, in addition to Scripture, the teachings of the Church and the guidance of Church leaders inform our commitment to advocacy and pursuit of just social structures. In Economic Justice for All, the U.S. Catholic Bishops remind us that ending poverty is a, “moral imperative of the highest priority.” The Church leaders call us to bring an end to poverty through advocacy: “As individuals, all citizens have a duty to assist the poor through acts of charity and personal commitment. But private charity and voluntary action are not sufficient. We

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Cadre Study. 1972, p. 32.

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also carry out our moral responsibility to assist and empower the poor by working collectively through government to establish just and effective public policies.”4 The Catechism of the Catholic Church reinforces the duty we have as citizens and as a faithful body to work with government and civil authority for justice and solidarity. This work as faithful citizens sometimes demands advocacy. According to Church teaching, citizens have, “the right, and at times the duty, to voice their just criticisms of that which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good of the community.” 5 Catholic Social Teaching Directs our Advocacy Called by Church leaders to advocate for the vulnerable, we look to Catholic social teaching to direct that advocacy. Catholic social teaching outlines the fundamental principles necessary for a just society. As staff members of Catholic Charities agencies, we can use these teachings to guide our advocacy decisions and vision for a more just world. Some of the main themes in Catholic social teaching are outlined below. See Appendix A for further resources. The Dignity of the Person: The foundation of Catholic social teaching lies in the book of Genesis: “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Because we are created in God’s image, each human, regardless of nationality, socio-economic status, race, gender, religion and background has basic human dignity. As individuals and a society, we must protect this dignity and the accompanying rights for each of our fellow humans. Rights and Responsibilities: With our inherent human dignity as children of God, each of us has certain fundamental rights, including the right to education and productive work, the right to begin and raise a family, and the right to sufficient food, shelter and clothing for a decent and dignified life. With these rights come responsibilities to perform productive work for the benefit of the community, and to care and provide for family, for each other, and for our society. Call to Family, Community, and Participation: Catholic social teaching holds that we live out our sacred human dignity in the context of community. The U.S. Bishops remind us that, “How we organize our society--in economics and politics, in law and policy--directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community.”6

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“The ultimate injustice is for a person or group to be treated actively or abandoned passively as if they were nonmembers of the human race.” U.S. Catholic Bishops

U.S. Catholic Bishops. Economic Justice for All.: Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy. United States Catholic Conferenc, Inc. Washington, D.C.: 1986. 5 Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994). Part Three, Life in Christ. Section Two: The Ten Commandments. Article 4. 2238 6 U.S. Catholic Bishops. Themes of Catholic Social Teaching. Online, August 19, 2006, http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml

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We must structure our communities so to preserve the dignity of each member. To do that, we must commit to fostering active participation in society by all persons. Only this participation guarantees full dignity and justice.7 • Option for the Poor: Keeping in mind the example of Christ, who ministered to the poor, and the command to love neighbor as one’s self, we are called to evaluate how our policies and institutions impact the poor and vulnerable. As advocates, we must continually call attention to the needs of the poor and vulnerable and the unjust structures at the root of the challenges they face. • The Common Good: This teaching recognizes that we are all members of one human family, whatever our differences. When one of us suffers, we all suffer. “The extent of [this] suffering is a measure of how far we are from being a true community of persons.”8

“As Christians, we are called to respond to the needs of all our brothers and sisters, but those with the greatest needs require the greatest response." U.S. Catholic Bishops

The option for the poor leads directly to preserving the common good, for we strengthen the whole community by strengthening those who are most vulnerable among us. As advocates, we must respond to Pope John Paul II’s call to, “ a firm and preserving determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good of all and each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.”9 • Solidarity: As we advocate, we work in solidarity with all of our fellow brothers and sisters. The Catechism reminds us that, “respect for human dignity requires the practice of solidarity, in accordance with the golden rule and in keeping with the generosity of the Lord, who ‘though he was rich, yet for your sake … became poor so that by his poverty, you might become rich.’”10 We must raise our voices against rising inequality between the very rich and the very poor, and work for a just and fair sharing of the resources of God’s creation to ensure dignified life for all.

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Economic Justice for All. Economic Justice for All. 9 Pope John Paul II. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, no. 38. December 30, 1987. 10 Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994). Part Three, Life in Christ. Section Two: The Ten Commandments. Article 7. 2407.

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Part II: Building a Framework for Action

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Building a Framework for Action

Know Your Rights: Lobby Laws and What You Can Do
Visit your state Catholic conference website or consult your Bishop for information regarding lobby laws that impact you.

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Building a Framework for Action

Getting Started: Building Your Capacity for Advocacy
You are ready to fully embrace the call and commitment of Catholic Charities agencies to advocate for the poor and vulnerable, but perhaps you feel unsure as to how or where to begin. This section lays out ideas for how to involve different members of your staff as you begin advocacy work. The next section then provides you with guidance on creating an advocacy strategy for your issue. For further advice or information as you move forward, contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement at [email protected]. Building your Agency’s Capacity and Staff Involvement

Building your Agency’s Capacity and Staff Involvement
Your capacity for advocacy and the methods you choose will depend on your key issues, agency location and the size of your staff and resources. No one plan fits all, so you have flexibility to determine what works best for you. The most successful efforts work to incorporate participation of staff at all levels of the agency, uniting them in the dual call to serve and advocate. Remember to keep all staff informed as you develop your messages and strategy, so that all can speak knowledgeably about your agency’s position on an issue. As you build the capacity of your staff, evaluate the specific expertise that each level of staff brings to advocacy in order to maximize their time and effort. To maintain consistency, identify spokespeople who will work with media or legislators. Also, remember that strength lies in numbers and communicate continually with diocesan staff and with those of parish advocacy groups as much as possible to align your messages. Members of staff in all areas of your agency can use the tools included in Part III: Tools You Can Use below to make their voice heard. Also, the sections below discuss opportunities that highlight the specific niche of staff members who play different roles in your agency: Line Staff as Advocates: Your Expert Eyes and Ears Agency staff who work directly with clients have a wealth of the information that legislators crave – real world knowledge about how policies and programs impact their constituents. They can enhance the power of advocates throughout your agency by sharing the stories of the clients they serve and by: • Tracking and reporting the volume of requests for types of services.

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Tracking trends and reporting changes in the types or amount of need, and the characteristics of clients and comparing those trends from month to month or year to year. These trends will highlight emerging issues. Create a section in progress reports that highlights specific stories and examples demonstrating the impact of policies or trends on clients.

Managers as Advocates: Analyze and Plan Managers can ensure that all staff see advocacy as a central part of the agency mission and provide staff members with opportunities to participate in advocacy. They can also work with line staff to create an advocacy strategy. Managers can: • • Provide advocacy training to new and current staff. Discuss trends and changes in client needs at staff meetings and compare reports for changes over time. Work with colleagues and other local organizations to verify evidence of a trend occurring. Communicate with the Social Policy staff at Catholic Charities USA to see if trends match with any pending legislation in Congress. Gather local information and examples of the impact of policies on clients to share with the lobbyists at CCUSA. Discuss whether the trends you notice can be improved through advocacy, and then design a strategy for implementation.

Want to Advocate but Short on Time?

Let CCUSA Help!
• Catholic Charities USA Social Policy staff can conduct onsite advocacy trainings for staff at your agency. Contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement at [email protected] • CCUSA Social Policy staff can provide examples from other agencies nationwide who have organized their advocacy work or connect you directly to an agency working on this planning process. • The CCUSA Social Policy Web site contains legislative analyses, reports, and updates on issues that agency staff can use to better understand key issues and how the national policy interacts with trends observed at the agency level. Please visit us at http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/advoc acy/index.cfm?cfid=10239745&cftoken=9 9545441.

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Executives as Advocates: Empower Executive staff can ensure that advocacy remains an agency priority and provide resources to support the advocacy mission. Executive staff: • • • •

Request reports and discuss trends in services at staff meetings. Create a staff position or department to manage the agency’s advocacy. Create opportunities for interaction between your agency and your policymakers – forums, site visits, meetings, etc. Meet with and build relationships with policymakers.

Board Members as Advocates: Affirm Mission and Network Members of your Board can often leverage their status in the community to capture the attention of the media or policymakers around an issue or advocacy campaign.

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Board members can: • • • • Affirm the advocacy mission of the agency as a priority. Emphasize the advocacy mission of the agency to new board members and offer advocacy training to board members. Allocate time at board meetings for training on Catholic social teaching and updates on advocacy issues and strategy. Meet with and build relationships with policymakers. Staff can spend time preparing with board members and accompany them on visits to increase comfort of new advocates. Assure that agency executives and policy staff are aware of existing relationships among board members and policymakers.

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See the following quick reference chart when planning advocacy roles for members of staff.

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Potential Roles and Advocacy Actions for Agency Staff

Levels of Involvement
Executive

Roles
• • • • Strategic planner Resource developer Strong public voice Guide executives in planning, securing resources, being a public voice Provide access in power circles Relationship strategists (who should do what, within and outside agency) Priority setters Resource developer/distributors Key coalition builders Advocacy coordinator and champion in units Mentor/monitor for line staff Framer of case statements Voice for clients Data analysts and reporters of needs and potential solutions Storytellers who articulate needs and provide examples of what works Agency decision makers (often as board members) Key allies Messengers grounded in local experience

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• • • • Set policy goals Lead agency advocacy efforts. Approve/affirm policy goals Take part in advocacy process

Board
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Executive Management and Mid-Management

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Set up and review agency advocacy processes and practices Structure contracts Approve testimony Conduct meetings with legislators and administrators Frame issues for agency action Propose issues, solutions, new priorities Identify allies Suggest issues for action Serve on working task groups Develop letters, advocacy information Testify at hearings Participate on boards Write letters Organize others

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Provide local links Write or call on issues Organize others

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Building a Framework for Action

Getting Started: Creating Your Advocacy Strategy
You have begun building the capacity of all members of your staff to participate in advocacy for the poor and vulnerable. This section provides you with guidance on creating an advocacy strategy based on your concern about a complex need or issue. Before you move forward, be sure you understand the federal legislative and budget processes. Appendices C & D provide summaries and further resources about each. Contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement at [email protected], for further information or tips as you plan your strategy.

Creating your Advocacy Strategy Identifying the Issue Documenting the Issue Determining the Arena for Action Designing Your Strategy

Creating your Advocacy Strategy
Just as you would not leave on a road trip without a map and an itinerary to guide your travel, you should not embark on an advocacy effort without a strategy and plan of action. Creating a successful advocacy strategy requires several steps, outlined below. Above all, remember to be flexible, reevaluating and adapting your strategies as you move forward if the context, needs, or players involved in your issue change. Identifying the Problem To address an issue, you must first identify it. As staff of a Catholic Charities agency, you work daily with clients who struggle with poverty and various social challenges. Listen well and observe Catholic Campaign for changing trends in services, and you will easily identify Human Development pressing issues. Consulting low-income clients is crucial to this step. Most importantly, empowering low-income families, rather than simply speaking for them, affirms their dignity. Often, they have great ideas for potential solutions, and will only embrace the solutions you propose if they have participated in identifying them. In addition to your agency’s clients, contact the local Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the national Catholic program that seeks to end the root causes of domestic poverty by supporting communitycontrolled, self-help organizations and their initiatives.

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grantees – independent community organizations engaged in self-help services and advocacy projects. Visit http://www.usccb.org/cchd/grants/principles.shtml to learn more about CCHD. As you identify the problem, remember that its causes may be complex, but your advocacy issue must be focused and clear. You’ll need a clear issue for later steps in the advocacy process, like goal setting and working with media. Begin by creating as full a picture as possible of the problem, and then hone in on your specific issue. You might ask some of the following questions: •

Want a Strategy, but Short on Time?

Let CCUSA Help!
• As you work to identify the problem, use the CCUSA Social Policy Web site as a trusted resource.

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What is the emerging trend or emerging need? How does it differ You’ll find background information on a from past needs? variety of issues, including numbers of • Who/how many people does the people impacted, some causes of problems problem affect? on a national scale, and solutions currently • Does the problem affect different being proposed at the federal level. groups differently? • What causes the problem or the change in need? Find background information here: • Is the issue the only problem or is http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCo it a symptom of a larger problem mmunity/Page.aspx?pid=318&srcid=193 that we should address with policy change? • If the issue is complex, can it be broken down into more manageable pieces? How? Who is responsible for addressing the problem? What are possible solutions? Is advocacy the best way to approach the issue? Would other solutions work better in the short or long run? What potential solutions are most important? How would these solutions impact the affected group? The community?

Documenting the Issue Once you have identified your issue, you will need to do both research and documentation of it so you will have the facts and support you need to begin advocacy. As mentioned above, members of line staff play a crucial role in helping to identify and document evidence of increased need or changing trends in need. Work with clients and line staff to build a compelling case for a needed response. Track: • • • The characteristics of the impacted clients. The number who are affected. The level of change from the recent past (create a chart or graph to illustrate this change if possible).

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The change in agency resources (staff, facilities, funding, etc.) that have occurred to respond to the issue.

Then, do some research about the issue. Check with other organizations in your community, across the state, or nationwide (depending on the issue) to see if others have observed similar trends or have collected similar data. Search for published research or reports that add further weight and credibility to the issues observed at your agency. Please contact the Social Policy Department at Catholic Charities USA for help – oftentimes the staff is hearing about trends and solutions and can share them with you. Determining the Arena for Action Not all advocacy efforts call for a legislative solution. With each unique issue, you should evaluate the most effective arena for action – legislative, regulatory, or judicial – and design your campaign accordingly. • • Legislation is the first step in formulating new laws or revising existing law. Regulation follows legislation. Once a bill has passed and been signed into law (see Appendix C), it is sent to the appropriate executive branch department for implementation. The department reviews the law and creates regulations that determine how the law will be implemented. The judiciary interprets the law and determines whether the implementation of the law or the law itself is inconsistent with the constitution and how it allocates power or responsibility.

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Once you have identified your issue, ask yourself three questions: 1. Does the existing law need to be changed to address the issue? 2. Is there a need for a new law? 3. Is the existing law okay, but the way it is implemented too restrictive or flexible? If you answered “yes” to the first or second question, your advocacy should focus on the legislative branch of state or national government (see Understanding the Federal Legislative Process, Appendix C). If you answered, “yes” to the third question, you will need to influence regulatory agencies as they form policies. See Designing Your Strategy below for tips on where to begin.

Designing Your Strategy Before you get started, please contact the Social Policy Department at Catholic Charities USA for any assistance you might need. We are here to help you in your advocacy efforts. We can be particularly helpful in guiding you through the questions below for federal policy questions. Know Where You are Coming From. To plan an effective advocacy strategy around the issue you have identified, you must know how the issue has been addressed in the past, important players, and

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when you might create change or make an impact in the future. Look for answers to these questions: • • • How do current laws or policies try to address this issue? Who supported original laws and who opposed them? (Look for legislators who care about the issue to be potential champions for your solutions.) What were the goals of the original supporters or opposition? How have circumstances changed to warrant changes to laws and how can addressing new needs (Or let CCUSA do it for you!) still fit within the original goals?

Do Your Homework

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What does the current legislative calendar look like, and when might legislators take up this issue? How can you link your issue (its causes, consequences, and solutions) to current main issues under debate? Which agency or department created the regulations to implement laws on your issue? How and when does the agency or department make decisions, and issue or change regulations? Have other organizations advocated on this issue? What tactics did they try, and what successes have they had? What is the opposition saying? How could you and your allies respond without alienating them? (Remember, today’s opposition may be a future ally.)

Resources on Federal Legislation and Regulations:

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CCUSA Social Policy Web site: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetComm unity/Page.aspx?pid=318&srcid=193 The Social Policy staff at CCUSA regularly update this site with legislative analysis, issue briefs, sample letters to the editor or to Members of Congress and toolkits to help you learn more and take action. THOMAS: http://thomas.loc.gov This Library of Congress site allows you to search for bills, read the entire bill text online, and check a bill’s status all the way back to the 93rd Congress; search the Congressional Record (daily record of Congressional activity); and link to the Web pages of Members of Congress and Congressional committees. U.S. Government Printing Office: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/uscode/index.html Find text of the U.S. Code of law and the Code of Federal Regulations. The Federal Register: www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html Published daily, contains proposed and final agency rules and regulations. Links to all executive agency Web sites: http://www.loc.gov/rr/news/fedgov.html Government Accounting Office: www.gao.gov Studies federal programs and expenditures for Congress and suggests ways to make them more effective. Good source of reports and 20 data.

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Many resources exist on the Web to assist you with your research. See the box at the right of the page for a few links to get you started on research about federal legislation. Contact the legislative services office at your state capitol for information about the legislature, calendar of activities, committees and procedures at the local level. The Social Policy staff at Catholic Charities USA can also provide advice and direction.

Know Where You are Going. Creating a vision and goals for your advocacy effort will keep your efforts focused and on track. A clear vision will help you make good decisions at turning points or setbacks. Vision motivates a group when change seems impossible, inspires new advocates, and helps diverse individuals build consensus. To create your vision, imagine how the world would look if you successfully addressed your issue. Whose lives would change? How would they be different? What would that world look like? This vision might seem big and complicated. Find one piece to focus on and create short-term (up to two-year) goals. Make these goals clear and measurable, so you can evaluate the impact of your actions, celebrate successes and see progress toward the larger vision. Once you have defined your vision and goals, move to the final step of creating your advocacy strategy - designing a specific plan of action. Know How to Get There. It’s time to break down your vision and goals into a specific action plan. You will not be able to do everything at once, so break your goals into manageable pieces and create action steps toward achieving those pieces. Because you have done your homework, you will be able to decide if your actions should be Want Action Steps, national or local, if you should but Short on Time? target legislation or regulations, and what has or has not worked in the past.

Let CCUSA Help!

Decide which legislators you need to target. Seek legislators with power on key committees or a special interest or history with your issue, and evaluate if you know anyone with special connections to the legislator. You may need to use different strategies with different people. Some may respond best to media coverage, while others listen most to personal letters or personal connections in your community.

• Sign up to receive CCUSA Action Alert! e-mails. We do the analysis for you and tell you which legislators to contact, important messages to deliver, and give you links to send a message to legislators immediately right online. Sign up at http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/ml m/signup/ • Find sample news releases, op-eds and letters to the editor to help you craft your message and frame your issue here: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/news/ national.cfm.

Create a clear and compelling message that you can repeat often in all of your communication and education efforts. Consistency is key. Evaluating the political context around you will help you craft your message for maximum success. See the following section Framing Your Issue for tips.

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Action Steps for Your Advocacy Strategy
When designing your strategy, consider some of the following action steps. Part III of this manual, Tools You Can Use, provides “How To” tips for many of these actions. Use Catholic Charities USA’s Social Policy Web site as a resource for information, talking points, sample letters and documents and direct links to your legislators as you design your strategy (http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=318&srcid=318): • EDUCATE: You’ll need to educate legislators, agency staff, and your community about your issue. Create one page “fact sheets,” targeted toward various audiences. Include data you have gathered, background information, and client stories where appropriate. Also include contact information so readers know how to find out more. Make sure you are aware of the Church’s position, if any, on the issue. ADVOCATE: Write, call, and visit your elected officials as part of your strategy for change. Educate them and ask them to take specific actions to address the problem. See for tips on communicating with your legislators. PARTNER: Consider how you can partner with other organizations or individuals in your community who would like to address your issue. PUBLICIZE: Work with the media to raise public awareness of your issue and support for possible solutions. Media coverage of your issue will not only educate, but also impact how elected officials view its importance or decide how to address it. See for guidance on building relationships with the media. You will find tips for all of these strategies on the pages that follow.

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As you design your timeline and action plan using some of the action ideas in the box below, think about creating action opportunities that involve and empower staff members and grassroots clients, when possible. Hands-on advocacy training gives the vulnerable tools to make their voices heard. As an advocate you win two victories: You work toward a solution for the issue and you increase peoples’ participation in decisions that impact their own lives. Finally, celebrate your successes as you achieve goals, no matter how small! Celebrating success motivates advocates, clients, legislators and staff for continued commitment and progress.

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Building a Framework for Action

Getting Started: Framing Your Issue
Once you have identified your vision, goals and advocacy strategy, you can begin to construct a strategy for how you “frame” or talk about your issue. The way you talk about your issue and get the media, public, and elected officials to portray and discuss it can largely impact how open they are to the solutions you propose. Though “framing” is an ongoing and long-term process and there are professionals who devote their work to it, understanding the basic ideas and questions below will make you a savvier advocate when you use your voice for justice. For further advice or information as you move forward, contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement at [email protected]
What is “Framing”? Basic Framing Tips Do Your Homework Define Your Core Values Constructing Messages within Your Frame

What is “Framing”? Not surprisingly, the word “framing” means different things to different people. Advocates sometimes think of framing as using a catchy slogan to attract attention to your issue of concern. Yet framing runs deeper than slogans and messages that change with the context and needs of a specific moment in time. Sonja Herbert of the Berkeley Media Studies Group defines frames as, “… the mental structures that help people understand the world, based on particular assumptions and values.”11 The idea is that none of us is a blank slate. We receive and understand information and form opinions based on our past experiences, our deeply held values and the frameworks we use to understand causes and consequences of the actions we see in the world. The legislators and public that you target will filter all of the data you gather in your agency and the messages you create and fit that data to fit their framework and values. Frames will not only impact how people understand your work and your issue, but also who they see as responsible for solving it and what solutions they believe will work. Examine, for example, how one dominant framework in our culture, the importance of individual choice and responsibility for one’s own success, impacts a conversation about health. Discussing the problem of a rising number of overweight children in low-income urban neighborhoods within this individual responsibility frame leads to solutions like, “Families should exercise more,” or “Parent should feed their children healthy foods.”
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Herbert, Sonja. “Build Strong Foundations: Find the Right Frame.” The Advocacy Institute Newsletter. April 2006. Accessed 12 Aug. 2006. Online http://www.advocacy.org/enews/archive/06-04-Framing.html.

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This framework ignores the context in which individuals make choices about their lives. It ignores the possibilities that an urban neighborhood with heavy traffic may not be a safe place for children to play and exercise, that the family may not own a car or live near quality public transportation to reach grocery stores that do not locate in low-income neighborhoods, or that families scraping by from month to month may be forced to choose lower-quality, cheaper foods over fruits and vegetables. Framing the individual’s choices in the context of an unhealthy community helps advocates to argue effectively for institutional solutions like the construction of public parks, or zoning laws that give incentives to grocery stores and limit fast food restaurants. By framing an issue well, you can impact how your problem and solutions are portrayed and discussed. The steps below will help you think about how to draw connections between individual stories and their social context as you work to frame your issues. Basic Framing Tips Do Your Homework: To frame and issue successfully, be sure to understand the current frames used to talk about it. Most legislators and the public form opinions on issues based on media coverage. Track your issue in the media – both print and electronic. Imagine that you are not an expert on your issue and ask yourself questions like these: • What do articles and reports tell you about the problem? Why is it important and who cares about it? What are the solutions, or who should fix it?

• •

Want to Frame, but Short on Time?
Let CCUSA Help!
• You do not have to start from scratch to define potential solutions to the problem you have identified or to explain the values that underlie your position! • The CCUSA Social Policy Web site has issue briefs that explain the Catholic social teaching and values that underlie our positions on various policy issues, as well as the solutions we support at a national level.

If you find your issue framed in a way that will not support your solutions, think about how the data and trends you have seen at your agency could help tell the story another way.

Define Your Core Values: Facts, data, and policy arguments can intimidate people who could be potential champions for your cause. You may find it more effective to connect to people’s values. Values connect to our emotions and shape our motivations for taking action. Think about these questions: • • •

What values are central to our vision? What values will resonate with our target audience? How can we show that this problem impacts all of us? (Refer to Catholic social teaching on the common good to help answer this question).

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Communicating Within Your Frame: Once you have defined your values and frame for discussing your issue, work to communicate it in every message you create. Messages will change as your advocacy targets and strategies change, and no two advocates will deliver a message in the same way. However, if you speak within your framework of values you will remain consistent, but flexible. The Berkeley Media Studies Group and The Praxis Project recommend that messages within your framework clearly answer these three questions12: 1. What’s Wrong? Focus on a specific part of the problem rather than trying to explain the entire issue. Try to show how individuals are impacted by social institutions. 2. Why does it matter? Communicate your underlying values here. 3. What should be done about it? Who and what are involved in the solution? Communicate an achievable, concise action step.

Berkeley Media Studies Group and The Praxis Project. “Meta-Messaging: Framing Your Case and Reinforcing Your Allies.” Jan. 2005. Accessed Aug 12, 2006: http://www.bmsg.org/documents/MetaMessagingfinal.pdf.

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Part III: Tools You Can Use

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Tools You Can Use

Cultivating Relationships with Your Elected Officials
We are not only called by faith to participate in our government, but we also realize that participation in the political process can make a huge impact on the lives of the people we serve. As agency staff, you have important experiences to share about the needs of communities and how programs and policies impact those same communities. You bring passion, energy and knowledge to an advocacy effort. Now, add to that savvy for developing relationships with your elected officials that will help you deliver your message and convince them to take action. The tips below lay out relationship-building basics, while the following sections delve into more detail on specific tactics. Why should I cultivate relationships with elected officials? How do I begin? What should I do if my agency has already contacted our legislators?

Why should I cultivate relationships with elected officials? Elected officials have to address a multitude of issues. They cannot be experts on everything. They often seek input from constituents that they trust, so building a relationship can help to ensure that your official trusts your voice. Legislative staff continually analyzes the strengths, weaknesses and impacts of programs and policies. However, they cannot always keep track of the current local impact of those policies. When you develop relationships with them, they will turn to you to better understand your community’s needs. How do I begin? Your first step should be to determine what contact has already been established between the legislator and your agency. Has the legislator visited the agency before? Have members of your staff sent them information or letters? Has the legislator responded to those letters or asked for your input on issues or legislation? If not, then begin by remembering that though you probably have an immediate agenda – for example, a bill you want your legislator to support – your goal should be to develop a long-term relationship and become a trusted expert and resource for the office. The relationship should outlast your immediate needs, because the issues of concern to you may change with time. When establishing a new relationship, keep the following tips in mind: • Do your Homework. Discover your legislator’s main interests and connections he or she may have to your work or issue area. Learn how he or she has voted in the past on your issue o Sign up for Catholic Charities USA’s E-mail Voting Alerts (see box below), or visit these Web sites to search House and Senate voting records. o http://clerk.house.gov/legisAct/votes.html

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o http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/a_three_sections_with_teasers/votes.htm Learn Preferences. Ask members of the legislator’s staff how they prefer to receive communication (email, fax, letter, etc.). Visit the District Office. Go in person to meet the legislator and members of staff in the district office. By entering your zip code into Catholic Charities Connecting faces to names USA’s E-Advocacy Tool, you can also have weekly ewill make your communications more mails sent to you that report how your Senators and personal and effective (See Representative voted that week and warn you about Conducting a Lobby Visit). upcoming votes with links to letters you can send Host a Site Visit. Invite directly to urge them to vote a certain way. Go here to your legislator to visit your sign up: agency (See Hosting a Site http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/megavote/ Visit). Be a Resource. Follow your site visit or initial contact with more detailed, accurate information and offer to be a resource. Track your Actions. Keep a record of the people with whom you interact, when you work with them, and what you discuss. This record will help with strategizing, and also will serve other members of staff who may assume your role in the future. Say Thank You. You will see this advice repeated often in these pages. ALWAYS thank your legislators and their staff both privately in letters and e-mails, and publicly in the media when possible. They will appreciate the recognition for working for good causes and remember that you contributed to their positive image.

Let CCUSA Put Voting Records at Your Fingertips

What should I do if my agency has already contacted our legislators? Keep in Touch. Update the legislator and his or her staff periodically about the work of your agency and key issues or challenges in the district. • Extend Invitations. Invite your legislator to major events, celebrations, or meetings in the community or at your agency, or simply encourage him or her to visit your agency again if time has passed since the last visit. Be sure to also encourage media to attend. Say Thank You. Thank your legislator again for his or her continued interest and support, and commend him or her for any help provided in securing victories for your issue area. •

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Tools You Can Use

That Powerful Pen: Write to Your Legislator Effectively
Writing your legislator a personal letter is an effective form of communication that allows you to explain your issue in detail and demonstrate how much constituents care about it. Decision-makers use written communication to take the pulse of the people they represent. Your correspondence can take any one of the forms below. Ask your legislator’s office staff how they prefer to receive mail, and do not be afraid to send a letter multiple ways: • Personal Letters from Constituents: These letters, especially from constituents directly impacted by an issue, are very effective and rarely go unanswered. Since threats of mail tampering (anthrax, etc.) have increased, mail service on Capitol Hill is slow. Send hard copies to a representative’s local office. Personal Letters from Leaders of Organizations: A letter on Catholic Charities letterhead should elicit a response. Fax: Handwritten, personal letters can be easily faxed directly to your legislator’s office. E-mail: Almost instantaneous, e-mail proves particularly effective when legislators are about to vote on your issue. See below for further tips on crafting savvy e-mails.

• • •

The following tips will help you correspond effectively with your legislators. Check out Catholic Charities USA’s EAdvocacy Tool below to link directly to contact information for your representatives and ready-to-send letters that you can quickly personalize on days when you want to make your voice heard, but lack the time to craft your own letter. Tips for Effective Letters Writing Emails Follow Up! Sample Letter to Members of Congress

It is in keeping with their dignity as persons that human beings should take an active part in government.
Pope John XXIII Peace on Earth, #73

Tips for Writing Effective Letters o Begin Correctly. Use the proper address and salutation to begin your letter. Find contact info for your legislators by zip code at http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/dbq/officials/. We recommend these formats: o The Honorable [Full Name of Senator] United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator [Last Name of Senator]:

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The Honorable [Full Name of Representative] United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative [Last Name]:

o

Be Succinct. Make your points clearly and concisely. Stick to one page and one specific issue, communicating just the key facts. Be Courteous. No matter how passionate you are about your issue, remember to be polite. You want to build a relationship and become a trusted future resource. Identify Yourself. State your reason for writing and your role within your agency in your first sentence. Identify the Problem. Give details about your issue, providing facts and experiences from your local perspective whenever possible. Identify the Bill. If you are writing about a particular bill, identify it by name and/or number. Remember that each chamber names its bills. House ; while bills are named H.R. . Senate bills are named S. Propose a Solution. Explain your views in support or opposition of a proposal, and what impact it would have on the community you serve.

o

Want to Use your Voice, but Don’t Have Time to Write? Catholic Charities USA Staff Can Help!
Connect to your representatives through Catholic Charities USA’s E-Advocacy Tool, and let the CCUSA Social Policy staff do the background work for you. • • • Visit http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/home/ Choose a current Action Alert! When you click on the link, you’ll be able to read background on the issue and current action in Congress. Quickly add a brief, personalized paragraph to the letter prewritten by CCUSA staff, adding information about your local community and agency. Fill in your contact info and hit SEND MESSAGE. Your 5 minutes will make an impact!

o

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o o o

Make your Ask. Ask your legislator to take a specific action. Request a Response. Request a specific response, and follow up. Say Thank You. Everyone likes to know that they make a difference. Thank your legislator for past action, and for their attention to your issue. Include Contact Info. Be sure to give your full name, phone number and e-mail address in case the legislator or members of staff have questions. Also, envelopes may be detached, so include your return address on your letter.

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Tips for Writing Effective E-mails E-mail has made it possible to communicate with your legislators right up until they vote on your issue. Many offices prefer to receive communication electronically, and most have developed procedures for how to receive e-mail and respond to it. Advocates have become savvy at using mass e-mail campaigns at strategic points to pressure members of Congress to vote for or against legislation. Catholic Charities USA’s E-Advocacy Tool sends e-mails directly to the member of staff who specializes on a particular issue, increasing their impact. Use the tips above to craft your email. Also, keep these additional things in mind: o Nail the Subject Line. In the chance that your e-mail is not opened, creating a clear subject line can still make an impact. Include your action request, for example: “Vote NO on H.R. .” Keep it Brief. E-mail is meant to be a brief, quick form of communication. Limit your correspondence to a few paragraphs, and use bullets or numbers where you can. Include Your Address. Be sure to include your postal mailing address to confirm that you are a constituent.

o

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Follow Up! Your legislator will very likely respond to your correspondence. If he or she did what you asked, respond immediately to say thank you for his or her support. If the response is vague or does not directly say what the legislator has done about the issue, write again and ask for clarification. Your persistence will show that you feel seriously about the issue, and expect your elected representatives to take it seriously also. You will also develop a relationship and credibility as a trusted source of information on the issue. Also, please report any meaningful interaction with or responses from your legislator to the member of the CCUSA Social Policy staff who handles your issue to help him or her better shape future advocacy work at the national level.

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Sample Letter to Members of Congress:

Providing Help. Creating Hope. January 9, 2005 Dear Representative, As the House moves into a new year and toward a vote on the Senate-approved budget reconciliation conference report, I am writing on behalf of Catholic Charities USA, one of the nation’s largest, private networks of social service organizations, with 1,789 local agencies and institutions providing essential services to more than 7.1 million people annually, to urge you and your colleagues to oppose a budget that will compromise the health and well-being of some the poorest and most vulnerable in our nation. The Senate-approved bill attempts to exercise fiscal discipline by cutting programs crucial to the wellbeing of low-income children, vulnerable families, the elderly and the disabled. The bill cuts back funding for child support enforcement, adds new provisions to Medicaid that will harm low-income recipients, raises TANF work requirements that put additional burdens on states, and cuts kinship foster care. Every day our agencies in local communities across the country witness the struggle that low-income families and individuals must go through to make ends meet. The funding and program changes proposed in this budget conference agreement will only serve to push low-income families and individuals further behind. On behalf of Catholic Charities USA, I strongly urge you to oppose a budget that will hurt the poorest and most vulnerable in our communities. Our Catholic tradition teaches that society, acting through government, has a special obligation to consider first the needs of the poor, yet the proposed budget cuts put a disproportionate burden on the poor – those who can least afford it. Sincerely,

For more examples of Catholic Charities USA’s letters to Congress, please visit http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=331&srcid=318.

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Tools You Can Use

It’s Your Call: Connecting with your Legislator by Phone
Calling your legislator allows you to communicate your views quickly and thus impact an issue almost immediately. Thus, the phone call proves a powerful tool when a vote is imminent and you want to ensure that your legislator votes a particular way. It is best to call the legislator’s Washington D.C. office, as messages taken in the home state or district offices may not be passed on immediately. To reach your legislator’s office, call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)-224-3121 and ask for your legislator by name. Calling the switchboard is just as fast as dialing the office directly, but to find direct dial numbers go to Catholic Charities USA’s E-Advocacy Tool: http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/dbq/officials/. Use the tips below to prepare to make an effective call. Before the Call During the Call After the Call

Before the Call • Know Your Issue. Decide which one or two points you want to make before you call. Practice. Create an outline or script and practice it. Practicing will boost your confidence and improve how you deliver your message.

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During the Call

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Ask for the staff member who handles your issue. If that person is not available, you should still speak with the staff member who answers the phone, who will pass on your message. Talking with the person who handles your issue can be most effective, while talking with the second will be more efficient. Be Brief. You will not have time to persuade or debate. Practicing your call beforehand will help you to fit in your key information in a few short minutes. Identify Yourself. Give your full name, your location, and your role in your agency. If you are a constituent, be sure to say so and say where you live. Identify Your Issue. Identify your issue or a bill by name if you can. Make it Local. Give an example of how the legislation would affect you, or would make a positive or negative impact on the legislator’s district and constituents. Ask for Support. Ask for your legislator’s position on legislation or the issue, and then urge him or her to support your position.

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Offer Additional Information. Offer further information to support your position. This can help build your relationship with the office and establish you as a trusted resource on your issue. Say Thank You. Remember to thank your legislator for considering your point of view, even if he or she does not agree. Leave a Message. If no one answers, be sure to leave a message identifying who you are, where you live, and whether you would like your legislator to support or oppose a bill. Staff members will listen and count the number of calls received for or against a bill.

After the Call • Record. Make a record of your call that includes the name of the member of staff with whom you spoke, your legislator’s view on the issue or bill, what you asked your legislator to do, and any other important information from the call. You will want this written history of your communication with an office as you work to build a relationship over time. Follow Up. This written record can also guide your follow up steps. If your legislator takes your position on a bill or issue, make sure to send a thank you letter commending the action. If you promised to send more information, always follow through to establish yourself as trustworthy expert on your issue. If your legislator did not vote as you would have liked, continue to call and write about the issue. Explain politely but clearly that you are unhappy with the position and reiterate why you believe yours is important.

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Example Call Script Greeting: “Good morning ___________” Introduction: “My name is Jane Smith, and I am calling as both a registered voter in ‘Anytown’ and the director of ‘Program’ at Catholic Charities of Anytown.” Purpose of Call: “First, I’d like to thank you for your support of affordable housing for low income families and your vote last May for increased funding under the ‘Bill Name’. The program has given 120 families that we serve at Catholic Charities of Anytown a new start in safer neighborhoods, while creating 24 new construction jobs for local workers as the units were built.” “I urge you to continue to champion affordable housing and vote ‘yes’ for a $48 million funding increase to the program in the bill, ‘S. ##’ that will be debated on the floor this week. Please urge your colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee to do the same.” Thanks: “Thank you very much, ___________” for your time and for considering my concerns and request. Please contact me at 444-4444 if I can provide more information about the need for this program or its impact in your district.”

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Tools You Can Use

Face to Face: How to Visit your Legislator
Conducting a personal visit with your legislator, in the home or Washington D.C. office, proves an effective way of delivering your message about an important issue. Partnering with a constituent served by your agency who is directly impacted by an issue can have an even greater impact. Be sure to prepare and practice with everyone who goes on the visit to make sure that each person has an integral role. Use the tips below to prepare for an effective visit. Before the Visit During the Visit After the Visit

Before the Visit To request a visit, contact your legislator’s scheduler (at least a few weeks before the date you would like to visit) and communicate who you are and the agency you represent, how much time you would like (15-30 minutes), the names of others who will join you, and the issue you wish to discuss. To find contact information for members of Congress, see http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/home/. Once you have scheduled your visit, be sure to: • Do Your Homework. Be sure to learn about your legislator before your visit. Understand his or her priority issues, so you can draw connections between your issue and those priorities, and know how he or she has supported your position in the past or addressed your issue in the home district. Find legislators’ web sites through Catholic Charities USA’s E• Only you can be the expert about the needs of your Advocacy Tool at

Want to Visit, but Short on Prep Time? Let CCUSA Help!

local community. However, CCUSA Social Policy staff can provide you with analysis of current national politics that might impact how your legislator responds to your request. • CCUSA Issue Briefs will have background information that might be useful as you create your One-Pagers.

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http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/home/. Create a One-Pager. Create a succinct, one-page description of your issue or program. Use bullet points, facts about the impact of a program on constituents, and personal stories. See Creating Fact Sheets below. Practice. Practice delivering your message. If more than one person is going, involve everyone but clearly define a leader and who will say what. Think of counter-arguments to your position, and how you will respond to them. Call to Confirm. Call the office the day before your visit to confirm. If on the day of the visit you are running late, call ahead to warn the office. The busy staff will appreciate the notice.

During the Visit • Arrive Early. Be sure to arrive early. Legislators are very busy and sometimes fall behind schedule. Be prepared to be flexible, and if you have multiple visits in one day, allow plenty of time between them to account for long appointments and time needed to find the next office. Be Courteous. Be polite, but direct when you interact with your legislator or member of staff. Do not worry if you do not actually meet with your legislator. Members of staff are the experts on their issues inform the legislator regularly, and often actually write legislation. Introduce Yourself and Your Issue. State the purpose of your visit - why you are there, the agency you represent and what you want to talk about. Never assume that your legislator or a member of staff will remember you from a previous visit, as they see many people regularly. Be Local and Political. Use examples from your personal experience and work at your agency to bring a human face to the issue. Be politically savvy, connecting your issue to your legislator’s priorities and the best interests of constituents and the legislator’s community. Answer Questions. Be prepared to answer questions. If you do not know an answer, be honest and promise to get back to the legislator and staff (and do!) Make Your Ask. Ask what position your legislator takes on the issue. Ask even if you think you already know, hearing how your legislator communicates his or her point of view will help you to better craft your message in the future. Then, make a specific request for an action that you would like your legislator to take. Establish Next Steps. Determine who will follow up with certain action steps after the visit. Will you send more information? Will a member of staff call you after speaking with the legislator? Be sure to leave your full contact information.

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After the Visit • • Thank Your Legislator. Send a thank you soon after your visit. Thank members of the legislator’s staff, if you met with them, as they often go un-thanked. Keep Your Promises. If you promised to find answers to questions or send more information, do it! Establish yourself as a valuable resource. Periodic follow up to check on legislation will also keep attention on your issue. Record!: Take notes, or mental notes during your visit and record them to use the next time you prepare for a visit to the same office. Take Action. Perhaps you learned something in your visit that can motivate a new letter campaign, media strategy or grassroots effort. If your visit was particularly positive, you can inform the media and help your member look good in the press. Be Patient. It can take numerous repeated visits to an office before you can get an agreement to act from your legislator. Be patient, but persistent!

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Tools You Can Use

Show and Tell: How to Host a Site Visit
When elected officials are able to see a program working to help people in the communities they represent, they are often more likely to connect with an issue and be more supportive of programs and solutions that help the poor and vulnerable. Site visits can have a direct impact on legislative decisions made in Washington. Legislative recesses are good times to invite your Members of Congress, as they will be at home to work with constituents (Legislative calendars are continually updated at the Library of Congress web site http://www.thomas.gov/home/schedules.html ). Remember to think beyond your Congressional delegation. Invite your governor, state legislators and even city or local government officials to visit your programs. You will not only raise awareness of issues confronting your clients, but also establish relationships at all levels of decision-making that will ultimately help to advance a more just society. The following tips will help you to plan your site visit: Before the Site Visit Day of the Site Visit After the Site Visit

Before the Site Visit To initiate the invitation, write a brief letter to the Member at his or her local district office (Find contact information at http://www.capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/dbq/officials), or to your state or local official. Briefly introduce yourself and your organization and state the purpose of the letter. Invite the Member of Congress to visit on a specified date, or mention that you would like to arrange a time for the Member to visit your site while he or she is home. • • Plan Ahead. If possible, send your invitation six weeks ahead of time. Also, define the goals you have for the visit and plan your agenda accordingly. Be Specific. In your letter, explain why you would like the legislator to visit, citing an example of the benefits your program provides to those you serve and your community. Include specifics about the visit – date, time, location, others who will be invited (including media), and an agenda for the visit. Use Connections. Your invitation may be more effective if it comes from someone noteworthy in the agency, a board member, or a community leader. Invite the Media. Media will attract the legislator and showcase the good work that your agency does. Plan media coverage with the legislator’s press secretary and then follow up with individual media to confirm. Be sure to see diocesan rules for media work. Follow Up. Call the scheduler in the local district office to ask if your letter has been received and if the Congressperson will be able to visit your agency. Also, try to speak to the staffperson who works on related policy issues to your visit so that he or she is also aware of your request and can plan to also attend. Be Flexible. Be patient and prepared to change your date or time to accommodate a legislator’s busy schedule.

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Do the Details. If the official accepts your invitation, ask if any special arrangements need to be made, and confirm details with the scheduler. Prepare Handouts. Prepare take-away handouts for your guests that showcase your programs and the impact they have on constituents and the community.

Today’s the Day • Follow an Agenda. Create an agenda that includes a short presentation, a tour, personal encounters and photo opportunities. Be sure members of your staff know their responsibilities. Introduce Impact. During the site visit, explain to your guests the scope of programs you decide to highlight. Include how many people you serve, and how the program impacts families, the community and the local economy. Explain why supporting programs like yours is important for a healthy district. Engage Encounters. Create space for • See the following link to search by zip code for media interaction between the outlets in your area that you might invite to visit your guests, your staff and agency with the legislator: those you serve. It is helpful for Members of http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/dbq/media/. Congress to connect personally with those • The link above also has ideas, in addition to those who benefit from the provided in this manual, for working with media. program and see the changes in people's • CCUSA Issue Briefs will have background lives that good service information on a variety of issues that might be useful programs make. as you create handouts about your programs. Take Photos. Capture photos of your guests with staff and clients. Be sure to send copies to your legislators, as they always like to capture their interactions with the community in their district. Invite Supporters. Invite outside, and perhaps unexpected guests who are connected to your programs to interact with legislators to demonstrate how the programs have a broad impact on your community. Consider business leaders, educators, health care or other professionals, etc. as co-advocates for your program. Make a Pitch. Let your guests know how you would like to see them act in the future on your issue. Be specific, and if legislation is pending, refer to it by name. Say Thank You. Remember to thank your guests for taking time to spend with you.

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Hosting a Site Visit and Need a Hand? Use CCUSA’s E-Advocacy Tool:

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After the Site Visit

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Send a Thank You. Send a formal thank you to the legislator and staff members who may have helped with the visit. Follow up: Be sure to send any additional materials that you may have promised during the site visit. Send copies of photos and press coverage that resulted. Continue to build your relationship by contacting the legislator and staff periodically. Thank the Press: If the press did not attend the visit, send a news release and photos from the day. If members of the press were present, send a thank you along with any photos you have to share. Update your Catholic Connections. Send news releases to the diocesan office, the local Catholic press, and Catholic Charities USA. Also, clip and send any press coverage that results from the site visit. Advocates at all levels will do their jobs better when they are knowledgeable about relationships that legislators have developed with their local Catholic Charities agencies.

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Tools You Can Use

Your Expert Advice: How to Give Legislative Testimony
You or someone on your staff may be asked to testify at a hearing held by a Congressional Committee, a state legislative body, or even a local school board. Remember that you have been asked because you are an expert about your issue and have real experience at the agency with how it impacts citizens. To use that experience and testify effectively, be sure to prepare well. For federal testimony, you will need to prepare both a written testimony to submit for the record, and your oral testimony. The tips below can help you prepare and be adapted to local presentations. As always, be sure to let the Social Policy staff at CCUSA know if you have been asked to testify. We can provide you with information or analysis about the members of the committee and their positions on your issue, and provide you with support as you prepare to come to Washington and during your visit. Tips for Writing Your Written Statement Tips for Delivering Your Testimony

Tips for Writing Your Written Statement Written testimony delivered at a Congressional hearing will be entered into the Congressional Record after the hearing. Legislators, the staff, and the public will refer to it for further information on your issue and the solutions you support and highlight. When preparing testimony, consider the following: • Create a Cover Page. The first page of your testimony should act as a coversheet. Include the name of the committee, the date and subject of the hearing, and your name, agency name, your title, and the location of your agency. A Brief Introduction. In a few paragraphs, say

So, You’ve Been Invited to Testify… Let CCUSA Help Your Prepare!
• CCUSA Issue Briefs have background information on issues that might prove useful as you draft your testimony. The Social Policy Web site also has archives of testimony submitted and delivered by members and staff in our Catholic Charities network. You can search by subject and find examples of successful testimony here: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity /Page.aspx?pid=330&srcid=331. CCUSA Social Policy staff can guide you as you draft your testimony and accompany you to hearings in Washington.

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who you are, give a synopsis of your program (characteristics of your clients, how many people you serve, data on successes), and thank the committee for inviting you to testify. • Give an Outline. Following your introduction, state the central message and main ideas of your testimony. Be National and Local. Show how your issue impacts the entire nation, but use specific examples and personal stories from your local agency work. Consider contacting agencies in the districts of legislators on the committee to personalize examples to their experiences. Give Solutions. Show how your solutions can help to fix the problem. Also, talk about how they could be improved. Provide specific recommendations for actions legislators could take to move your solution forward.

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Tips for Delivering Your Testimony The day has arrived for your hearing. It is okay to be nervous! Yet, do not be intimidated. Remember that legislators are people like you who need your expertise to make good decisions. Try to relax, and keep in mind some of these tips: • Get Off to a Solid Start. Arrive early so you can settle in, greet other presenters, and prepare. When it is your turn, speak to the legislators, greet them sincerely, and then speak in a confident, clear voice so that all can hear. Try not to rush! Be Professional. Throughout your testimony, be courteous and be honest. If you are asked a question that you cannot answer, say so and then follow up with the committee. Listen. Pay attention to other testimony so you do not restate an idea already mentioned. Respect the Time. Find out before you prepare your testimony how much time you will have. Communicate your most important points at the beginning, and practice repeatedly so to not run out of time before you finish. It will help to focus your testimony – you will not have time to cover everything! Strive for Balance. Use facts and data, but balance them with personal stories and examples that make the issue real for legislators. Simplify your message for legislators who cannot be experts in every issue, yet respect the fact that they are well informed and likely do know a good deal about your issue.

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Speak, do not Read. Reading your testimony will bore legislators. Make eye contact as much as possible and do not worry about covering every word (remember your written testimony will go on record!). Large font, wide spacing, and practice before a “committee” of your staff will help you gain comfort with your testimony. Close Well. At the end of your time, summarize your main points, thank the committee for inviting you, and invite questions. Prepare for Questions. As you practice, have your staff ask you questions and practice answering them.

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Tools You Can Use

The Power of Press: How To Work Effectively with the Media
The media – print, radio and television – are extremely powerful tools in your advocate’s toolbox. Getting your message in the media can influence the position of your legislator both directly and by changing public opinion about your issue. Members of your legislator’s staff check local news media daily, clipping stories that mention the legislator and measuring the priorities and concerns of constituents by reading news stories and letters to the editor. As an advocate, you can use the media effectively to influence the public’s understanding of your issue. Every day you witness improvements in the lives of the people you serve as a result of strong programs and policies. You can provide a contrast to the overwhelming amount of stories that are far too often sensationalized or negative. Use the tips below to begin constructing a media strategy that will result in stories that inform and generate positive support in your community. Make sure to follow your agency’s protocol regarding contact with the media. Establish a Media List Establish Relationships with Media Contacts Decide if your News is Newsworthy How to Write a News Release How to Write a Letter to the Editor How to Write an Op-Ed

Establish a Media List When you establish your media contact list, think about whether your issue and resources warrant a local, state or national media campaign. Remember that the larger the campaign, the more time and resources you will need. • Search for media in your area and find updated names, titles and contact information for staff at each media outlet using Catholic Charities USA’s E-Advocacy Tool http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/dbq/media/. Check your local Chamber of Commerce or library for existing media listings. Once you have completed your list of media outlets, call each to verify the reporter who covers your issue (issue areas are known as “beats”). Reporters and editors change often, and you want to be sure to get your message to the right person. Be sure to include local and community television and radio stations in your list, as well as ethnic media. Local media often reserve time for public service announcements.

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Establish Relationships with Media Contacts Collaborating with the media takes consistent effort and patience, but does not need to be daunting. As you would do with legislators, aim to establish trust with reporters long before you would like them to write about your work or event. Become a trusted resource on your

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issue. As you begin, read and watch news reported in the outlets you would like to target to learn about issues covered and the interests of individual reporters. • If you can, designate a consistent “press person” in your agency to serve as spokesperson or public relations representative. This helps to ensure consistency in your messages. When you make your initial call, offer yourself as a respected and experienced source about your issue and offer to send more information about it. • Be persistent. The media outlet may not be able to report on your issue at a given time. Don’t give up! Continue to work to establish relationships. • Reporters are busy. Do not take it personally if the reporter you reach does not seem Search for media in your area and find updated particularly receptive. names, titles and contact information for staff at Ask if he or she is on each media outlet using Catholic Charities USA’s deadline or has time to E-Advocacy Tool talk, or if you should http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/dbq/medi speak with another a/ reporter. The reporter will appreciate your courtesy. See sample news releases archived here: • When a media contact http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page calls to request .aspx?pid=792&srcid=330 information from you, respond promptly (remembering CCUSA Social Policy staff can guide you as you deadlines) and honestly. craft your media strategy. If you do not know an answer, offer to do research and get back to the reporter. Never invent an answer! • Brief staff members before any interview with a media outlet. It often helps to prepare a few short, catchy statements about your issue to increase your chances of getting your message included in a story. Be sure to thank reporters and editors for publishing about your issue. Keep in regular contact, providing updates that the reporter may not be aware of about your issue, invite him or her to your agency, conferences, and events. Continue to extend invitations even if you contact cannot often attend.

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You Want to Harness the Power of Media, but Do Not Know Where to Begin… Use CCUSA as a Resource!

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Decide if your News is Newsworthy Be aware that there are multiple types of news stories:

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Hard News: Hard news relates the facts of what is happening – the who, what, when, where and why of the world. Soft News: Soft news provides a more in depth look at issues. Soft news stories are not as time sensitive, and often include features and human-interest stories. Editorials: Editorials express opinions about current events and are often written by members of the editorial board of a publication. Op-Eds: Op-eds are opinion pieces often written by a high-profile individual or leader in a community about a current event or issue of importance.

News stories should be timely, local (even if the issue is of national importance), and be of interest to the public. When pitching a feature story to a reporter, try to emphasize how the program or policy impacts the community. How to Write a News Release Reporters and editors judge a news release in seconds, so you must tell your story well and concisely to capture their attention. Use the tips below: • Format Well o Use 8 ½ x 11-inch paper and 1-inch margins. o Use bold text to emphasize headlines. o Do not split a paragraph at the bottom of a page. Move the entire paragraph to the next page instead if necessary. o If your press release runs onto a second page, put the word “more” at the bottom center of the first page. o Put three number symbols after the last paragraph to indicate the end of the release. Write Well o Make sure your first sentence grabs the reader’s attention. o The first paragraph should contain the five Ws – who, what, when, where, and why. o Write in a reverse pyramid style with the most important information first. Start with a general summary of key information, give specifics and background information in the second paragraph, and tell readers how to get more information in the third. o Keep it simple. Avoid using too many adjectives and use short paragraphs. Know Your Audience Well o Know the audience of a publication. Write your news

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release from the angle that will most interest the readership. A good press release tells the audience why they should care. Ask yourself, “How can people relate to this?”

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Maintain Relationships Well o Each media outlet has its preferred method of receiving releases. Find out if you should send by mail, fax, or e-mail for each. Do not send email attachments as they can block an inbox or take too long to download. o Reporters have deadlines. Try to send your release at least five days before an event. o Provide as much contact information as possible. Journalists may not have time to call you twice. Submit Sample Editorials. In addition to a news release, you can provide sample editorials about your issue. Smaller papers sometimes use them without changing them, and larger papers may print the letters with only small changes.

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How to Write a Letter to the Editor Well-crafted letters to the editor can be highly effective advocacy tools. Legislators know that they are one of the most widely read sections of newspapers and magazines, and they use letters to the editor to monitor the thoughts of their constituents. Letters can also convince editorial writers to take a stand on an issue or reporters to explore it in further detail. Use the tips below: • Check the Style. Investigate the publication’s preferred length, style and format by reading letters currently in the publication and by looking at submission requirements either in the publication or on its Web site. Be Concise. Many publications often prefer letters to be 250 words or less. Check if your local paper has a specific word limit. Be Quick. Timeliness is key as publications often publish letters responding to articles, editorials or other letters the day after they appear. Try to respond quickly through e-mail or fax. Connect to your local media electronically through CCUSA’s E-Advocacy Tool http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/dbq/media/. Answer Back. Your letter is more likely to be published if you respond to another article or letter. Be sure to reference the article or letter in your response, citing what upset or pleased you about it. Capture Attention. Capture the reader’s attention with a strong first sentence. Then, use active verbs and avoid using many adjectives. Stay Focused. Limit your letter to one topic. Stay Local. Try to connect readers to your issue by including how it will impact your local community. Personal stories can also be effective. Be Honest. Be sure to check your quotes and facts. Be persuasive but never resort to personal attacks. Identify Yourself. Remember to include your name, agency name, your position at the agency, address and telephone number(s). The publication will likely want to verify that the sender actually wrote the letter. Say Thank You. Be sure to follow up published letters with a thank you to the Editor.

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Keep CCUSA Informed. Please send copies of your published letters to the Social Policy Department at Catholic Charities USA, so that the lobbying staff remains aware of the messages seen by your legislators in their home districts.

How to Write an Op-Ed Use the tips below as you consider submitting an op-ed. • • • Check the Style. Read the publication’s op-ed section often to see typical length and format. See the publication’s Web site or call to find out submission guidelines. Create Your Op-Ed. Create a draft of your op-ed using the tips above for letters to the editor. Make Your Pitch. Send a letter to “pitch” the importance of your op-ed to the publication and attach a draft. Have the most prominent person at your organization sign the op-ed as the “author” even if he or she did not write it, and include the person’s position with the name. Be Timely. Submit your pitch letter and draft as early as possible so that you can make requested changes before the deadline. Respect Exclusivity. Some publications require that an op-ed be submitted and published exclusively by them. Be sure to check before sending your op-ed to multiple sources. Say Thank You. Be sure to thank editors for published op-eds. Keep CCUSA Informed. Please send copies of your published op-eds to the Social Policy Department at Catholic Charities USA, so that the lobbying staff remains aware of the messages seen by your legislators in their home districts.

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Sample News Release
For immediate release: August 22, 2006 For information, contact: Shelley Borysiewicz Manager of Media Relations Catholic Charities USA (703) 236-6218

[email protected]

Catholic Charities USA Urges Greater Flexibility in Restrictive Proposed Federal Welfare Regulations
Alexandria, VA—Catholic Charities USA today warned that proposed new federal welfare regulations could result in a significant setback for millions of families seeking to rise from poverty into self-sufficiency. “While welfare reform may have helped millions of families, these proposed regulations constitute a major step backwards and will start the second decade of this program in the wrong direction,” said Candy Hill, senior vice president for social policy at Catholic Charities USA.

Catholic Charities USA, one of the nation’s largest private networks of social services agencies working to reduce poverty and support families, made pointed comments about the proposed regulations and detailed suggestions for changes in a filing today with the Department of Health and Human Services. The comment letter was filed with the government on the 10th anniversary of the landmark 1996 law to reform the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. “Many of our local agencies provide TANF-related services through agreements with government entities,” wrote Hill. “As a long-term partner in efforts to help low-income families leave welfare for self-sufficiency, we are concerned that the new TANF changes will significantly limit innovative welfare programs and setback the progress made by millions of low-income families.” “Catholic Charities USA’s position has been to support welfare policies that: protect human life and dignity; strengthen family life; encourage and reward work; preserve a safety net for the vulnerable; and expand life-long learning opportunities for the poor,” Hill added. The 1996 welfare reform law created a new public policy direction and restructured the nation’s welfare programs, placing time limits on eligibility and seeking to get more recipients into training programs and jobs. Catholic Charities has expressed concern that, instead of expanding on the successes of the 1996 reforms, the proposed changes in the program will undermine past progress by imposing unfair burdens on married welfare recipients and families. “While welfare reform has helped millions of people leave long-term welfare dependency, many former welfare recipients are struggling to meet their most basic needs,” Hill wrote in the comment letter. “Catholic Charities agencies see these families on a daily basis and we have seen a significant increase in people seeking food, clothing and housing assistance services over the last four years as more families leave welfare for low-paying or no jobs.” Specifically, Catholic Charities USA said that the proposed rules will significantly restrict education and training opportunities and will limit the positive programs that states and their community partners such as Catholic Charities have developed to help low-income families transition to the workforce. During the early years following passage of the 1996 welfare reform bill, states were given flexibility to help families find employment. But even during the strong economic conditions of the late 1990s, only welfare recipients with the fewest employment barriers were able to find employment -- with most employed in low-paying jobs with limited benefits or mobility. Research over the past decade has demonstrated that the most effective path to self-sufficiency for welfare recipients is through a combination of work and education. Today, states are experiencing more challenges in helping families find sustainable employment because current welfare recipients are more likely to have substantial barriers to employment, and Catholic

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late 1990s, only welfare recipients with the fewest employment barriers were able to find employment -- with most employed in low-paying jobs with limited benefits or mobility. Research over the past decade has demonstrated that the most effective path to self-sufficiency for welfare recipients is through a combination of work and education. Today, states are experiencing more challenges in helping families find sustainable employment because current welfare recipients are more likely to have substantial barriers to employment, and Catholic Charities USA said that the regulations should reduce – not increase – the barriers. Hill wrote that the proposed rule wrongly continues antiquated policies that require married welfare recipients to meet a higher work participation rate compared to single parents. This will limit the ability of states to serve low-income married families and will require many parents to find second jobs to meet the work requirements as well as piece together additional child care and transportation. “The Catholic community has consistently affirmed the vital importance of marriage for raising children,” Hill wrote. “Children do better economically, emotionally, and spiritually when raised by parents in the context of a stable, healthy marriage. We fear that including separate state programs in work participation calculations will further exacerbate the challenges states face and make it harder for two-parent families to receive TANF benefits.” Catholic Charities USA’s recommendations included changing the proposed rules to provide greater flexibility in defining work activities, on-the-job training, and qualified state vocational education programs. It also urged the government to provide support such as child care, health care, and transportation assistance to families seeking to make a lasting transition to selfsufficiency.

To see more news releases from Catholic Charities USA, please visit http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/news/national.cfm.

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Sample Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: Ten years ago this month, sweeping changes were made to our nation’s welfare laws. Now, as we approach the anniversary of this landmark, new changes made to those welfare laws could sabotage the success millions of families have made to become self-sufficient and limit opportunities for those still on welfare. The new law significantly narrows the ability of states and their community partners, such as Catholic Charities, to help low-income families transition to self-sufficiency. If we are going help all families become independent, government must provide them with ample opportunities to gain the necessary skills to do so. Unfortunately, the new welfare changes restrict the ability of hard working low-income people to move forward to better jobs by limiting education and training opportunities. Also, as a result of the new changes, thousands of children are at risk of losing their welfare benefits if their parents fail to meet unrealistic work requirements. Catholic social teaching emphasizes the importance of work as a means of participating in society. However, it is not appropriate to teach this ethic by bargaining with the well being and safety of children and families. Further, the law places additional pressures on married welfare recipients by asking them to work more than single parents. The Catholic community has consistently affirmed the vital importance of marriage for raising children. Children do better when raised by parents in the context of a healthy marriage. Unfortunately, changes to the welfare law also create a disincentive for families to stay intact. We are calling on the administration to support policies that strengthen marriage and provide better opportunities for vulnerable families develop the skills necessary to be independent. Sincerely, Your Name Title Organization Address and other contact information

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Sample Op-Ed

Opinion: Making the Right Repairs to a Broken Immigration System
Providing Help. Creating Hope. Our nation’s immigration system is broken, separating families with bureaucratic backlogs, keeping 11 million undocumented workers in the shadows and causing undue hardship to those who are seeking to build a new life in America. How our nation’s leaders fix this broken immigration system will say a great deal about who we are and what we value as a nation. To make the comprehensive repairs that are really needed to this broken system, Congress needs a better set of plans, a different set of tools and stronger political will. America should have an immigration policy that promotes the dignity of individuals and supports families as the most important unit of society. Catholic Charities USA’s position on immigration reform is based on more than 100 years of experience in aiding and employing immigrants. Each year, Catholic Charities agencies help more than half a million immigrants and refugees with legal services, language instruction, job training and placement, and social services. Our agencies are witness to the incredible capacity for hard work and strong family life of newcomers who are looking to succeed in their adopted country. At the same time, Catholic Charities staff and volunteers each day observe the unjust and counterproductive effects of U.S. immigration policies which separate families and undermine workplace fairness. Catholic social teaching instructs us to recognize the natural rights of every human being, including the right to migrate. And our experience reminds us of our nation’s history as a welcoming home for people in search of a better life. As the U.S. Senate moves forward on immigration reform legislation, I strongly encourage senators to seek comprehensive reform that protects U.S. security, puts undocumented laborers and their families on the path to lawful permanent residence and citizenship, and creates greater legal avenues for necessary workers to enter this country. Our nation’s laws must give undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. the opportunity to earn the right to remain – provided they pass security and criminal background checks. In addition, we agree with business groups who want greater legal means by which needed workers can be admitted, both temporarily and permanently, to fill available jobs. At the same time, our government should assure that worker visa programs adequately protect the wages and working conditions of U.S. and immigrant workers. It’s shameful when our government policies keep families apart when we should be seeking to keep

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families intact. Currently, 1 million applications are pending for family members to become lawful permanent residents, and the average processing time is more than a year. Families are the cornerstone of a strong society, and more visas should be made available to ensure family unity. Make no mistake, we agree that immigration reform should include improved security to protect our nation from terrorists and criminals who are seeking entry to the United States. We believe that effective enforcement requires smart inspections and screening processes, fair proceedings, efficient processing, as well as strategies for cracking down on smugglers. These broad reforms will better integrate and promote the success of newcomers to our nation while also improving the economic prospects, health, labor protections, and stability of all U.S. residents. Human dignity represents the precondition and ultimate end of a just society. The opportunity to reform our nation’s immigration system is also an opportunity to advance the cause of human dignity. We must not waste it.

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Tools You Can Use

Face the Facts: How to Create Effective Fact Sheets
As an advocate, you know that one of your main tasks is educating about your issue. You must raise awareness of problems and solutions in the public, in the media, and among elected officials and decision makers. Fact sheets are 1-2 page documents (one is best) that educate about your issue and communicate your position and solutions. Written clearly and concisely, fact sheets make your case without exceeding the time or attention span of your readers. Fact sheets should be altered to fit each specific audience, when possible. The tips below will help you structure an effective fact sheet for any audience.

Creating an Effective Fact Sheet
Plan Before You Write o o Choose ONE topic. Keep it simple. If you have more than one subject to cover, make separate fact sheets. Know your audience and what they already know about your topic. Consider your goals: What do you want your readers to understand? What action do you want • We’ve already done the research. CCUSA Issue them to take? Briefs and One-Pagers contain background Make sure to include information on a variety of issues. The briefs include facts, not opinions. Use the Catholic social teaching behind our position, data that you have general information about the problem and current gathered at your agency, solutions that we support. Use them as a base for and create charts or your fact sheet and then add specific local needs and graphs for data where situations. possible. If you refer to research or reports on your issue, be • See CCUSA Issue Briefs here: sure to cite the sources of http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.a the information. spx?pid=332&srcid=659

Too Busy to Create that Fact Sheet? Let CCUSA Help!

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Design a User-Friendly Fact Sheet o o o o o Identify your agency clearly on the fact sheet; use a logo if possible. Keep the fact sheet from one to two pages. Develop a clear message and use simple language to communicate that message. Use bullets, question-and-answer, or subheadings to break up information into smaller portions. Use few numbers. If using numbers, try to put them in graph, chart or picture form so they are easy to understand.

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Make it Easy to Take Action o o o Provide contact information– a name, telephone number, e-mail address and Website address – for those who want to learn more. Provide other sources or links for further information. Be clear about the specific action you want readers to take and give them the tools to do so (phone numbers, event dates, talking points, etc).

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Tools You Can Use

Stronger Together: Building and Working in Coalitions
Building a coalition around a shared goal or common issue can strengthen your advocacy work. Many voices speaking together make more noise than those same voices can on their own. Working in coalition also allows organizations to share resources and avoid spending time and energy reinventing what another has already done. To be effective, coalitions need commitment, strong leadership and hard work. Working in coalition may not always make sense for your issue or staff resources. The sections below will help you evaluate whether working in coalition is wise, and if so, how to build a coalition and maximize the impact that your collaboration has on the lives of those you serve. Benefits of Working in Coalitions Is Coalition Work Right for Your Agency? Building a Coalition Choosing Partners Create a Mission Statement Create Your Coalition Structure and Action Strategy Evaluate and Celebrate

Benefits of Working in Coalitions • • Strength in Numbers. In a democracy, strength lies in numbers. A collective voice is more likely to be heard than individual voices. Save Time and Effort. In a coalition, you can deliver a consistent message over and over again, yet the work of developing a message and strategy only needs to be done once, freeing staff resources at member organizations for other work. Grab Attention. Your goal is to increase the visibility of your issue. Coalitions between unlikely partners will help attract media and government interest. Share Expertise. Joining a coalition expands your agency’s web of connections and the staff expertise available to address your issue. Likewise, your staff knowledge can make another organization’s efforts more effective. Share Support. Coalitions provide motivation and support, both during and after a campaign.

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Is Coalition Work Right for Your Agency? Coalitions require work and commitment. Not every circumstance requires or would be helped by coalition work. Think about the amount of time that your staff would have to commit to the tasks and responsibilities of the coalition work, and how the coalition work would impact the services you provide. Consider the possibility of joining a coalition for a short time, or to work only on a specific issue. If joining the coalition is not the right choice, can you work to support the coalition in some way without the full commitment of membership? If you do decide to join, be sure to help your staff understand why the new responsibilities and participation are important.

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Building Coalitions
Choose Your Partners So you have decided that you want to form a coalition to advocate on a main issue. The first step in building your coalition is identifying and recruiting other members. Typically, coalitions work with organizations that have similar goals or areas of work. However, coalition members have begun to try to broaden their support base and reach by recruiting partners from a variety of fields. As you think creatively about potential partners, ask yourself these questions: • • • • Do we share the same goals related to our issue? Does the potential partner seem interested? Would the potential partner participate reliably in coalition activities? Does the potential partner have name recognition or a community leader who would add credibility to the coalition?

Start with groups that are impacted by your issue, and people you know. As you build the coalition, invite suggestions for other potential members, but remember to seek members who trust each other and who are committed to the work. Create a Mission Statement Once you have formed your coalition, members should come to an agreement on the mission of the coalition. A mission statement can provide a guidepost for the group’s efforts and motivation during challenging moments. Your mission statement will be defined by the issue that brought you together, and members’ vision about how to address it. Keep the mission statement broad enough to allow your approach and work to adjust to changing contexts. Create Your Coalition Structure and Action Strategy To function most effectively to impact your issue and the people you serve, your coalition must have a structure for moving the work forward and making decisions. All members should participate in creating this structure, as they will all have to work within it. Be flexible and allow the structure to change over time to respond to new needs, keeping in mind your original mission. Initially, consider the following: • Leadership. Who will lead? How will your coalition choose leaders? What responsibilities will leaders have? Strong leaders may have great experience with the issue, motivate members to maintain enthusiasm and involvement, and bring community connections to the group. Create clear leaders who will manage the work of the coalition. Decision Making. How will you include all members in decision-making? What will your process be? Remember that representatives will come to the coalition from diverse organizations with different opinions. To diffuse tension, everyone should feel included in discussion and decision-making. Representatives. The group should choose one or a few spokespeople to represent the coalition. Also, choose representatives responsible for carrying messages between the coalition and their organizations.

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Communication. Communication is key. How will you ensure messages get to every member? Also, all members should approve documents produced by the coalition before they become public.

After you have created the coalition structure, the group will need to design an action strategy to move the work forward. The plan should be flexible to allow you to change tactics as you work on an issue, yet have many smaller tasks on the path toward the larger goal (ex., educational forums, lobbying campaigns, publicity campaigns, press conferences, etc.) to keep coalition members feeling involved and invested. Coalition meetings should provide space for progress reports that hold members accountable for their responsibilities to the group. Evaluate and Celebrate To avoid falling into a rut, be sure to evaluate your action strategy, tactics, and group communication on a regular basis. Be flexible and creative, willing to change what has not worked well. Finally, reward hard work and celebrate your successes! Celebrating successes boosts morale and commitment to the cause at hand, and helps to build trust and shared experience between members of your coalition. Rewards and celebrations do not always have to include formal parties. Celebrating with a cake at a meeting or sending thank you notes to coalition members recognizes hard work. You can also reward membership in a coalition by providing professional development trainings or access to “insider information” about your issue.

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Part IV: Appendices and Resources

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Appendix A

Catholic Social Teaching Resources
This first appendix outlines numerous resources for further study of Catholic social teaching. The resources are divided into those with the Primary Authority of the Catholic Church – the Bible, the Papal Encyclicals, Bishops’ pastoral letters and the Catechism – and those with Secondary Authority such as publications written by people and organizations outside the Catholic Church about its social teaching.

Primary Authorities

The New American Bible The Papal Encyclicals Bishop’s Pastoral Letters Catechism of the Catholic Church Books on the Key Themes of Catholic Social Teaching Books on the Theology of Catholic Social Thought Outlines of the History and Themes of the Papal Encyclicals Books on Policy Development and Advocacy National Organizations Using Catholic Social Teaching in Their Work

Secondary Authorities

Primary Authorities
The documents in each of the following sections are followed by links to online sources where you can access the text. Additionally, the following resources contain a comprehensive library of sources from all of the categories listed below. • The Holy See: This is the Web site of the Vatican. You can search and access the texts of the Catechism, Church teaching, Papal writings and addresses, etc. Visit the site at http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm. The Theology Library: This online resource of Spring Hope College provides resources and links to topics and further resources ranging from Church teaching, encyclicals and Bishops’ letters to explanations of the liturgy and topics of social justice. Visit the site at http://www.shc.edu/theolibrary/index.htm. The site also contains a list of Catholic Internet directories, which you can access at http://www.shc.edu/theolibrary/dir.htm.

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The Bible
The Hebrew Scriptures often refer to justice and provide guidance and foundations for Catholic Social Teaching. Some of these references follow: • • Micah 6 – The Lord requires us, “To do justice, love tenderly, and walk humbly with your God.” Exodus 22 – Explains social laws requiring care for the Anawim – the widow, orphan, and the alien

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Deut 15:11 – Because the poor are always with us, we must open our hands … Prophets – Isaiah (the entire book); Habakkuk 1,2 Jubilee Justice – Lv. 25:8-17

New Testament References: • • • • • Public Ministry of Jesus – Luke 4:18: Jesus brings good tidings to the poor and free to oppressed. The Rich Man and Lazarus – Luke 16:19: He who was rich in life and did not help his neighbor finds himself poor in death. The Beatitudes – Matthew 5; Blessed are the meek, those who thirst for righteousness, those who show mercy, etc. The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:29 The Judgment of the Nations – Matthew 25:31: Nations are judged for how they treat the least among them.

Papal Encyclicals
Papal Encyclicals are documents written by the Pope for the universal Church that pertain ordinarily to doctrinal, moral, or disciplinary matters. Through these letters, the Pope exercises his ordinary magisterium – or declarations that are then subject to future change. Catholics must assent to the doctrinal and moral content of these documents. The following documents may prove useful as you study Catholic social teaching. Each of them can be accessed at the Vatican Web site. Choose the appropriate Pope and then search his listed works at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/. • • • • • • Rerum Novarum (The Condition of Labor), Pope Leo XIII, 1891. Quadragesimo Anno (After Forty Years), Pope Pius XI, 1931. Mater et Magistra (Christianity and Social Progress), Pope John XXIII, 1961. Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth), Pope John XXIII, 1961. Populorum Progresso (On the Development of Peoples), Pope Paul VI, 1967. Octogesima Adveniens (A call to Action), Pope Paul VI, 1971.

The encyclicals of Pope John Paul II on social justice: • • • • • Laborum Exercem (On Human Work), 1981. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (The Social Concerns of the Church), 1988. Centesimus Annus (100 Years), 1991. Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), 1995. Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason), 1998.

Documents of Vatican II (1965) on social justice: Access these documents at http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/. • • • Lumen Gentium (Pastoral Constitution on the Church). Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World). Ad Gentes (On Missionary Activity of the Church).

Bishops’ Pastoral Letters and Statements

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These documents are issued by a bishop for his diocese or a bishops’ conference for guidance and teaching in a specific diocese or area. You can search for the publications listed below at http://www.usccbpublishing.org/. Important Pastoral Letters issued by the United States Bishops • • • “Brothers and Sisters to Us” (Racism), 1979. “Capital Punishment” (The Death Penalty and Criminal Justice), 1980. “The Challenge of Peace” (The Nuclear Threat and Disarmament), Biblical Justice is more comprehensive than 1983. subsequent philosophical definitions. It is not “Economic Justice for All” (The United States Economy), 1986. concerned with a strict definition of rights and “Called to Global Solidarity: duties, but with the rightness of the human International Challenges for U.S. condition before God and within society … Parishes”, 1997. [Justice] is both a manifestation of love and a “Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: condition for love to grow. Because God loves Unity in Diversity” (Immigrants and Israel, he rescues them from oppression and Refugees), 1998. summons them to be a people that does justice Responsibility, Rehabilitation and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective and loves kindness. The quest for justice arises on Crime and Criminal Justice”, from loving gratitude for the saving acts of God 2000. and manifests itself in wholehearted love of God “A Commitment to all Generations: and neighbor.” Social Security and the Common “U.S. Bishops, “Economic Justice for All” Good.”

• •

•

•

•

Also, each bishop may also issue individual and local statements in his area. You can locate these through your diocesan Web site or newspaper. A listing of diocesan Web sites and Web masters can be found at http://www.catholic-church.org/cid/usa.html. Finally, state Catholic Conferences may have statements on social justice. Access the Web sites of these Catholic Conferences at http://www.nasccd.org/bins/site/templates/default.asp?area_2=NASCCD+Web+Sites%2Fh eader&objectid=B2272D0%2D4&NC=1386X.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Catechism of the Church addresses the importance of social justice and gives us guidance on how to respond to the call to justice. The most recent version, updated in 1997, can be found at the following sites: • • The Vatican Web site: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc/index.htm The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/

For a focus on Catholic social teaching, see Part Three: Life in Christ. Both Section One: Man’s Vocation and Section Two: The Ten Commandments address issues of justice. Article 7 of Section Two proves especially relevant. You’ll find the following topics addressed: • • • • The Universal Destination and Private Ownership of Goods, 2402-2406 Respect for Persons and Their Goods/Creation, 2407-2418 The Social Doctrine of the Church, 2419-2425 Economic Activity and Social Justice, 2426-2436

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Justice and Solidarity among Nations, 2437-2442 Love for the Poor, 2443-2463

Secondary Authorities
Books on the Key Themes of Catholic Social Teaching • Doing Faith Justice: An Introduction to Catholic Social Thought, by Fred Kammer, SJ (New York: Paulist Press, 1991). Living Justice: Catholic Social Teaching in Action, by Thomas J. Massaro, SJ (Lanham, MD: Sheed & Ward, 2000). Option for the Poor, by Donal Dorr (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1983). Responses to 101 Questions on Catholic Social Teaching, Kenneth Himes, OFM. (New York: Paulist Press, 2001). The Faith That Does Justice, John C. Haughley, Ed. Woodstock Studies 2 (New York: Paulist Press, 1977).

•

• •

•

Books on the Theology of Catholic Social Thought • • God of the Oppressed, James H. Cone (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1977). The Prophetic Imagination, by Walkter Brueggeman (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1978). A Theology of Liberation, by Gustavo Gutierrez (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1973).

•

Outlines of the History and Themes of the Papal Encyclicals • Catholic Social Teaching: Our Best Kept Secret, by Peter J. Henriot (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books and Washington D.C.: Center of Concern, 1988). The New Dictionary of Catholic Social Thought, by Judith A Dwyer, ed. (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1994). o This resource presents and analyzes the major modern social encyclicals, from Rerum Novarum to Cestesimus Annus, and inspects central movements, figures and themes that have been at the center of Catholic social thought. It also addresses moral topics that have social ramifications such as abortion, homosexuality, birth control, and euthanasia.

•

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Appendix B

In the Know: Glossary of Common Legislative Terms*
Act Amendment Appropriation
Legislation that has passed both the House and Senate and become law. A change to a bill, motion, act or to the Constitution. Amendments are proposed by Members of Congress and then usually debated and voted on by the same procedure as a bill. A formal approval to draw funds from the Treasury for specific purposes. Congress passes appropriations bills each year to fund programs for the next fiscal year. Appropriations bills originate in the House. A law that creates a program and sets funding limits. The actual drawing of funds from the Treasury and funding amount are established by appropriation. A proposed law. The bill is named H.R. (House) or S. (Senate) by the house in which it is first introduced and then by a number assigned it in the order it was introduced. The president’s annual proposal to Congress, usually submitted in early February, for federal expenditures and revenues for the following federal fiscal year (which begins October 1). Authority provided by appropriations bills to enter into obligations that will result in immediate or future outlays involving federal funds. The process used by Congress to amend tax and entitlement programs to meet the instructions in the budget resolution regarding outlay and revenue targets. House and Senate-passed guidelines, and later caps, on federal budget authority and outlays. The budget resolution is considered a matter of internal congressional rules and procedures and is not submitted to the president for a signature or veto. Bills that would exceed budget caps are subject to a point of order (violation of the rules of the House and Senate) – though waivers have been granted in both houses. Meeting of the Democratic or Republican Members of Congress to determine policies or choose leaders; or a bipartisan group of Members with a similar issue, such as the Hunger Caucus. A rule in the House that prohibits the offering of any amendments to a bill on the floor. A bill considered under closed rule must be voted up or down as it is when reported out

Authorization

Bill Budget Request

Budget Authority

Budget Reconciliation Budget Resolution

Caucus Closed Rule

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of committee.

Cloture

A method of limiting debate on a bill or ending a filibuster in the Senate. Sixty of the 100 senators must vote in favor of cloture for it to occur. A subgroup of Members of the House or Senate that has jurisdiction over a subset of issues and prepares legislation for consideration for the larger chamber. Committees are often divided into subcommittees. Subcommittees hold hearings, study and recommend changes in legislation to the full committee. Only a full committee can report a bill to the floor of the House or Senate for action. The issues and responsibilities assigned to a committee by a rule, resolution, precedent, or practice. These include legislative matters, oversight of departments and investigations, and nominations of executive officers. Similar or identical bills introduced both in the House and Senate, separately. A committee comprised of senators and representatives appointed by the leadership in their respective chambers to resolve differences between House and Senate-passed versions of the same legislation. A resolution enacted to allow specific executive branch agencies to continue operating based on the previous year’s appropriations, if funds have not been appropriated for them by October 1 for the new fiscal year of operation. A senator or representative who joins in sponsoring a piece of legislation but is not the one who introduced the legislation. A large number of co-sponsors increases a bill’s chances for consideration. Spending that is controlled and adjusted each year in appropriations acts. A federal program that entitles all persons, businesses, or agencies that meet specified eligibility criteria to certain benefits or services – such as social security, Medicare, food stamps, foster care, adoption assistance, etc. An entitlement program may be a capped entitlement, in which a cap or limit on total annual funding is set by the authorizing legislation (e.g. TANF, Title XX – Social Services Block Grant); a meanstested entitlement, in which “means” or income is a primary factor in eligibility (e.g., Medicaid, foster care, and adoption assistance); or a non-means-tested entitlement (e.g., social security, Medicare). Money actually spent from the treasury by the Administration and government agencies. Expenditures are different from

Committee

Committee Jurisdiction

Companion Bills Conference Committee

Continuing Resolution

Co-Sponsor

Discretionary Spending Entitlement Program

Expenditures

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appropriations, which are made by Congress and set a limit for expenditures. The two are rarely identical, as expenditures may represent money appropriated two or more years back that has not yet been spent by a program.

Filibuster

A delaying tactic of speaking continuously employed by senators to prevent Senate action on a bill likely to pass if a vote were taken. Sixty Senators must vote to end a filibuster and force a vote on a bill (see Cloture). The federal government’s fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30. Meetings of committees or subcommittees to gather information on proposed legislation, investigate problems, or explore issues. Witnesses present testimony and answer questions. Media and the public may attend “open” hearings, but cannot attend “closed” or “executive” hearings. Individuals may request to testify, and though they may be turned down, most who make such a request are allowed to at least submit a written statement for the record concerning the subject. A member of Congress (or the president) who has not been reelected but whose term of office has not yet ended. Attempts by individuals or groups who are not members of Congress to influence the passage, the defeat, or the content of legislation. In the Senate, the leader of the majority party and the most powerful position in the Senate. In the House, the leader for business on the floor and the principal assistant to the Speaker of the House (the most powerful person in that body.) Spending (budget authority and outlays) controlled by laws other than annual appropriations acts. See Entitlement Program. The process by which members of a committee or subcommittee examine a proposed piece of legislation to discuss and make additions, deletions or amendments. Often, the chairman of the subcommittee drafts a starting proposal, referred to as the “chairman’s mark.” U.S. senator or U.S. representative. The leader of the minority part in the House or Senate. A bill combining multiple aspects of one subject. Often used in the appropriations bill process to combine different spending bills into one. A rule governing floor debate in the House that allows germane amendments to be proposed and adopted by majority vote.

Fiscal Year Hearing

Lame Duck Lobbying

Majority Leader

Mandatory Spending

Mark-Up

Member Minority Leader Omnibus Bill

Open Rule

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Point of Order Quorum

An objection by a member of Congress that the pending matter or proceeding is in violation or the rules. The number of senators (51) or representatives (218) that the Constitution requires to be present for the Senate or House to do business. Many times, fewer Members are actually present on the floor, but the Senate or House presumes that a quorum is present unless a roll call vote or quorum call proves otherwise. Member of a committee who has the most seniority on the committee from his or her party. Usually refers to the most senior member of the minority party. A printed record of a committee’s actions and views on a particular bill or matter. Reports are numbered and designated S. Rept. Or H. Rept., depending on the house of origination. As a verb, report refers to the action taken by a committee to share its findings with the chamber. The committee studies and changes a bill, and then “reports” its recommendations.

Ranking Member

Report

Speaker of the House

The presiding offer of the House, leader of the majority party in the House, and next in line to the vice president for succession to the presidency. A measure passed in one of the houses that gives the intention or sentiment of the chamber, but does not have force as a law. Each Congress (two-year time frame of each Congress) usually has two sessions. Each begins in January and ends when Congress adjourns for the year. The representative or senator who introduces a bill or resolution. Budget authority provided in an appropriations act in addition to regular or continuing appropriations already provided. Supplemental appropriations are generally passed to cover emergency needs, such as disaster relief, that cannot wait until the following year's regular appropriations act. Action by the President to refuse to sign a bill or joint resolution. The bill can then return to its house of origin to be reconsidered, but must gain two-thirds of the vote in both chambers to become law (see veto override). When member of both the House and Senate vote by a twothirds majority to set aside a presidential veto of legislation. The senator or representative who is elected by members of his/her party to serve as the principal internal lobbyist to persuade legislators to support the party position and also to

Resolution Sessions

Sponsor Supplemental Appropriation

Veto

Veto Override Whip

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count votes for the leadership in advance of floor action.

•

Drawn and adapted from: o Public Policy Advocacy Handbook. A guide for Influencing Legislation; (Denver, CO: Catholic Health Initiatives); Child Welfare League of America 2000 Children’s Legislative Agenda. o Senate Glossary. United States Senate, http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/a_three_sections_with_teasers/votes.htm

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Appendix C

The Federal Legislative Process:

How a Bill Becomes a Law and How You Can Impact It

This appendix gives a brief explanation of the federal legislative process. Knowing the basics of how a bill becomes a law, and how the rules and regulations set by administering agencies can affect the law’s impact, will enable you to target your time and advocacy efforts. The summary below also includes tips about advocating at various steps in the legislative cycle. The Legislative Process Introduction and Referral to Committee Committee Action Floor Debate and Action Conference Committee Action Final Passage The Administrative Process

The Legislative Process
Introduction and Referral to Committee Anyone may draft a bill; however, only Members of Actions for Advocates Congress can introduce the legislation. A Member Start Before the Bill is Introduced! who introduces a bill becomes its sponsor. Bills are • Use your voice as a bill is introduced through the Congressional Record and crafted: Advocates can and often do assigned a number. Bills originating in the House initiate discussions about potential begin “H.R.” while bills legislation and help to draft it. Congressional Record originating in the • Make yourself a helpful resource: Senate begin Before and during the drafting The Congressional Record, “S.” The bill is process, you can provide data and published daily when Congress then referred to local expertise based on your agency is in session, records debate and a committee and experience and become a trusted business of the U.S. Congress. sent for printing resource. by the Each day’s activities are Government summarized in the “Daily Printing Office (GPO). The Library of Congress keeps Digest.” Access the copies of bills online at http://thomas.loc.gov/

Congressional Record at

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/crecord/ index.html

Committee Action

After introduction, a bill is referred to the committee that has jurisdiction over it. The committee can then proceed two ways:

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• •

It can decide not to consider the bill, which kills the legislation. Alternatively, the committee may review it either as an entire committee or by subcommittee. Subcommittee Review: The subcommittee holds hearings on a bill to get the views of experts, public officials who administer programs, and advocates and opponents of the legislation. After the hearings, the subcommittee decides to either let the bill die or to “mark up,” (make changes to) the bill and refer it back to the full committee. The amended bill will be accompanied by a report that includes the subcommittee’s recommendations. Reporting a Bill: The full committee can then continue to study and amend the bill, or accept the subcommittee’s version as it is. The committee then votes on its recommendation to the House or Senate, a procedure called “ordering a bill reported.” The bill is sent to the floor with a report detailing the intent of the legislation, the impact it would have on current programs, the position of the executive branch and the opinions of the Members on the committee.

Actions for Advocates While a Bill is Under Consideration:
• • • Educate legislators about the bill – urge them to cosponsor, request improvements, or oppose a bill. Seek to testify at hearings to make your views heard and well represented. When committee or Floor action is imminent, focus extra effort on those who have not yet taken positions and work with your allies to ensure that negative changes are not made to legislation that you support. Make sure the administration knows your stance and request their support in your efforts.

Floor Debate and Action Once the committee reports the bill back to the chamber, it is placed on the calendar to await floor debate. The House and Senate have different procedures that impact debate: •

•

House Floor Debate: In the House, every bill has to have a rule that structures the debate about the measure, including how much time will be allotted for discussion and the number and type of amendments, if any, that will be allowed. The Rules Committee creates and votes on these rules, and thus has a great deal of power over which bills make it to the floor. Contentious debates often occur over rules, and a bill can die if a rule is never passed to allow it to move to the floor for debate. Senate Floor Debate: No such rules govern floor debate in the senate. Senators may engage in an unlimited debate, unless a Filibuster move is made for “cloture.” In a successful cloture, 60 senators vote to end debate on a bill. A delaying tactic of speaking If a cloture vote is unsuccessful, senators can continuously employed by continually speak on a bill or issue, a tactic senators to prevent Senate action known as a filibuster to stall voting on a bill.

•

After finishing debate and amendments, the Members of the House or Senate vote to pass or defeat the bill.

on a bill likely to pass if a vote were taken. Sixty senators must vote to end a filibuster and force a vote on a bill (see “Cloture”, Appendix B).

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Conference Committee Action Once a bill passes one chamber, it is referred to the other where it usually follows the same process through committees and floor debate. The second chamber can change, reject, accept or ignore a bill. If the chamber passes a version of the bill that differs from that of the original chamber, each elects Members to serve on a conference committee that reconciles differences between the versions. If the conferees cannot reach an agreement, the legislation dies. If they do iron out differences, they create a report with recommendations and send the bill back to the House and Senate for a final vote in each. Final Passage If the House and Senate approve a final bill in identical form, the bill is sent to the President for his signature. If the President signs the bill, it becomes law. If he does not take action for 10 days while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law. Alternatively, the President can veto the bill or ignore the bill after Congress has adjourned (called a “pocket veto”) and the legislation does not become law. Congress may attempt to override The number of senators (51) the President’s veto. or representatives (218) that To do so, each the Constitution requires to be chamber must have present for the Senate or enough Members for House to do business. (see a quorum to exist. Appendix B). Then, two-thirds of these members in each chamber must vote to override the veto.

Actions for Advocates
After Final Passage:

•

Quorum

•

Work with media to publicize passage of the bill – work to ensure that the President signs or vetoes it. Move on to next steps: o Work for positive implementation of the bill. o Begin again with another issue or strategy to reach your goals if the enacted legislation does not fit with your values.

The Administrative Process
Congratulations, your bill has passed! Celebrate, but do not let your guard down. In many respects, your work as an advocate is just beginning. The federal agency that oversees the implementation and enforcement of the bill will develop the rules and regulations that have the force of law and shape how the bill plays out in the real world. Their decisions can have a huge impact on the lives of the people you serve. The legislation gives the head of the appropriate agency guidance about the content of those regulations, but the agency can fundamentally impact the outcome of a law. As an advocate, understand the administrative process and be sure to bring your expert opinion to the discussion: • Federal agencies are required to publish proposed rules and provide a period for public comment before the rules can be finalized. Sometimes, people knowledgeable about the potential impact of rules may be asked to help draft them. The public generally has between 30 and 60 days to submit comments on proposed rules and regulations. The agency will take the comments into account as it develops final rules. Remember that not every issue raised will be incorporated into the final rules. The greater the volume of communication on an issue in the proposed rules, the more likely the agency is to make changes.

•

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•

Proposed and final rules are published in The Federal Register, a legal newspaper published every weekday by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Access The Federal Register at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.

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CCUSA Advocacy Manual: Striving for Justice Appendix D

The Federal Budget:

Understanding the Process and How You Can Impact It
This appendix gives you a roadmap for navigating the federal budget process. It first defines a few terms that you will see repeatedly in discussions of the federal budget. You will find additional key words defined in the sections explaining the budget process. The outline below also includes tips about advocating at each step in the budget cycle. Key Budget Terms Defined The Federal Budget Cycle Step One: The President’s Budget Proposal Step Two: The Congressional Budget Resolution Step Three: The Appropriations Process Special Budgetary Circumstances: Supplemental Appropriations and Budget Reconciliation

Key Budget Terms Defined
Revenue: Revenue is defined as all funds collected from the public by the government, including taxes, fines, customs duties and fees. Spending: Spending encompasses the moneys paid out of the federal treasury to pay for government programs, interest on the deficit, and the operation of the country. Two types of spending – mandatory and discretionary – are further defined below: • Mandatory or Entitlement Spending: Mandatory spending is authorized by permanent law, as opposed to annual appropriations bills. Mandatory or Entitlement programs must be funded to the level of public need. If Congress wishes to change levels of mandatory spending, it must change the underlying laws that structure the program (see Budget Reconciliation below). Mandatory spending includes Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and interest payments on the national debt. Discretionary or Appropriated Spending: Discretionary spending is decided upon each year by the President and Congress in 13 annual appropriations bills. Programs funded by discretionary spending are given a certain amount of money each year, which program administrators then use to run those programs (that level is not required to be funded at the level of public need, however). Discretionary spending usually equals about one-third of all federal spending. Just a few examples of discretionary programs integral to the work of Catholic Charities agencies include the Community Services Block Grant and prisoner reentry programs.

•

Deficit: The deficit is the amount that government spending exceeds government revenue in a given fiscal year.

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Surplus: The surplus is the amount that the government revenue exceeds government spending in a given fiscal year.

The Federal Budget Cycle
The nearly yearlong federal budget process typically lasts from the beginning of February through November or even December of the same year. As an advocate for the poor and vulnerable, you will have opportunities and responsibilities to raise your voice during each step of the process to help shape the spending priorities of the federal government to ensure a more just world and support the basic dignity of all Americans. The basics of the process, along with these advocacy opportunities, are laid out below. Step One: The President’s Budget Proposal (February) On the first Monday in February, the President submits to Congress his budget proposal for the coming fiscal year. Prepared by the President’s Office of Management and Budget, the President’s Budget Proposal provides Congress a plan for overall fiscal policy that includes suggested tax revenue, a plan for how that revenue should be spent, the size of the deficit (or surplus) the government should run, and permanent changes to tax legislation and/or mandatory spending programs. Because Congress is not required to follow the President’s Budget Proposal when creating its own budget, the impact of the proposal varies depending on the President and political climate of each year. However, suggestions from the proposal often make their way into the Congressional Budget Resolution (see below). The President’s Budget Proposal does the following things:

Actions for Advocates

•

•

•

Suggests Spending Levels for Federal Programs: In his budget In anticipation of, or in response to the proposal, the President suggests an President’s Budget Proposal, advocates can overall amount for discretionary create a public discussion around the potential spending and spending levels for impact of the budget on the poor and vulnerable: each federal program. The Congressional Budget Committees Learn. often use the overall discretionary number as a starting point for their • See the President’s Budget Proposal at discussions of funding levels, and www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget suggested program cuts or increases Educate. in the proposal often find their way • Place op-eds in local newspapers into a budget reconciliation process • Hold forums to educate your community (See Budget Reconciliation, below). and local press about the budget process. Describes the Priorities of the Advocate. Administration: Because the President’s Budget Proposal projects • Visit your Members of Congress to share out several years, it speaks volumes how the President’s budget would about the administration’s spending impact the people you serve. priorities. It also often contains the Administration’s recommendations Use Catholic Charities USA as a resource! Visit for policy changes for programs. our website for the latest policy information. Recommends Permanent Tax and Spending Changes: If necessary, the President can propose changes to the permanent tax code and to spending programs that are also

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permanent (Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid). Because these entitlement programs must be funded for all eligible, changing the revenue spent on them requires altering laws that determine eligibility or the benefits provided. Step Two: The Congressional Budget Resolution (mid-March – mid-May) After the President submits his budget proposal, the Budget Committees in the House and Senate go to work to create the Congressional Budget Resolution, which sets overall limits on revenue, spending and cuts for the coming fiscal year. The resolution is supposed to be passed by April 15th, but the process usually lasts from mid-March to mid-May. The Budget Committees conduct hearings with government administrators of programs, advocates and experts. Each committee drafts a bill and passes it to the floor for a vote. Each chamber then selects conferees to meet and iron out differences between the two versions of the bill. Both houses then pass the final version of the Congressional Budget Resolution. The Actions for Advocates Resolution does not require the signature As the Budget Committees work to construct the Congressional of the President. Budget Resolution, advocates play a key role in preserving funding Therefore it is not a law, nor does it for programs that support the poor and vulnerable: authorize any spending. Also, a Learn. budget resolution is • Find out which Members of Congress sit on the Budget not required for Committees and see drafts of the Budget Resolution at Congressional http://www.house.gov/budget/ and http://budget.senate.gov/ spending to move Educate. forward. It does do the following: • Educate editorial boards and reporters about the impact the

budget proposals may have on your local community. Advocate. • Call, write or visit your Members of Congress (especially if they sit on Budget Committees) to educate them about the crucial importance of programs for low-income families in your community. Ask them to speak up and defend funding for these programs. • Organize letter writing or phone call campaigns to Budget Committee members and your legislators to emphasize the importance of funding programs for low-income families. • Do not overlook the power of local officials and governors at this stage. Urge them to communicate support and need for these programs to Members of Congress. • Pay attention to differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Educate your legislators, especially conferees, on differences that impact low-income families. • Use Catholic Charities USA as a resource! Visit our website for the latest policy information. •
•

Sets Limits on Federal Programs: The Congressional Budget Resolution sets a limit on appropriations spending for each of 20 spending categories known as budget “functions.” It also lays out the expected tax revenue for the next five years. Creates the 302a Allocation: The “302a allocation” is a table provided in a report accompanying the budget resolution. The table takes the total amount budgeted for •

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•

the year and divides the funds by congressional committee. The Appropriations Committee, which funds many of the programs run by Catholic Charities agencies, receives a single 302a allocation to then divide among its subcommittees (See below). Can Provide Reconciliation Instructions: The Congressional Budget Resolution sometimes gives Congress reconciliation instructions. These instructions require authorizing committees of entitlement programs to change the laws governing those programs to bring spending in line with the budget projections. These instructions have major impact - once given, a Budget Reconciliation (see below) almost always passes, meaning certain cuts to key programs in our social safety net.

Step Three: The Appropriations Process (mid-May – October 1) The third step in the budget cycle is the creation of appropriations bills. Appropriations bills are laws that actually allocate money to discretionary programs, or those granted new funding each year, and give agencies the authority to spend that money. Around mid-May, the Appropriations Committees in each Actions for Advocates chamber receive their 302a allocation, a term During the appropriations process, advocates play a key role in for their spending limit preserving funding for programs that support the vulnerable as for discretionary Members of the Appropriations Committees determine spending programs, from the priorities: Congressional Budget Resolution. Both the Learn. Senate and House • Find out which Members of Congress sit on the Appropriations Committees then break Appropriations Committees at this overall allocation http://appropriations.house.gov/members110th.shtml and into sub-allocations for http://appropriations.senate.gov/members.cfm . sub-committees. • Contact the Social Policy staff at Catholic Charities USA for Currently, the Senate more detailed information on how to best increase support for has twelve the specific programs that you work on Appropriations Advocate. Subcommittees while • Call, write or visit your Members of Congress (especially if the House has thirteen.

• •

they sit on Appropriations Committees) and urge them to support programs defending the dignity and potential of lowincome families in your community. Explain, using your agency experience, how these programs ensure the health of your community. Organize letter writing or phone call campaigns to Appropriations Committee members to demonstrate widespread support for the issues you care about. Continue to partner with the media to educate the public through op-eds, letters to the editor, and new stories.

Each subcommittee decides how to divide its sub-allocation between the various discretionary programs that it oversees. When finished, the Subcommittee passes its bill back to the full Appropriations Committee, and then to the floor for amendments and a final vote. The bills can pass individually, or

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they can be combined with other appropriations bills in legislation known as an “omnibus bill” (this usually happens when Congress is running out of time in the legislative calendar to complete each bill individually).

Continuing Resolution

The appropriations process begins in mid-May and should be completed by the beginning of the next fiscal year on October 1. If Congress has not passed appropriations bills by October 1, it often passes a Continuing Resolution that allows programs to continue operating under the previous year’s funding levels until the new bills are completed.

Special Budgetary Circumstances
Supplemental Appropriations (Any time, when needed)

A continuing resolution provides interim funding to enable government programs to continue operating until new appropriations bills are completed.

Supplemental appropriations enable Congress to respond to unforeseen emergencies for which they are unable to budget in the regular process. Natural disasters and wars are often funded through supplemental appropriations. These bills can originate in appropriations committees at any time during the year and often result from a request from the President. Because supplemental appropriations do not have a monetary limit, nor do they factor into the Congressional Budget Resolution’s projections of the deficit, they provide a loophole for spending in a tight budgetary climate. Budget Reconciliation (If required by Congressional Budget Resolution, April-September) Budget reconciliation is a process that happens in selected years when Congress passes reconciliation instructions in the Congressional Budget Resolution. Budget reconciliation requires various authorizing committees to make changes to existing entitlement programs and/or tax laws to reconcile, or bring in line, the spending on these permanent programs with the spending and deficit goals of the resolution. Because entitlement programs, such as Medicare, must fund services for all qualified applicants, reconciling the programs with the budget requires changing eligibility standards or services of the programs. When budget reconciliation occurs, committees that oversee entitlement program or tax laws receive instructions in the Congressional Budget Resolution. These instructions tell the committees how much spending they must cut, give a deadline for determining changes and cuts, and provide suggestions for how to do so. Once a committee receives reconciliation instructions, it must produce a bill with the required savings. The committees have great incentive to finish on time – if they do not, the Chair of the Budget Committee can amend existing law for them.

Filibuster
A delaying tactic of speaking continuously, employed by senators to prevent Senate action on a bill likely to pass if a vote were taken. Sixty Senators must vote to end a filibuster and force a vote on a bill.

If Congress passes reconciliation instructions in the Budget Resolution, it must follow through. Once each committee has made its changes, the Budget Committee combines the various bills into one final reconciliation bill for a floor vote. A reconciliation bill is one of the few pieces of legislation for which the Senate cannot filibuster (a term for unlimited debate). Thus, the bill can pass by a simple majority vote.

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Appendix E

Who’s Who: Players in the Federal Legislative Process
As an advocate, you have passion and local expertise to bring to the federal legislative process. However, your time and resources are limited. Knowing the players and their roles in the political process will enable you to focus your efforts for maximum impact. Numerous print and online sources provide extensive information about legislators, their priority interests, committee assignments and staff. This section provides a brief overview into the roles of these key players, and links to further information about them.

The Legislative Branch Members of Congress Congressional Committees Legislative Staff The Executive Branch The President Administrative Agencies

The Legislative Branch
New laws and changes to existing law originate in the legislative branch of the federal government, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The 535 Members of Congress hold a variety of committee appointments and roles during their time in office. Some of these roles are detailed below, along with the responsibilities of the staff members that support them. Members of Congress As a nation, we elect 535 Members of Congress to create laws that govern the country. Each state elects two senators, for a total of 100 senators. Senators serve 6-year terms, and are reelected on a staggered schedule. One-third of the Senate runs for reelection every two years. • • • For information about the Senate, visit http://www.senate.gov/. For a list of senators, see http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm To quickly find your senators and their contact information, use Catholic Charities USA’s E-Advocacy Tool at http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/dbq/officials/

There are 435 Members of the House of Representatives. Representatives are divided between the states based on population (e.g., Alaska has only one representative, while California has more than 50). Representatives run for reelection every two years. • • For information about the House of Representatives, visit http://www.house.gov/. For a directory of representatives, see http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/index.html .

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To quickly find your representatives and their contact information, use Catholic Charities USA’s E-Advocacy Tool at http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/dbq/officials/

Congressional Committees During their tenure in Congress, Members are appointed to various committees. The committees oversee various areas of government legislation and responsibilities in the federal legislative process. Three types of committees impact the work that Catholic Charities agencies do on behalf of the vulnerable - Authorizing, Budget and Appropriations Committees. Authorizing Committees: Authorization is the process by which Congress enacts laws. Authorizing committees review proposed legislation on an issue or program, conducting hearings and studies and producing reports. The committee amends the legislation to shape the program and influences how it will be administered by government agencies. The Committee also establishes a ceiling on funding for the program. Committees that deal with similar issues may have different names in the House and the Senate. Below you will find a list of key authorizing committees and contact information for them. Senate Committees: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee: o Authorizes and conducts oversight of many food and nutrition programs (Food Stamps, etc.). o http://agriculture.senate.gov • Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee: o Has jurisdiction over housing, homelessness, and lending programs and services. o http://banking.senate.gov • Senate Finance Committee: o Has jurisdiction over federal tax measures and a wide range of programs that provide benefits to people in need, such as TANF, Medicaid, and child welfare/foster care programs. o http://finance.senate.gov • Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee: o Authorizes and conducts oversight of health, education, and labor programs, including Head Start and childcare. o http://help.senate.gov/ • Senate Judiciary Committee: o Has jurisdiction over juvenile justice, crime, immigration, and civil rights measures. o http://judiciary.senate.gov House Committees: • • House Committee on Agriculture: o Authorizes and conducts oversight of many food and nutrition programs (Food Stamps, etc.). o http://agriculture.house.gov House Committee on Education and the Workforce:

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Authorizes and conducts oversight of education and labor programs and standards, including many affecting children, families and people in need, such as Head Start and child care. o http://edworkforce.house.gov House Committee on Energy and Commerce: o Authorizes and conducts oversight of all health programs, including Medicaid and SCHIP. o http://energycommerce.house.gov House Committee on Financial Services: o Has jurisdiction over housing and homelessness programs. o www.house.gov/financialservices House Committee on the Judiciary: o Has jurisdiction over juvenile justice, crime, immigration, and civil rights measures. o www.house.gov/judiciary o

Budget Committees: The Budget Committees does the bulk of its work between January and April of each year. Soon after the President releases his Budget Proposal in early February, the Budget Committees in the House and Senate begin work on the Congressional Budget Resolution, the resolution that sets a spending ceiling for the coming fiscal year (which begins October 1). In addition to the President’s Budget Resolution, the Committees consider testimony from the administrators of federal agencies and suggestions from the Authorizing and Appropriations Committees. Your voice will have the most impact between January and April as the Budget Committees make decisions about how much money will be spent in the coming year. However, do not hesitate to remind your Members of Congress, especially those on Budget Committees, of the importance and positive impact of programs for low-income families in your community throughout the year. To find Members on the Budget Committees, visit the committee websites: http://www.house.gov/budget/ and http://budget.senate.gov/. Appropriations Committees: The Appropriations Committees hold a great deal of power over programs run by Catholic Charities agencies to support low-income and vulnerable populations. The Appropriations Committees hold the power of the purse. They work within the spending limits set by the Congressional Budget Resolution to divide federal dollars among the various government programs and agencies. The Appropriations Committees do the bulk of their work between June and October of each year, though they often do not finish on time and work though November or December. As a service provider, you can advocate loudly and convincingly for the crucial need for and importance of programs for low-income families. Use letters, hearings, phone calls, and local media coverage to raise support for these programs. To find Members on the Appropriations Committees, visit the committee websites: http://appropriations.house.gov/ and http://appropriations.senate.gov/ .

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Legislative staff
Members of Congress balance an enormous amount of responsibility in their various roles and work to stay informed on numerous issues. None can be an expert on everything, nor manage this workload without help. Members expect their legislative staff to understand the details of legislation and help them craft their position on it, to represent them at meetings, and to provide analysis of issues and recommend action. Legislative staffs often craft the legislation that their Members introduce and vote on. Even if you have close connections to or access directly to your legislators, develop strong relationships with members of their staffs. Staff members have enormous power in the legislative process if simply because they filter the information that reaches legislators. You will want them to rely on you as an expert and reliable source of information on your issue. Committee Staff: Though they officially work for the Chair of a committee (who is a Member of the majority party) and the ranking (or most senior) minority Member, committee staff work with all of the Members on a specific Congressional committee. They often decide what issues to focus on in committee meetings, plan agendas for those meetings, and decide when to have hearings and often who will testify at them. They also draft legislation and conference agreements between the House and Senate, and strategize about when to bring a bill to the floor for action. Office Staff: A legislator’s office staff primarily serves his or her constituents. They track legislation, gather information about its potential local impact, and help their member form a position on it. Familiarize yourself with the following titles and responsibilities of legislative office staff: • Administrative Assistant (AA) or Chief of Staff: The AA reports directly to the Senator or Representative and usually is responsible for evaluating the political outcomes of various legislative proposals and constituent requests. The AA or chief of staff usually handles the overall office operations, including supervision of key staff and assigning staff work. Caseworker: The caseworker is usually assigned to help with constituent requests by preparing replies for the legislator’s signature. The caseworker’s responsibilities may also include helping resolve problems constituents present in relation to federal agencies such as veteran’s benefits, passports, Social Security, etc. There are often several caseworkers in an office. Legislative Assistant (LA): Most offices have several legislative assistants with expertise in a specific area. For example, depending on the responsibilities and interests of the legislator, an office may have different LAs for health issues, taxes, environment, etc. Legislative Director (LD), Senior Legislative Assistant, or Legislative Coordinator: The legislative director usually monitors the legislative schedule, recommends priorities and analyzes the pros and cons of particular issues. Press Secretary or Communications Director: The press secretary’s responsibility is to build and maintain open and effective lines of communication between the legislator, his/her constituency, and the media. The press secretary is expected to know the benefits, demands, and special requirements of both print and electronic media and how to effectively promote the legislator’s views on issues. Scheduler: The scheduler is responsible for allocating the legislator’s time among congressional responsibilities, staff requirements and constituent

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requests. The scheduler may also handle travel arrangements, speaking invitations, site visits, etc.

The Executive Branch
The power of the executive branch lies with the President, who appoints a Cabinet and officially oversees the operations of federal administrative agencies and departments (Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, etc.). Information about the President, his cabinet, and the offices of the executive branch can be found at www.whitehouse.gov. Below you will find a brief description of some of the offices and departments of the executive branch, a link to their Web sites, and the names of the programs administered by these departments that touch the work of Catholic Charities agencies. The departments administer and shape programs run by Catholic Charities nationwide and can be valuable partners advocates for legislation that improves programs for low-income citizens. Office of Management and Budget (OMB): The Office of Management and Budget assists the President in creating the federal budget each year. It also supervises the administration of that budget by federal agencies. The OMB monitors and evaluates the effectiveness and impact of various programs and policies to balance funding requests and determine priorities among the various agencies. The agency also administers the Administration’s financial management, procurement, and information policies in order to improve practices and reduce the burden on the public. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): The US Department of Agriculture unites a wide variety of programs under one department. USDA supports farmers and agricultural research. The agency also works to guarantee food safety, to conserve natural resources and farmland, and to develop rural America. More than half the agency’s budget is spent on federal nutrition programs such as the Food Stamp Program or National School Lunch Program that address domestic hunger and malnutrition. Catholic Charities agencies and advocates work with USDA to strengthen these nutrition programs and Section 515 Rural Housing Services, both of which impact low-income families. Visit USDA online: www.usda.gov United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): The Department of Health and Human Services administers more than 300 programs designed to protect the health and essential human service needs of all Americans. These programs include disease prevention, health research and immunizations, health insurance for low-income families and seniors, Head Start educational programming for low-income pre-kindergarten children, and services for the aging. Catholic Charities agencies and advocates work primarily with the Office of Aging on programs for seniors, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) concerning health programs for low-income families, and with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) concerning welfare. Visit the Department of Health and Human Services online at www.dhhs.gov. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): The Department of Housing and Urban Development works to increase home ownership, facilitate community development and ensure affordable housing for all Americans.

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Catholic Charities agencies and advocates work with HUD to strengthen and administer the following programs: Section 8, Family Unification Program, Housing for the Elderly (Section 202), Housing for the Disabled (Section 811), Community Development Block Grant, the HUD Housing Counseling Program, Public Housing, and the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Programs. Visit HUD online at www.hud.gov. United States Department of Justice: The Department of Justice works to uphold the laws of the United States, ensure justice and just punishment, work for public safety, and prevent future crime. Catholic Charities agencies and advocates work with the Office of Justice on programs concerning juvenile justice and rehabilitation, and victims of crime. Visit the Department of Justice online at www.usdoj.gov. United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): The Department of Veteran Affairs delivers health care and veterans’ services to veterans of the American Armed Forces. Catholic Charities agencies and advocates work with VA to strengthen and administer the Homeless Veterans Program and Loan Guarantee Program for Transitional Multifamily Housing. Visit the Department of Veterans Affairs online at www.va.gov. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH): Established in 1987, the Interagency Council on Homelessness is charged with providing federal leadership in activities designed to aid homeless families and individuals. These activities include planning, evaluating, coordinating and changing programs and policies designed to assist the homeless, providing information about these programs, and supporting communities in their efforts to combat homelessness. Catholic Charities agencies and advocates work with ICH on the Homeless Assistance Programs and the Family Unification Program. Visit the Interagency Council on Homelessness online at www.ich.gov.

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