Accomplishing Community Environmental Goals on Capitol Hill

Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2005

Levine Science Research Center
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Please register by Nov. 8, 2005

Program Description:

This course demystifies the legislative process and teaches nongovernmental organizations, business leaders, and federal employees the practical skills and knowledge necessary to work with Congress to help accomplish community environmental goals. Included are such practical lessons as how to convey community support for a proposal, how to identify an appropriate congressional champion and how to frame a legislative strategy. The course includes an overview of the history and structure of the federal legislative process, a discussion of the technical aspects of moving a bill through Congress, and a survey of relevant political considerations. Participants will learn through presentations, discussions and case studies various avenues to accomplish community environmental goals, including federal appropriations, the use of committee hearings and creating policy through stand-alone bills and legislative riders.

Through this two and one-half day course, course participants will gain knowledge and skills in legislative process and strategy, including:

Legislative Process

• A working understanding of the constitutional underpinnings of the federal legislative branch of government,
• A working understanding of basic federal legislative process including how bills are drafted, introduced, move through the legislative process and become law.
• A basic understanding of the different committees in Congress that may consider environmental legislation.
• An understanding of the committee process including referral, hearings, chairman’s marks, markup, committee reports and passage.
• A basic understanding of the federal budget process and the way in which legislation is assigned a revenue estimate or “score”.
• An understanding of how bills are considered, debated and amended on the floor of the House and Senate including the role the House Rules Committee and the ability to filibuster a bill in the Senate.
• An understanding of the role that conference committees play in the legislative process.

Strategy

• An ability to research active legislation including committees that it’s been referred to, hearings that have been held, reports that have been written, and remarks in the Congressional record.
• An ability to understand and formulate a legislative strategy for accomplishing community environmental goals on Capitol Hill.
• An understanding of how political considerations can shape environmental legislative outcomes.
• The practical ability to generate and convey community support for a community proposal.
• The ability to identify an appropriate congressional champion and frame a legislative strategy.
• An understanding of the elements of briefing/background materials that should accompany federal legislation.
• An understanding of the role that the White House and federal agencies play in shaping legislation.
• An understanding of the role that NGOs and other special interests play in shaping legislation.
  

Course Facilitator:

Brian Kuehl is a partner in The Clark Group, a Washington, DC-based environmental consulting firm. From 1998 to 2000, he served as Legislative Director to U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and formerly Chair and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. From 1997 to 1999, Brian served most recently as Acting Chief of Staff to Senator Baucus and as Senior Legislative Assistant to Senator Baucus on natural resources, energy and judiciary issues. Prior to working for Senator Baucus, Brian served as Project Director and Staff Attorney for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition based in Bozeman, Montana. Brian received his law degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder and his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Davis.

General Information:

Tuition: $695 on or before Nov. 8, 2005 ($775 after Nov. 8, 2005)
** A limited number of discounted seats are available at 25% off of the early bird rate. This special discount is available to non-profit organizations, municipal governments, Duke alumni and non-Duke students. Please note that this discount is exclusive to this offering of this particular course. Please email del@nicholas.duke.edu for more information.

Fee covers registration, instructional materials, and lunch and break foods each day on campus.

Confirmation: Upon receipt of your registration fee, we will mail you a registration confirmation. Please call our office if you do not receive a confirmation.

Cancellation & Refunds: All speakers and companies listed have confirmed their participation. If for unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances a speaker cannot attend, instructional time will be filled with comparable instructors. If a course is canceled due to insufficient registrations, tuition will be refunded. Duke cannot be held responsible for travel costs or arrangements made by participants.

Cancellation of registration requires 14 days written notice prior to course start date. Individuals who do not attend and fail to send written notice prior to the deadline will be charged the full tuition. You may send a substitute to attend the course in your place. Extenuating circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis

Hotel Accommodations: Participants are responsible for their own overnight accommodations. The DEL Program office reserves room-blocks at a reduced rate on the students’ behalf. Specific hotel information will be provided in your confirmation material. If you would like to know information regarding the hotel and room-block prior to your registration, please contact our office at at del@env.duke.edu or 919-613-8082.

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