Communications and Government Affairs Overview Funding

Communications and Government Affairs

Overview • Funding Outlook and Congressional Update – Norm Peterson (ANL) – Scott Sudduth (UC) • Accelerators for the Future – Judy Jackson (FNAL) • Engaging Chicago in a Conversation on Science – Lisa La Vallee (UC) – Matt Howard (ANL)

Funding Outlook and Congressional Update Norm Peterson Office of the Director Argonne National Laboratory and Scott Sudduth Assoc. V. P. for Federal Relations Office of the President University of Chicago

FY 11 (AND FY 12) FUNDING SCENARIOS • Current Continuing Resolution (CR) expires on December 18 • Possible Outcomes: – FY 2011 Omnibus Bill for all 12 spending bills (most favored by Democrats). Congress would be able to specify agency and program funding levels and provide detailed guidance to agencies, and possibly provide Congressional earmarks. – Year-long CR at FY 2010 funding levels (favored by many Democrats). The House will consider a year-long CR this week. – Another short term CR until early 2011, which would allow for Congress to roll back funding levels to prior Fiscal Year levels (favored by some Republicans) Whichever scenario prevails, we can expect flat (or even reduced) funding for Fiscal Year 2011 and 2012

The New Congress Major Changes: • Republicans gained 60+ seats in the House and 6 in the Senate • Congress will have 100+ new members next year. • Republicans will control the agenda in the House and have the ability and interest in examining the Administration’s prior and proposed actions and agenda. This could include Congressional oversight hearings which focus on DOE management and programs, and its laboratories. • Senate Democrats will have a more difficult time reaching the 60 vote threshold needed to overcome Republican filibusters. • Committee leadership, assignments, and ratios in both chambers will be significantly different from the last Congress

Illinois Issues / Strategies • Illinois will have 5 new House members and 1 new Senate member. – All of the new members are Republicans. • Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is the only Illinois member serving on the House Appropriations Committee. – He is not a member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which appropriates funding to the DOE. Illinois will probably be assigned one more seat on the Committee, but it is not clear as to whether that person will serve on the Energy and Water Subcommittee. • Illinois’ 14 th District will now be represented by Randall Hultgren, a Republican, who most recently served in the Illinois State Senate. – While in the State Senate, he was knowledgeable about both laboratories and supported capital funding for both labs. • Mark Kirk has already been sworn in as Illinois’ junior Senator. – Because of the recent turmoil with this seat, we as a State have not had the benefit of having two Senators advocate for national laboratory issues. We need to better educate the IL delegation and their staffs on the importance of the two laboratories to the State’s economy.

Accelerators for the Future Judy Jackson Director, Office of Communications Fermilab

Engaging Chicago in a Conversation on Science Matt Howard Director, Communications and Public Affairs Argonne National Laboratory and Lisa La Vallee Director of Communications Office of the Vice President for Research and for National Laboratories University of Chicago

Chicago is home to…. . And countless leading science and technology related companies and industries

Goals • Build an active, coordinated and cohesive science community in Chicago • Engage and inspire young people and increase access to science learning experiences • Provide ways for scientists to plug into educational and outreach opportunities • Promote dialogue about the importance of science and technology in the Chicago region • Raise Chicago’s profile as a national leader in science and technology

Strategy • Create a comprehensive and coordinated approach to science education, outreach and communications • Design a framework for connecting people, organizations, and opportunities to the region’s science and technology resources • Consider holding annual public event (Chicago Science Festival). University could take a leading role in planning and coordinating working with potential funders

Strategy • Take advantage of existing partnerships between Argonne, Fermilab, UChicago, Northwestern, UIC, Industry, museums. i. e. : Argonne Education Outreach Council, ISTC, C 2 ST, i. BIO, DCEO, etc. • Leverage past successes: Science Chicago, Argonne Open House, Fermilab public events, University public events • Coordinate media strategy: articles and editorials in print, TV show features, radio interviews, online and social media opportunities.

Benefits • No need to recreate the wheel; successful models already exist • More opportunities for collaboration and partnerships • Stronger relationships with regional groups and local organizations to strengthen awareness, visibility and support • Increased engagement and interaction by leveraging a network to better respond to public needs

Next steps • Assemble a team with representatives from each organization • Develop an action plan / white paper • Start a pilot project (IGED, Chicago Science Festival, others) • Questions, concerns, ideas?