Russell Harrison Senior Legislative Representative Grassroots Activities IEEE-USA

Russell Harrison Senior Legislative Representative Grassroots Activities IEEE-USA

• IEEE-USA History, Operations Summary, and Program Areas • Public Policy • Congress and Immigration Reform

1972 -1973 - IEEE Constitution amended by member referendum to add “b) Professional, directed toward the advancement and standing of the members of the profession it serves, . . ” to purposes of IEEE. 1973 - U. S. Activities Committee (USAC) of the IEEE Board established, with Harold Goldberg as chair. 1974 – USAC reconstituted as IEEE U. S. Activities Board (USAB), chaired by IEEE Vice President of Professional Activities (appointed by IEEE Assembly) 1997 – USAB reconstituted as IEEE-United States of America, with member-elected President. IEEE VP, Professional Activities abolished after transition year. First elected IEEE-USA President was John Reinert (1998) See http: //www. ieeeusa. org/about/history/

Budget: $5. 4 million in 2011 Volunteer Structure: Board of Directors, Operating Committee and Assembly, plus 25 chartered committees/councils, overseeing programs and operations of 750+ volunteers (including volunteers in the PACE Network). Staff: 21 full time positions Office: 2001 L Street, N. W. , Suite 700, Washington, DC (shared with IEEE Computer Society) Website: http: //www. ieeeusa. org

Career & Member Services Government Relations (Career. Navigator, Salary Service, Consultants, Entrepreneurs, career webinars, etc. ) (policy advocacy on S&T and career/workforce issues affecting member’s careers, CARE grassroots network, government fellowships, WISE Internships, etc. ) Professional Activities Communications & Public Awareness (supporting local section/chapter/branch professional activities through the PACE Network, student/SPAC conferences, Professional Development Seminars, the Annual Meeting, etc. ) (Awards & Recognitions, Today’s Engineer e-zine and digest, Ebooks, annual E-Week celebration, Future Cities Competition, Introduce a Girl to Engineering, “Discoveries & Breakthroughs”, Mass Media Fellows, Engineering Video Contest, etc. )

• Represent IEEE members in the U. S. to: Congress – State Legislatures – The Executive Branch – The Media – • We take positions on policy when: The policies uniquely affect engineers, and – We have something unique to say –

Federal S&T Funding (America COMPETES versus HR 1 budget cuts) NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Patent Reform Legislation (S 23) Immigration Reform Engineering Education (E 2) Act WISE Internships Legislative Action Center Eye on Washington

Intellectual Property AIA Implementation SOPA / PIPA Energy Policy Cybersecurity Small Business 2013 Legislative Agenda

2014 Federal Budget Final deal due Dec. 13 Appropriations bill due

H-1 B Visa Temporary Non-Resident Belong to Employers EB Visa Green Card Permanent legal residents Employment-Based BAD! GOOD! Green cards, not guest workers

Create an exemption from the EB visa cap for … International students In the United States Who earn a masters or Ph. D In a STEM field, and Have a job offer Reform the H-1 B to … End outsourcing Protect foreign and American workers Start-Up Visas Eliminate EB Country caps

Current Situation: Gridlock Senate has passed comprehensive bill Unlimited Green cards H-1 b expansion, with protections Path to citizenship for all House Judiciary has passed four small bills E-Verify, boarder security, agricultural workers & high-tech visas Limited green card expansion H-1 B expansion without protections No path to citizenship

Deal could be reached if…. A compromise on amnesty can be found This compromise can be found by early next year The two parties can talk to each other Issues: Will the Democrats accept piecemeal? Will the Republicans accept amnesty? Where is President Obama?

WHAT DO LOBBYISTS DO?

WHAT DO LOBBYISTS DO? Advocate Positions Bridge between voters and politicians Research Problems & Solutions

POLITICIANS LISTEN TO LOBBYISTS BECAUSE VOTERS DON’T TALK TO THEM.

Percent saying the following had “some” or “a lot” of influence over their boss Congressional Management Foundation

Percent saying the following had “some” or “a lot” of influence over their boss Congressional Management Foundation

Biographical Who are you? What do you do? Local How does this affect Muncie, IN? Personal Why do you care?

The American Political System is the most accessible and easily influenced political system in the world! But you have to push

Contact your legislators www. ieeeusa. org/policy www. house. gov www. senate. gov Visit your legislators Invite your legislators to visit you Tell your friends Stay informed

IEEE-USA Todays Smart. Briefs Engineer IEEE-USA and Webinars www. ieeeusa. org ASK! In Action

Rock River Valley Section Kansas Hudson City Section River Valley Section Houston Section Pittsburgh Section

r. t. harrison@ieee. org 202 -530 -8326