AWS Federal Affairs

1. AWS Federal Affairs Damian J Kotecki, AWS Vice President James F. Key, AWS Past President Ernest Levert, AWS President

2. Founded in 1919 • 47,000+ members • Headquarters in Miami, FL • Technical and professional society • ANSI and ISO Standards • Professional Certification

3. Foundations for Influence • Constitution and Bylaws permit limited lobbying • 501 C (3) (h): allows defined lobbying up to 10% of operating budget • Organizational Structure: Government Affairs Liaison Committee governs this area • Washington Office

4. Strategy • Leverage investment by participating in coalitions like FMS • Sponsor AWS Congressional Fellow • Develop network of contacts in agencies and congressional staff • Judicious use of consultants

5. Tactics • Monitor agency web sites for opportunities • Organize communications to provide prioritized opportunities to staff and volunteer leaders • Periodically visit or communicate with contacts in Washington • Follow-up opportunities with proposals, whitepapers, etc.

6. Government Affairs Liaison Committee (GALC) • Reports to Executive Committee and Board of Directors • Members are Volunteers • Damian J. Kotecki, Chair

7. GALC Duties • Develop a system to facilitate quality research, development and technology partnerships using the available programs sponsored by the Federal Government • Provide oversight for the Congressional Fellow Program • Identify gaps in Welding R&D programs, try to enhance funding

8. GALC Duties (continued) • Develop a database of individuals in Government who are interested in industrial and technical matters, supply them with facts about the welding industry • Develop quality cooperative proposals for government grants related to welding and materials joining

9. GALC Duties (continued) • Communicate to sister societies actions proposed by the Federal Government and get them to participate in supporting (or defeating) them • Broaden dissemination of Federal and State issues to AWS members and request their participation as citizens

10. Impact of Welding Study • Research study completed in 2001 • Welding’s contribution to the U.S. economy in FY 2000 was $33.7 Billion • Labor represents 3/4 of total welding-related production costs • There is a lack of a consistent method of measuring welding productivity.

11. Washington Office • Staffed by AWS counsel Hugh Webster, Esq. • Authors “Washington Watchword”, a monthly column in the Welding Journal • Focuses on regulatory, trade, and research legislation • Resource for member inquiries

12. Congressional Fellow Program • Began in 1998 with Dr. Mike Cieslak, assigned to Senator Jeff Bingaman (D - NM) • Ralph D. Day in 2000 worked for the Asia and Pacific Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee under Representative Doug Bereuter

13. Congressional Fellow Program • Dr. Timothy J. Fitzsimmons in 2000 worked on the Minority Staff of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources • Matthew W. White served Senator Olympia Snowe (ME) from late 2000 to late 2001 • Dr. Jonathan Epstein began in late 2000 to work for Senator Bingaman, continues to this day

14. Congressional Fellow Program • Congressional Fellows have drafted legislation concerning R&D, Energy, etc. • AWS support for Fellows ranged from only paying “boot camp” expenses to paying full salary. • AWS have found it difficult to recruit additional Congressional Fellows.

15. Scorecard • Foundation in place • Limited network of contacts • Member of FMS and other coalitions • Excellent Congressional Fellows for five years • Part-time consultants in place • Tactics need implementation • Culture needs work