#M AKE T HE C ASE For Legal Education Policy Nancy Conneely, Director of Policy Keinan Thompson, Policy Associate Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Goals • Review Federal Higher Education Policy • Explore Current Political Landscape • Examine Advocacy Case Study • #MakeTheCase Advocacy Campaign • Determine Next Steps 3
HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY
Higher Education Policy • HEA Reauthorization • Budget Reconciliation • Grad PLUS [HERA 2005] • More IDR / PLSF [CCRAA 2007] • Moved from FFEL to DL / Even More IDR [ACA 2010] • Regulations • Gainful Employment [2014] • REPAYE [2015] • Defense to Repayment [2016] 5
AccessLex’s Priorities • Direct Loan borrowers should be eligible for a single income- driven repayment plan • The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program should be preserved as the program currently exists • Costs associated with preparing for a requisite professional licensure exam should be eligible for federal student loans • Financial aid administrators should be able to require additional loan counseling 6
Recent Proposals • FAFSA Simplification • Changes to Income-Driven Repayment • Cap/Eliminate PSLF • Increased Loan Counseling • Increased Accountability 7
POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
How Process Should Work HEA Reauthorization Budget & Appropriations • • Advocacy Meetings (ongoing) President’s Budget • • Hearings Congressional Budget Resolutions • • Draft Bill Language House Appropriations • • Markup Senate Appropriations • • Votes -> Conference -> Votes Conference • • Signing Signing 9
Where Congress Stands Inauguration 2018 Omnibus Passes (FY17) President’s Budget AHCA Passes (Reconciliation) Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 10
Political Realities • Calendar • Chamber Dynamics • Leadership Priorities • Executive Branch • Mid-Term Elections 11
What Will Happen? • Moving forward: • House could act • Hearings will continue • Draft legislation may appear • Reconciliation changes could occur • We don’t know because they don’t know ¯\_( ツ )_/¯ 12
QUESTIONS
ADVOCACY CASE STUDY
American Health Care Act (AHCA) • “Repeal” of Affordable Care Act • Reconciliation • Not Law (Yet) • Real-Time Example of Advocacy 15
American Health Care Act Bill Vote-Getting Introduced CBO Score Bill Pulled Amendments Markup Manager’s Recess House Amendment Passage March March March March April April May 6 th 13 th 20 th 24 th 23 rd 4 th (Month) 16
Before • Raise Awareness • Educate Public • Shape Debate • Build Support 17
American Health Care Act Bill Introduced CBO Score Markup Bill Pulled March 6 th March 8 th March 13 th March 24 th 18
During • Spring Into Action • Letters of Opposition • Constituent Engagement • Continually Apply Pressure 19
During (cont.) • Educate Public • Messaging (K.I.S.S) • Member Engagement • Social Media Campaigns 20
During – Campaigns • Membership Education • Direct Action 21
During – Alerts • Membership Activation • Urgency 22
American Health Care Act House New CBO Passage Score Negotiations Recess May 4 th June July August 23
After • Capitalize on Exposure • Organize Multiple Sides • Direct Action • Cycle Repeats and Reinforces 24
After – Real-Time Advocacy 25
Lessons • Necessary to Educate Public • Essential to Build Coalitions • Critical to Engage in Direct Action • Lawmakers Will Respond • CONSTITUENTS (YOU) ARE KEY! 26
#MAKETHECASE FOR LEGAL EDUCATION
AccessLex’s Toolkit • Statements • Action Alerts • Issue One-Pagers • Advocacy Tips • Phone Script / Letter Writing • Coalition Work / Debate Shaping 28
Action Alert • Urgent – Take Action Now • Sent via Email • On Website 29
Fact Sheets / Talking Points • Brief Issue Education • Top Priorities • Loan Counseling • Income-Driven Repayment • Public Service Loan Forgiveness • Licensure Financing (Bar Loans) • All HEA Recommendations 30
Contacting Congress • Calling or Writing Your Member • How To Find Your Member • Helpful Writing / Calling Tips • Sample Templates 31
ADVOCACY 101
Get Involved • Choose Your Issue(s) • Educate Public • Engage Your Congress Members • Utilize AccessLex’s Assistance 33
Two-Part School Advocacy Education Advocacy Speaker roles Letters Invites to events Phone calls Host policy panels Direct Interaction AccessLex Resources Social media posts 34
YOU ARE THE KEY!
QUESTIONS 36
Reminders • Higher Education Roundup • Register for Conference 37
www.accesslex.org/advocacy-campaign
THANK YOU Nancy Conneely Keinan Thompson nconneely@accesslex.org kthompson@accesslex.org
Recommend
More recommend
