Originally post at Federal Communicators Network. Sign up for their newsletter! It’s free and it will make you more popular.
I’d like to introduce you to someone: your agency’s Congressional Liaison. She might have any of a variety of phrases in her title, such as “Legislative Specialist” or “Intergovernmental Affairs,” but I’ll just call her the same thing I call myself.
What does your Congressional Liaison do exactly? Well, it can vary. Some are strategic advisors who provide political counsel to the agency. Others draft and review legislation that impacts your agency’s mission. She may be segregated from the budget office or closely aligned with it. She may work hand in glove with your public affairs office or be totally aloof from it. What all Congressional Liaisons have in common is their peculiar audience: Capitol Hill.
Your Congressional Liaison should be involved in strategic planning from the beginning. If the ultimate goal is to have something happen on the Hill she’ll guide you along the most effective path. She may, conversely, advise that the Hill should not be your goal at all, saving your organization months or even years of misdirected effort. Work with your Congressional Liaison and she’ll help you put your best foot forward.
1. Remember this maxim: Timeliness > Thoroughness
This is not to say that you should fudge the facts to get your Congressional Liaison information faster. You should, however, appreciate that the information is more important than the formatting. Just get the answers she needs, and let her worry about how to phrase it.
2. Be aware of your unknown unknowns
Assuming there are no Canadians reading this, we all enjoy a Constitutional right to petition our Government (even if we are the very employees charged with processing such petitions). However, although I encourage all of you to exercise your rights, have the humility to know that you may not be aware of all the details of what’s happening on the Hill.
One of your Congressional Liaison’s duties is to keep your agency from stepping in it, so to speak. If she suggests that perhaps a different course of action is warranted, hear her out.
3. Be a source of local intel
It may not be immediately apparent how such information is pertinent, but one never knows how the web of public opinion will connect to Capitol Hill.
4. Treat all communications as if they were going up to the Hill
Any communication, for good reasons or for bad, can end up in the hands of a Member of Congress at any time; edit accordingly.
5. Think of Congress as more than an ATM
In my opinion, Congress is like a standing focus group for America. Treat it like as a source of information, not just appropriations. If you really want to know how your agency is meeting its mission, Congress will let you know.
Good post, good tips — thanks, Chris!
Has sequestration changed the dynamics much for folks like you? I would imagine that thoughtfulness and care at this point are at an even greater premium.
@Dave: Opinions on the sequestration vary widely on the Hill, so like anything controversial, a conservative approach is advised.
Something to remember is that Congress has cut its own budget by 25% over the last few years, while sequestration is less than 10%. If a Fed complains about the impacts of sequestration it may fall on deaf ears on the Hill.