Goals Review Federal Higher Education Policy Explore Current - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

#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