1. Russell Harrison Senior Legislative Representative Grassroots Activities IEEE-USA

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

3.  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/

4.  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

5. Career & Member Services (CareerNavigator, Salary Service, Consultants, Entrepreneurs, career webinars, etc.) Government Relations (policy advocacy on S&T and career/workforce issues affecting member’s careers, CARE grassroots network, government fellowships, WISE Internships, etc.) Professional Activities (supporting local section/chapter/branch professional activities through the PACE Network, student/SPAC conferences, Professional Development Seminars, the Annual Meeting, etc.) Communications & Public Awareness (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.)

6. 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

7.  Federal S&T Funding (America COMPETES versus HR 1 budget cuts)  NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Standards  Patent Reform Legislation (S23)  Immigration Reform  Engineering Education (E2) Act  WISE Internships  Legislative Action Center  Eye on Washington

8.  Intellectual Property  AIA Implementation  SOPA / PIPA  Energy Policy  Cybersecurity  Small Business 2013 Legislative Agenda

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

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

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

12. Current Situation: Gridlock  Senate has passed comprehensive bill  Unlimited Green cards  H-1b 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-1B expansion without protections  No path to citizenship

13.  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?

15.  Advocate Positions  Bridge between voters and politicians  Research  Problems & Solutions

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

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

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

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

24.  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

25.  IEEE-USA SmartBriefs  Todays Engineer and In Action  IEEE-USA Webinars  www.ieeeusa.org  ASK!

27.  Rock River Valley Section  Kansas City Section  Hudson River Valley Section  Houston Section  Pittsburgh Section

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