1. FIRST Legislative Advocacy June 14, 2016 Ben Grove, Legislative Assistant Thompson Coburn Lobbying & Policy

2. Introduction FIRST’s Legislative Successes Legislative & Appropriations Progress State Requests Commemorative Coin Legislation Dean’s Homework

3. FIRST’s 2015 Government Relations Goals Legislation that includes funding for afterschool, mentor-based K-12 engagement programs Work with Executive Branch to see that funding is spent on such programs  Work with states to implement programs like those in Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, etc.

4. Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Every Student Succeeds Act – Passed with overwhelming bipartisan majorities in the House and the Senate – Strong STEM language included by Senators Kirk (R-IL) and Franken (D-MN) – Signed by President Obama in December 2015 Title IV, Part A- $1.6 billion Authorized – Provided block grants to all states to use as they want – Districts given flexibility – Includes spending funds to “support the participation of low- income students in nonprofit competitions related to STEM subjects (such as robotics, science research, invention, mathematics, computer science, and technology competitions)

5. Work is Not Done Passage of ESSA is only a start Next Step: Appropriations – Passed annually to fund segments of the government – Coalition Building – FIRST has joined the STEM Ed Coalition to lobby for full funding

6. State Requests ESSA took 54 STEM-existing programs and consolidated them into 9 categories (including after school robotics programs) Senate has only proposed $300m of the $1.6b allocation – Issue has been finding a “pay-for” (cutting a program to make room for new funding) – Still a chance to get higher funding in the House appropriations bill Funding should be settled/allocated by the end of the year Process starts again next year!

7. And a secondary assignment Dean’s Homework AssignmentHomework Assignment

8. Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Dean’s request for a U.S. Mint Coin to commemorate Christa McAuliffe – Died tragically in the Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster – Would commemorate her work with the Teacher in Space program – Authorizes the production of 350k $1 coins, with a $10 surcharge Surcharge would be paid to FIRST FIRST could receive up to $3.5 million from the sale of these coins – Would allow us to expand FIRST programs into additional underserved communities

9. Legislative Maneuverings Bills have been introduced – H.R. 5168 & S. 2890 End of Congress Possible Legislative Vehicles Commemorative Coin reforms

10. Cosponsors, Cosponsors, Cosponsors 16 down, 271 to go! Bipartisan and Bicoastal Social Media August Recess

11. Thank You Questions? Primary contacts – jburger@thompsoncoburn.com, 202-585- 6909 jburger@thompsoncoburn.com – bgrove@thompsoncoburn.com, 202-585- 6948 bgrove@thompsoncoburn.com Thank you