A case example of the importance of volunteer action

More than 120 ground water professionals traveled to Washington, DC, to meet with their congressional representatives in early March. The 10th Annual NGWA Fly-in is a case example of how one can impact the policies affecting one's business and the ground water resource.

Why visit Washington—or your state capital?

Personal visits from constituents are the most effective way to get one's message across. Everyone is busy—even more so now with people trying to balance their work and personal lives. A policymaker recognizes that if someone takes his/her precious time and money to visit, the issue is truly important to the constituent (and constituent, of course, translates into a potential voter for the congressional member).

While e-mail and the Internet have grown in usage, they are discounted on Capitol Hill in part because it is too easy to copy and send out a mass e-mail message. Personalized letters are more persuasive than the quick, mass e-mail, but because of heightened security, letters must be mailed in advance or sent electronically. Therefore, personal visits remain at the top of the list as being the most effective way to communicate your message to your congressional representative.

Among this year's speakers was Mike Connor from Senator Jeff Bingaman's staff. The senator is the current chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Mike briefed attendees on an expected water science bill. House Agriculture Committee staff member Aleta Botts provided the timeline for the upcoming farm bill. NGWA's goal is for the farm bill to include a provision reauthorizing and making changes to the household water well financing program so it can continue and increase its effectiveness. Botts also reinforced the importance of attendees being in Washington.

During a luncheon presentation, Congressman Gordon graciously accepted a 2007 NGWA Ground Water Protector Award for his efforts to promote geothermal heat pump system use. He is pictured in the photo to the left along with NGWA President Loyd Watson (at left). Senator Bingaman of New Mexico also received a 2007 NGWA Ground Water Protector Award. He is pictured in the photo to the right between Kathryn Eades and NGWA Director Alan Eades. New Mexico is heavily dependent on ground water, and the senator has worked closely with NGWA on ground water-related issues.

Additional outside and NGWA member speakers rounded out Monday's program, preparing attendees for their Tuesday Hill visits

How does one conduct a meeting with a congressional member—or state legislator?

Stephanie Vance informed attendees on how to hold a successful meeting with a legislator by employing the "Gift of GAB," which outlined below.

• Greet. Start out by greeting your elected officials and explaining why you're relevant to them. Something such as, "Hello, my name is so-and-so. I live...my organization is located in...we serve people in...(name of city/county in the congressional district). I/our mission is to...(fill in the blank).
• Acknowledge. Let the elected official know you've done your homework. Acknowledge the kinds of issues they're interested in and connect them to your own. Try something such as, "Knowing of your interest in 'issue X,' I thought you might appreciate our work in 'issue Y.'" You can find out more about what elected officials are working on by reviewing their Web sites. At the federal level, the Web sites are www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. Similar Web sites are available at the state level.
• Bring it home. This is where you make the "ask," which is absolutely critical to any communication with an elected official. Here's a way to frame it: "We are hoping you will agree to help us with an appropriation...cosponsor a particular piece of legislation...write a letter...come visit our program in the district." Depending upon the issue, it's unlikely the elected official will say yes or no immediately, so be sure to ask them the best way to follow up.

NGWA Fly-in attendees asked their legislators for help using one or more of the following four asks:

• Support for inclusion of language in the upcoming farm bill that would reauthorize the Household Water Well System Program and make the following changes based on lessons learned from initial program operations: (1) allow the use of in-kind contributions to meet the 10 percent match requirement, (2) incorporate a grant component for use under certain, limited circumstances, and (3) require the department to develop rules within 180 days to avoid program disruptions.
• Send a letter to the Budget and Appropriations Committee leadership asking them to increase substantially the level of appropriations from the federal Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund, so that the approximately $190 million in annual taxes collected specifically for this fund are deployed for their intended purposes: (1) to prevent petroleum tank releases, (2) to remediate leaking tank sites where no viable owner can be found, and (3) to protect human health and the environment. For the past eight years, the annual appropriation from the LUST Trust Fund has been about $72 million.
• Send a letter to the Budget and Appropriations Committee leadership expressing support for increased funding for the USGS's Water Resources Investigation and National Cooperative Geologic Mapping programs. The nation faces water supply shortages and we lack the fundamental information for sound ground water protection and management decision-making.
• Support an extension of the federal tax credit for residential geothermal heat pump installations beyond the current expiration date and support legislation, similar to H.R. 3164 that was introduced in the last Congress, that would make geothermal heat pump systems eligible for a business energy tax credit as well. Geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy consumption—and corresponding emissions—up to 44 percent compared to air-source heat pumps and up to 72 percent compared to electric resistance heating with standard air-conditioning equipment.

Do meetings with legislators really make a difference to my business?

In a word, yes.

Annually you save up to $550 for each qualified drilling rig that is exempt from the federal highway use tax. Add to that the thousands of dollars in federal excise tax you save when you purchase a qualified drilling rig or obtain annually when you file for a federal fuel tax refund—a direct bottom line benefit because of past NGWA Fly-in attendees' efforts.

In 2007, a good start was made on potentially bringing additional dollars to your business in geothermal heat pump work. Seeing fewer news headlines such as "Leaking Underground Tank Contaminates Private Wells—Water Line to Be Extended" is invaluable.

While it is too early to fully measure the outcome of the 2007 NGWA Fly-in, early indications are positive. For example, House Appropriations Chairman David Obey from Wisconsin announced within days after the NGWA Fly-in that congressional members may support increased LUST funding without that request counting against their overall funding request limit. This procedural change helps clear the way for more congressional members to support our call for increased funding to prevent tank leaks or address abandoned sites that are leaking.

New York Senator Clinton's office contacted NGWA's Washington representative about possible support for ground water monitoring data needs. Having accurate information on ground water levels and quality helps in local decision-making based on sound science rather than some special interest group's agenda.

A possible champion of consumer choice legislation was also identified during NGWA Fly-in visits, although additional discussions are required.

State level examples abound across the country, including efforts to protect consumer choice, protect exempt wells from water rights permitting, and address licensing issues.

In speaking about the NGWA Fly-in, Lee Trotta with the Wisconsin Ground Water Association notes, "The meeting prepares state representatives to get their messages across efficiently to the lawmakers who will make a difference."

It's your turn—time to crank up the volume

The 120 NGWA Fly-in attendees paved the way for their fellow professionals. The attendance numbers for the NGWA Fly-in are above those of water organizations more than twice our size. Even with this accomplishment, a congressional staffer commented that other water organizations are "louder." They write more letters and communicate throughout the year. Instead of accepting the statement as a fact, consider it a challenge. Write Congress today. A short one-page letter following the outlines of the "Gift of GAB" and including one or two of the asks from this article will maximize the work begun by the 120 attendees. Ask yourself—who do you want informing Congress about water wells and ground water? You? Or another organization whose interests may differ from yours and whose knowledge of your business is less? It's time to crank up the volume!

NGWA thanks the attendees and Baker Mfg. Co./Monitor Division of Evansville, Wisconsin, and Pentair Water of Delavan, Wisconsin, for their support as sponsors of the 2007 NGWA Fly-in.