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Graduate School, USDA
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Capitol rendering, 1859
The Graduate School, USDA presents the

Congressional
Seminar
Series

The decisions being made by the 108th Congress will have a profound effect on governmental operations for years to come. These programs are designed to help participants gain a more thorough understanding of legislative operations, the culture of Congress, and the way their actions affect your agency and its mission.

Programs
Tracking and Monitoring Legislation
Learn to find and use congressional documents to monitor, track and research current litigation, as well as to search out and analyze legislative history. The goal of this seminar is to help you:
  • Know how to track legislation from its introduction to conclusion
  • Access and refer to committee hearings and votes held
  • Learn how and where to access information Web sites and search engines to gain detailed information on bills and amendments as they move through the litigation process
  • Gain the tools to analyze the impact of new legislation on your organization
    Upcoming Session Information
  • Dates: April 15, 2004; July 7, 2004; September 9, 2004
  • Time: 9:00 a.m. to noon
  • FY03 Tuition: $195
  • FY04 Tuition: $210
  • Course Code: CFPG9235L
  • Register Now!
    Congressional Budget and Appropriations Process
    A critical skill for any federal government manager or executive is a grounding in the congressional budget process. Meet with experts to develop a thorough understanding of the budget and appropriations cycle, allowing you to track the money as it flows back into your organization. The goal of this seminar is to help you:
  • Recognize various budget documents and how to use them most effectively
  • Understand points of funding input
  • Clarify the distinction between the authorizations and appropriations
  • Track the flow of appropriations as they impact your organization
    Upcoming Session Information
  • Dates: April 1, 2004; August 3, 2004
  • FY03 Tuition: $450
  • FY04 Tuition: $480
  • Course Code: CFPG9215L
  • Instructor: H. Arthur Sauer, former deputy director, House Budget Committee
  • Register Now!
    Working with Congressional Staff
    Learn to avoid commonly made mistakes, and increase your ability to influence Congress and congressional staff through your personal interactions. The goal of this seminar is to help you:
  • Understand the functioning of a member of Congress' office, including the roles of staff, the distribution of congressional funds, and strategies for creating effective entry points
  • Recognize key relationships between congressional staff, district staff, committees and constituents.
  • Increase your ability to effectively influence decisions made by Congress.
    Upcoming Session Information
  • Dates: March 11, 2004; April 5, 2004; June 30, 2004
  • Time: 9:00 a.m.-noon
  • FY04 Tuition: $210
  • Course Code: CFPG9220L
  • Instructor: Edward J. Willett, Director, Congressional Programs and Legislative Affairs, Center for Leadership and Management, Graduate School, USDA
  • Register Now!
    Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony
    This seminar is ideal for anyone who may be called before Congress to testify on behalf of his or her agency. Gain essential knowledge of the dynamics of congressional hearings, and be briefed by experts on how to prepare and deliver testimony before congressional committees. The goal of this seminar is to help you:
  • Gain a thorough comprehension of the procedures and dynamics of congressional hearings
  • Understand the four types of hearings and the best preparation for each
  • Incorporate audio and visual aids to enhance your presentation
  • Eliminate excess anxiety associated with delivering congressional testimony
    Upcoming Session Information
  • Dates: September 29, 2003; March 18, 2004; May 13, 2004; July 15, 2004
  • FY03 Tuition: $450
  • FY04 Tuition: $480
  • Course Code: CFPG9230L
  • Instructor: Grace A. Cummings, executive director, The Faith and Politics Institute
  • Register Now!
    Congressional Operations Workshop
    The Congressional Operations Workshop examines the leadership and organization of Congress, as well as the political forces that shape legislation. Attend this seminar for a comprehensive review of the structure, pressures and day-to-day operations of the U.S. Congress. This weeklong seminar is highly interactive and includes travel to Capitol Hill. You will have the opportunity to:
  • Hear presentations by lobbyists, trade association representatives and academic and media personnel who closely follow the workings of Congress and politics
  • Meet with congressional staff and former Members to network and ask questions
  • Play the role of a member of Congress in a dynamic congressional simulation

    The goal of this seminar is to help you understand:
  • Congressional committee and floor procedures for how a bill becomes a law
  • Roles of personnel and committee staff
  • How the influence of the media, special interests and money impact policy formation
    Upcoming Session Information
  • Dates: May 3-7, 2004; July 19-23, 2004; September 20-24, 2004
  • FY03 Tuition: $995
  • FY04 Tuition: $1,060
  • Course Code: CFPG9200L
  • Instructors: Dr. James Thurber, director and professor of Government, The Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies and Campaign Lobbying Institutes, American University; Dr. Walter Oleszek, senior specialist, Congressional Research Center; H. Arthur Sauer, former deputy director, House Budget Committee; Frederick S. Yang, senior vice president, Peter Hart Research Associates, Inc.; and Gwynn Geiger Heygi, vice president, Bonner and Associates
  • Register Now!
    The President's Budget
    Review the President's Budget with a congressional budget expert and find out what its impact will be on your organization. The goal of this seminar is to help you:
  • Reflect upon the political realities of the current administration
  • Outline and understand current funding decisions
  • Define administrative priorities and evaluate their impact on your organization
    Upcoming Session Information
  • Date: February 18, 2004
  • Time: 9:00 a.m. to noon
  • FY04 Tuition: $240
  • Course Code: CFPG9225L
  • Instructor: H. Arthur Sauer, former deputy director, House Budget Committee
  • More information
    The New Congress
    Review the results of the recent biennial congressional elections and the changes in congressional leadership, shifts in the legislative and political agenda and how this impacts future congressional and presidential races.
    Session Information
  • Dates: TBA
  • Tuition: $195
  • Course Code: CFPG9210L
  • Instructor: Dr. James Thurber, director and professor, Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, American University
  • More information

    • Registration
    You may register online, fax, mail or phone at (202) 314-3598. Please click on "Register Now" above.

    More Information
    For more information, please contact Joan Leach by phone at (202) 314-3598 or by e-mail at Joan_Leach@grad.usda.gov.

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