Public Policy
Advocacy Day ’07: 100+ NAFSAns Take International Education to Capitol Hill
April 9, 2007
On March 27 and 28, 113 NAFSAns representing 35 states successfully advocated for study abroad and international student and scholar issues during Advocacy Day, an annual event held in Washington, DC, to garner congressional support for international education. Advocacy Training and Strategizing
The two-day event began with an introductory briefing for newcomers that covered the fundamentals of effective advocacy and offered insight into the workings of a congressional office. Jill Welch, NAFSA’s senior director for public policy, walked participants through the Top 12 Tips to Influence Policymakers before veteran international education activists Sal Longarino (Fordham University, NY) and Alexis Akagawa (Minneapolis College of Art and Design, MN) performed skits to demonstrate what to expect during “successful” and “unsuccessful” congressional meetings.Public policy staff then gave issue briefings on the recently introduced Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act, which seeks to dramatically increase the number and diversity of U.S. students studying abroad, particularly in nontraditional locations, and various student visa and immigration provisions affecting international students and scholars. The day ended with participants dividing up into their state delegations to strategize for their Wednesday, March 28 morning appointments with their Senate and House offices.
Timely Congressional Meetings
During their Hill meetings, NAFSAns talked about the importance of international education and made specific requests, including asking their Senators and Representatives to cosponsor the Simon Study Abroad Act and to support immigration and visa reform legislation that encourages international students and scholars to study or conduct research in the United States.Participants found that many of the 161 Hill offices they visited were already familiar with international education issues, thanks to recent, opportunely timed legislative activity that came to fruition due to NAFSA’s work over the past few months. On the first day of Advocacy Day events, the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act (S.991) was introduced in the Senate by Senators Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) while its companion bill in the House (H.R. 1469) was passed unanimously through the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
And just a week earlier, on March 22, Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) introduced the STRIVE Act (H.R. 1645), which includes relief from the nonimmigrant intent requirement for some international students, extends optional practical training to 24 months, and increases the number of H-1Bs and green cards available annually.
Participants helped reinforce the importance of these bills and sought cosponsors during their Hill visits.
Successes
In addition to heightening Capitol Hill’s awareness of the value of international education, Advocacy Day participants’ efforts have so far yielded nine additional cosponsors in the Senate and nine cosponsors in the House for the Simon Study Abroad Act. To view a current list of cosponsors, please visit the ‘Key Bills in Congress’ section of NAFSA’s Take Action Center. Equally as important, participants left the event feeling empowered by their advocacy experience and ready to build the ongoing relationships with their Hill offices that are essential to sustaining congressional support for international education.For guidance on how to engage in effective advocacy, all members are encouraged to read NAFSA’s Grassroots Advocacy Handbook. To receive future action alerts and updates on legislation that impacts international educational exchange for your students, scholars, and institution, join NAFSA’s Advocacy Centered Team (ACT).
Many thanks go out to all the NAFSA members who participated in this year’s event!
