How to Educate Your Elected Officials About Taiwan

ABC’s of Grassroots ABC’s of Grassroots AdvocacyAdvocacy

Congressional ResolutionsCongressional Resolutions

•House Resolution•Senate Resolution

Types of ResolutionsTypes of Resolutions

• Simple Resolution – used to set own rules or congratulate or condemn.

• Concurrent Resolution – like simple resolution, except it is introdubed in both houses concurrently.

How a Resolution is How a Resolution is PassedPassed

• A resolution is introduced in the House of Representatives (H) or the Senate (S).

• Resolution is sponsored by a Representative or Senator.

• Other legislators can co-sponsor the resolution. The more co-sponsors, the more likely other members will support the resolution, enabling it to pass.

How a Resolution is Passed How a Resolution is Passed (continued)(continued)

• The resolution is assigned to a committee for study.

• If released by committee, the resolution is put to a vote (218 votes for a simple majority).

• The resolution is sent to the Senate.

How a Resolution is Passed How a Resolution is Passed (continued)(continued)

• It is assigned to a Senate committee for review.

• If released, it is voted on again, with a simple majority of 51 votes to pass.

• After a conference consisting of both House and Senate members work out differences, the resolution is sent back to the House and Senate for a final vote.

What is Advocacy?What is Advocacy?

Advocacy (Noun): “the act or process of advocating or supporting

a cause or proposal.” (Webster’s Dictionary)

Advocacy ActivitiesAdvocacy Activities

• Voting• Writing a letter (snail mail or

online)• Picking up a phone and calling• Visits (Local Office or Capitol Hill)• Public Demonstrations

Grassroots AdvocacyGrassroots Advocacy

• Grassroots advocacy is a form of advocacy which originates among concerned citizens, rather than being orchestrated by organizations or companies.

Why Advocacy?Why Advocacy?

• Elected officials represent their constituents.

• Our elected officials cannot represent us unless we educate them on our concerns.

How To Conduct AdvocacyHow To Conduct Advocacy•Discover who represents you

•Who are your Senators?

•Who is your House Representative?

United States SenateUnited States Senate

• www.senate.gov

• Find your Senators by State.

• Two per state.

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

• www.house.gov

• Find your Representative by Zip Code + 4

Contacting Your Member of Contacting Your Member of CongressCongress

• Visit

• Phone

• Write/Email

EtiquetteEtiquette

• You are a constituent (or an inhabitant of the district/state)

• You are a member of FAPA-YPG, a national grassroots advocacy organization.

• You are expressing your concern about the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.

EtiquetteEtiquette (continued) (continued)

• Ask your representative to join the Taiwan Caucus.

• Thank your representative for past involvement or support.

Visiting Your Visiting Your CongresspersonCongressperson

•Visiting a local office.•Visiting an office on Capitol Hill.

AppointmentAppointment

• Request an appointment with your representative’s foreign affairs aide.

• Include your identity and organization.

• Provide available times/dates.

Example RequestExample Request

I am a constituent of California and a member of Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA-YPG), a grassroots advocacy organization with 56 chapters across the nation. I would like to schedule an appointment with Senator Boxer’s foreign affairs aide next week in the afternoon to discuss the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.

Preparing For the VisitPreparing For the Visit

• Have an agenda prepared, know what issues you want to present, and who is going to present them.

• Research your legislator’s positions on your issues, and consider them in framing your position.

• Be aware of their political affiliations, as it can dictate their stance on some issues.

DOs and DON’TsDOs and DON’Ts

DOs• Be on time. If you will be late, call.• Be brief. Their time is limited.• Present all the issues before the small talk.• Thank them for issues they already support.• Use personal examples, when possible,

because your interest and concern are what they are interested in.

• Do focus on how an issue benefits US interests.

DOs and DON’TsDOs and DON’Ts

DON’Ts• Don’t interrupt a speaker.• Don’t contradict others in your group.• Don’t make up facts. If you are unsure, offer

to find the answer and follow up.• Do not overload them with information.• Do not argue with the aide.• Do not discuss Taiwan politics with the aide.

Appointment EtiquetteAppointment Etiquette1. Dress in business

attire.

2. Bring two copies of all documents.

3. When you meet the aide, introduce yourself and exchange business cards.

Appointment Etiquette Appointment Etiquette (continued)(continued)

4. Give one set of documents to the aide so that s/he can follow along.

5. Focus on two to four specific issues.

6. Ask the aide if you may follow up in one week.

ISSUES OF CONCERN TO TAIWANESE AMERICANS 1. UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE OF SELF-DETERMINATION Taiwan today is a democracy. Any important issue, such as the future of Taiwan, should be determined by the people of Taiwan through a democratic mechanism, such as a referendum. U.S. current policy is that any resolution of cross-Taiwan Strait relations must be 1. peaceful and 2. have the express consent of the people of Taiwan. Only the people of Taiwan have the right to determine Taiwan's future. On April 13, 2011, Reps. Andrews and Garrett introduced HCR39. To cosponsor, please contact Stephen Hunter at 225-6501 or Stephen.Hunter@mail.house.gov. 2. SAFETY AND SECURITY China's over fourteen hundred missiles threaten Taiwan but also seriously damage the stability in the region. The missiles hold the 23 million people of Taiwan at gunpoint and pose a psychological terror. The Cuban missile crisis in the 1960s held the American people hostage for 13 days. Yet, every day the people of Taiwan live under this Chinese military threat. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act commits the U.S. to Taiwan's security. We support the sale of advanced weapons and advocate the need for the highest level of military exchange between Taiwan and the U.S. On April 13, 2011, Reps. Andrews and Garrett introduced HCR39. To cosponsor, please contact Stephen Hunter at 225-6501 or Stephen.Hunter@mail.house.gov. 3. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) MEMBERSHIP/ UN Membership Health should not be used as a political weapon. Taiwan's diplomatic isolation –due to Chinese pressure– prevented Taiwan from receiving any direct assistance from the WHO during the height of SARS and birdflu outbreaks in Taiwan. A secret MOU signed by China and the WHO in 2005 limits Taiwan's participation in the WHO; if any at all. U.S. current policy in supporting Taiwan's "meaningful" participation is rendered meaningless because of this memorandum. Since 1997, both Houses passed legislation supporting Taiwan's WHO membership. 4. US-TAIWAN FREE AND FAIR TRADE AGREEMENT Today, Taiwan is the U.S. 8th largest trading partner and the 5th largest destination for U.S. agricultural products. U.S.-Taiwan trade totals $60 billion annually. The International Trade Commission concluded that an FTA with Taiwan eliminating tariffs and non-tariff barriers on U.S. trade with Taiwan could increase U.S. exports and yield benefits to service exports. 5. SENATE CONFIRMATION OF THE AIT DIRECTOR The Taiwan Strait is one of the flashpoints in the world. It is in the interest of the US that Congress thoroughly examines the viewpoints and the skills of the American Institute in Taiwan Director (after all, the de facto American ambassador to Taiwan) before being sent to Taiwan. Why are we putting more scrutiny on ambassadors to tourist destinations such as Barbados than on the ambassador to Taiwan? 6. US-TAIWAN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS In 1979, the United States severed diplomatic relations with the KMT government in Taipei because it continued to claim sovereignty over China. Now that Taiwan is a free democracy, Taiwan and the United States maintain a close and important relationship. Long-term stability in that area of the world can only be ensured if the US normalizes its relations with Taiwan through the establishment of diplomatic relations. On January 9, 2009, Rep. John Linder introduced HCR18 concluding that it is the sense of Congress that– (B) the President should begin the process of resuming normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan." 7. OUTDATED ONE-CHINA POLICY The 1972 U.S.-China Shanghai Communiqué stated: "The U.S. acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is part of China." At the time, both the Communist government in Beijing and Chiang Kai-shek's government in Taiwan agreed to this wording. Much has changed over the past 30 years in both countries. Taiwan no longer claims sovereignty over China. Today, with Taiwan being a democratic, human rights respecting nation, it is time to rethink this formula. Over the years, the policy has become a mantra to appease China. A "One China, One Taiwan" policy would more clearly reflects today's reality. 8. CONGRESSIONAL TAIWAN CAUCUS In April 2002, the Congressional Taiwan Caucus (CTC) was established. Today it has 140 members. The Senate Taiwan Caucus (STC) has 22 members and continues to grow. To join the CTC: Jeremy Kadden at 225-5965; to join the STC: Victoria Woodbury at 224-4744. For more info, contact: Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) at (202) 547-3686 or www.fapa.org

Appointment Etiquette Appointment Etiquette (continued)(continued)

7. Thank the aide for meeting with you.

8. In one week, contact the aide and request an update.

Appointment Etiquette Appointment Etiquette (continued)(continued)

Steps 9, 10, and 11…

FOLLOW UP!

FOLLOW UP!!

FOLLOW UP!!!

Congressional VisitCongressional Visit

• At local level, you will be meeting a general legislative assistant.

• On Capitol Hill, you are more likely meet with the Foreign Affairs aide.

Annual FAPA-YPG Annual FAPA-YPG ConferenceConferenceWashington, DC

August 27-29, 2011

Calling Your Calling Your CongresspersonCongressperson

•Preferable to call the Capitol Hill office to speak to the Foreign Affairs aide

•Be sure to call back to follow up.

Placing the CallPlacing the Call

• Practice what you want to say.• Be concise. Keep your call to 2-3 minutes.• Be organized. Decide on which 2 or 3

points you want to discuss and keep it brief.• Clearly state what support you seek.• Thank them for their time.• If you can, follow up with a letter restating

your points and thanking them.

Writing Your CongresspersonWriting Your Congressperson

•Writing a letter•Writing an email

Writing a LetterWriting a Letter

• Be brief (one page), and use your own words

• Letter should be a professional letter, using appropriate headings, addresses, and titles.

• Be specific. State the specific bill number and issue, and state your opinion in the first sentence.

• Include personal experiences, when possible.

• Ask the legislator to specifically commit to supporting the legislation.

• If sending the letter to a committee member, copy your own representative.

Sending an EmailSending an Email

• An email sent to a legislator should be considered a professional letter.

• Follow the same guidelines of writing a letter.

• Include your full name and address in body of message.

Writing A Writing A Website/OrganizationWebsite/Organization

•Correcting references of Taiwan•Correcting inaccurate information on maps, websites, and articles.

Contacting a Contacting a Website/OrganizationWebsite/Organization

Who can you contact?• Newspaper editors• Website managers• Marketing or PR Departments of

Organizations/Companies• Government Agencies

Why Contact an Editor?Why Contact an Editor?

• Contacting newspaper editors to bring attention to a resolution or issue is a great way to provide exposure.

• Focusing on the resolution or issue ensures that the media will follow and report on it.

• Media coverage of a resolution or issue makes Congress aware it is important.

Other ResourcesOther Resources

• FAPA Website – www.fapa.org

Other ResourcesOther Resources(continued)(continued)

• FAPA-YPG Website – www.fapaypg.org

Other ResourcesOther Resources(continued)(continued)

• THOMAS (Library of Congress) thomas.loc.gov

QuestionsQuestions

How to educate your elected officials about Taiwan

ABC’s of Grassroots ABC’s of Grassroots AdvocacyAdvocacy

Created by Kevin K. Wu – May 18, 2011