CAPITOL HILL WORKSHOP
National Priorities and Partisan Politics

May 22-24, 2013
September 10-12, 2013
Aberdeen, MD - To Be Announced
Dayton/Fairborn, OH - To Be Announced

During the first Obama Administration, the White House and the Democratic Party pursued one of the most ambitious social and economic agendas in recent American history. As President Obama's second term begins, many of his first-term initiatives, like healthcare, will be in place. But the coming months will be anything but a victory lap for the White House. For one thing, there's the Republican-controlled House that will pose serious opposition to administration plans to raise taxes and cut defense spending.

While the economy demands serious attention, rapidly changing global events will affect all aspects of U.S. policy making. The elimination of Osama bin Laden may have ended one phase of America's long war on terror; however, a new more complicated struggle, highlighted by challenges in Libya, Syria and throughout the Middle East illustrates the difficulties facing elected officials at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. America's withdrawal from Iraq, the scheduled departure from Afghanistan and the continuing war on terror will make significant demands on lawmakers.

How will Congress respond to and finance this assortment of domestic and overseas challenges? What will the budgetary impact be on federal agencies? Will Congress and the administration work together to move the country forward? Attendees at The Capitol Hill Workshop will have the opportunity to discuss a number of current and critical issues, in an off-the-record setting, with a group of nationally recognized speakers experienced in all aspects of the national policymaking process.

TOPICS AND SPEAKERS *

• The Evolution of Power in Congress: Historical Perspectives and Modern Implications
• Congress and Industry: The Politics of Redistribution and Growth
• Congress and the Politics of Acquisition Policy
• Issues Facing the Supreme Court in the Current Term
• Border Security and the Politics of Immigration
• Political Leadership, American Politics, and the Role of Third Parties
• Leadership and U.S National Interests: A Congressman's Perspective
• The 113th Congress: Conflict or Cooperation
• The Role of the Senate Armed Services Committee
• Leadership and the Balance of Power: An Update
• Capitalism vs. Socialism in the 21st Century: The Continuing Clash of Ideas
• Congress and American Foreign Policy: Europe and NATO; Russia and Central Asia; Middle East; China and East Asia; South Asia (five separate presentations)
• On the Verge of an Energy Boom: Will Congress Be Revolutionary or Reactionary?
• National Defense Budgets in an Age of Austerity: Spending and the Debt Limit
• Lobbying Congress: Money and Politics

Subject to scheduling availability, the Capitol Hill Workshop will include informal tours of Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

After participating in the Capitol Hill Workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the key decision makers who are involved in the policy-making and policy implementation processes and the institutional perspectives from which they offer advice and make judgments;

2. Think strategically and tactically about how to affect policy-making and policy implementation, how to anticipate reactions to that policy in the United States and abroad, and how to avoid unintended consequences that flow from poor policy judgments;

3. Improve cultural and historic awareness of the political, legal, and institutional environment in which domestic and foreign policy-making and policy implementation occur;

4. Enhance critical synthetic and analytical skills necessary to advise senior officials in the making and evaluation of public policy;

5. Be sensitized to the changing situational conditions that affect past, current, and future policy judgments.

PROGRAM MODERATORS

A highly qualified Program Moderator will facilitate dialogue between the speakers and participants over the course of the three-day seminar. View moderator biographies.

FEE

The fee for the workshop is $1,485 per person. The program will feature approximately 12-15 separate presentations. Also included are daily continental breakfast and working luncheon. The workshop will be held in a private meeting room at the Capitol Hill Club. An on-site staff person will assist participants as needed and coordinate daily activities. (Please check Registration Page for fees for two-day Capitol Hill Workshops in Aberdeen, MD and Dayton/Fairborn, OH).

REGISTRATION

The target audience for these workshops are civilians (GS-13 and above) and military O-4 and above). Others who have a special interest in the subject, need-to-know, or are in key positions may apply. Workshop space is limited to assure participants ample time for open discussion with presenters. Upon registration, attendees will receive confirmation via email. Cancellations will be accepted in writing up to two weeks prior to each program. After that time, substitutions will be accepted. The Agency will be billed if registration is cancelled after the deadline.

If you have any questions or need further information, please call Iris Fernandez or Patricia Patton at 703-684-8807.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Capitol Hill Workshops will be held in private meeting rooms at the Capitol Hill Club, located at 300 First Street, SE, in Washington, DC. The Club is directly across the street from the Capitol South Metro Station (Blue and Orange Lines). Business attire for participants is required. Military uniform is optional.

Reporting information concerning registration time and meeting room assignment will be sent to all participants approximately 2 weeks prior to the start of each program. The meeting room will open at 7:45 am and seminars will be conducted from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

These programs are informal and strictly "off-the-record." No video, power point or audio-visual aids are utilized in seminar presentations.

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