Yyyyyy x. yyyyyy

1825 T Street N.W., #0000 xxxxxx xxxx , xxxx , xxxxx 00000

Phonexxx-xxx-xxxx

Email: abc@xyz.com

SSN: xxx-xx-xxxx

 

 

Core Competencies

 

Congressional Liaison, Senior Advisor, Budget Appropriation, Budget Analysis, Legislative Analysis, Policy Analysis, Management Advising, Presentations, Reporting, Advocacy, Strategic Communications, Leadership, Program/Project Administration, Congressional and Agency Investigations, Testimony Preparation/Coaching, Problem Solving

 

Work Experience

 

November 2008 to Present

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Public Health Analyst (GS-14)

Hours worked per Week:

Supervisor Name:      Phone:      Permission to Contact:

 

Serving as sole liaison to Congressional Authorizing committees for two major agency programs comprising 25%+ of annual budget, actively collaborate with Congressional staff on authorizing legislation and budget appropriations issues. Effectively interface with Congress as advocate of CDC s mission and programs and effectively translate CDC scientific findings.  Relied upon to exercise sound judgment and diplomacy in addressing highly sensitive situations.

 

Proactively manage congressional interactions with Congressional Authorizing committees for $1.5B annual budgeted Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER) in support of mission to prepare nation s public health system to respond effectively to natural disasters and acts of terrorism, as well as $270M budgeted National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), program focused on supporting research into new work practices and technologies aimed at preventing on-the-job worker injuries and fatalities.

 

Expertly advise management across CDC Office of Director, COTPER and NIOSH on strategies for productively interacting with Congress.  Contribute extensive experience, knowledge and relationships with Congress toward developing and executing action plans targeted toward proactive outreach to Congress through member/staff education and agency mission/program advocacy.

Proficiently review, analyze and approve agency policy documents, proposals and actions in consideration of projected issues, concerns and sensitivities of Congressional Authorizing committee members and staff; advise CDC managers on best course of action.  Consistently cultivate and maintain

productive working relationships with Congressional Authorizing committees staff as well as individual Congressional members by keeping them informed of agency programmatic issues/activities and delivering superior customer service.

 

 

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In response to Swine Flu pandemic, steered interactions with Congress to address challenging issue of determining whether CDC should recommend healthcare employers provide their staff with masks as protection against flu virus.  Invested extensive amount of time in preparing agency experts to testify at three Congressional committee hearings in stringent two-week timeframe; resulted in successful communication of key messages.

Successfully influenced legislation by analyzing and reporting on Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act, which has significant implications for CDC s programs and budget. Effectively authored and presented CDC comments, advocating for CDC interests during multiple Congressional Authorizing committees; resulted in Congressional staff seeking revisions to bill.

Strategically developed policy proposals and spearheaded drafting of three recommended changes to CDC s legal authorities in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-19 guidelines; proposals were subsequently sent to OMB for action.

 

January 2006 to November 2008

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Public Health Analyst (GS-13)

Hours worked per Week:

Supervisor Name:      Phone:      Permission to Contact:

 

Held similar responsibilities described in current job description at lower GS-13 level.  In response to Congressional member and staff expression of concern to CDC regarding program s funding shortfall, 2007, immediately advised direct supervisor and CDC budget manager on concerns and provided recommendations for informing senior agency officials of need for prompt resolution to problem; CDC managers subsequently defined and executed prompt resolution and agency successfully avoided prolonged controversy.

 

Collaboratively facilitated congressional investigation into Administration cancellation of contract solicitation for NIOSH program benefiting workers who were ill as a result of workplace hazardous exposures at site of 2001 World Trade Center disaster; two House committees investigated in response to expressed outrage of numerous Congressional members.  Throughout 2008, managed CDC s interactions with Congress to ensure positive working relationship in spite of challenging disagreement over Administration s controversial policy approach.

June 2004 to January 2006

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Public Health Advisor (GS-12)

Hours worked per Week:

Supervisor Name:      Phone:      Permission to Contact:

Served as Lead Liaison to NIOSH program and Backup Liaison to COTPER program as described in current position.   Partnering with four teammates in CDC s Washington office and Financial Management office, effectively planned and implemented successful one-day visit to CDC headquarters by five members and several staff of House Homeland Security Committee.  Efforts led to recognition by CDC Chief Operating Officer for outstanding performance in post-visit message to agency leaders.

 

Took the initiative to volunteer for agency team tasked with developing strategic communications plan targeted toward informing Congress and state and local policymakers on proposed program to distribute medical kits containing antibiotic drugs to individual homes as a proactive response to bioterrorism attack.  Recognized with cash award for contributions to plan.

 

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December 2001 to June 2004

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)                            

Public Health Advisor (GS-12)

Hours worked per Week:

Supervisor Name:      Phone:      Permission to Contact:

 

Lead liaison to Congressional Authorizing committees for half of ATSDR s programmatic activities, including several that received significant Congressional attention. Worked directly with Congressional staff on authorizing legislation. Communicated with Congress to advocate for ATSDR s mission and programs and translate ATSDR s scientific findings.  Contributed extensive knowledge of Congress and strong working relationships with Congressional staff toward advising managers in Assistant Administrator s office on strategies for productively interfacing with Congress.  Thoroughly reviewed and analyzed agency policy documents, proposals and actions based on anticipated issues, concerns and sensitivities of Congressional Authorizing committees and advised ATSDR management on optimal course of action.  Successfully built and maintained dynamic working relations with Congressional staff to Authorizing committees, including Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

 

Partnered with agency leaders to advance crucial study of health effects associated with water

contamination at military base; routinely informed Congressional Authorizing committee staff on study progress, clearly explained rationale for agency decisions and directed numerous briefings by agency experts for Congressional staff. Advised agency leaders on strategies for productively navigating Congressional concerns, succeeding in addressing the concerns and proceeding with the study.

 

Over two fiscal years, prepared ATSDR Assistant Administrator to testify in support of  President s Budget Request before House Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies; briefed on subcommittee members interests and prepared for optimal response to likely questions.

 

Drafted quality weekly reports to Department of Health and Human Service s (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Legislation reporting on ATSDR s interactions with Congress and legislation impacting agency; praised by Assistant Secretary at a meeting of legislative directors from across HHS for weekly report recognized as model for staff across agency to follow.

 

December 2000 to December 2001

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)    

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellow

Hours worked per Week:

Supervisor Name:      Phone:      Permission to Contact:

Duties similar to those of Public Health Advisor, GS-12 position referenced in the preceding job description. Held high-profile lead responsibility for Congressional interactions focused on agency investigation of human health effects related to asbestos contamination in Libby, Montana.  Applied strong communication skills and subject matter expertise toward informing Congressional Authorizing committee staff and Congressional staff of Montana members of study s progress, comprehensively explained agency decisions, and led numerous briefings by agency experts for Congressional staff; further advised managers on strategies for routinely keeping Congressional staff informed.

In collaboration with direct supervisor, prepared ATSDR Assistant Administrator for testimony supporting President s Budget Request before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies.

 

 

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Education

 

University of Wisconsin Law School-Madison, WI

Degree: J.D.

Earned: August 1999

Credit Hours:

Honors/Achievements:

Graduated with Honors based on high cumulative GPA

Selected to serve on student-run Wisconsin Law Review, the most prestigious academic law journal on campus; acted as Managing Editor during  third year of law school.

Strategically planned and led environmental law conference targeting legal professionals and students as leader of Wisconsin Environmental Law Society.

 

University of Wisconsin Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies-Madison, WI

Degree: MS, Land Resources

Earned: August 1999

Credit Hours:

GPA:

Thesis: "Conserving Endangered Species on Non-Federal Land: A Critical Analysis of the Karner Blue Butterfly Habitat Conservation Planning Experience in Wisconsin."

 

Indiana University-Bloomington, IN

Degree: B.A., Political Science

Earned: May 1995

Credit Hours: 128

GPA: 3.78/4.0 scale

Honors/Achievements:

Selected to nation s oldest academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa Society, based on academic performance.

As one of only 25 applicants selected, graduated with Business Certificate from highly-competitive Liberal Arts and Management Program (LAMP).

Student Leader in varied campus student government positions for all four years.

 

Job Related Training/Professional Development

 

Federal Appropriations Law, USDA Graduate School, Washington, DC; September 2009
Congressional Update Course, The Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University, Washington, DC; January 2008
Congressional Briefing Conference, The Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University, Washington, DC; April 2002

 

Awards/Recognition

 

Individual Cash Award, August 2009 (Non-Ratings-Based; in recognition of hard work/long hours supporting CDC's response to H1N1 swine flu)
Individual Cash Award, April 2009 (Ratings-Based)
Quality Step Increase, April 2008.
Individual Cash Award, August 2007 (Non-Ratings-Based; in recognition of quality work protecting agency's mission from congressional oversight investigation into Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program)

Individual Cash Award, May 2007 (Ratings-Based)

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Awards/Recognition continued

 

Group Cash Award, July 2006 (in recognition of collaborative teamwork in developing plan to distribute medical countermeasures to public per White House request)

Quality Step Increase, April 2006
Individual Cash Award, August 2005 (Non-Ratings-Based)
Individual Cash Award, March 2005 (Ratings-Based)
Quality Step Increase, March 2004
Individual Cash Award, March 2003 (Ratings-Based).
Honor Award, Special Service to the ATSDR Alaska Traditional Diet Project, June 2001 (in recognition of participation on agency team that developed plan to budget resources received as appropriations earmark by the Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman)

 

Volunteer Community Leadership
 

October 2000 C present
Sierra Club, Washington, D.C. Chapter

Elected Executive Committee Member, 8 years

As key leader of 3K-member chapter of a 600K-member national non-profit organizational organization, including elected Executive Committee Member for 8 of cumulative 9 years, have played vital role in meeting and surpassing organization objectives across multiple areas of operations. Serving as current Transportation Committee Chair, have strategically built coalition of environmental, smart growth and community groups, and businesses focused on advocating for streetcars network in Washington, D.C.  Successfully persuading City government to reinvigorate transit expansion plans in support of mitigating climate change and regional air pollution.  Illustrating personal impact on organization goals, City introduced plan for 37-mile network of streetcars across D.C. in October 2009.

Invested 3 years as Chapter Chair, with emphasis on recruiting, hiring, training, and directing top-performing team of staff/volunteers to develop and execute innovative advocacy plans.  Cost-effectively formulated and administered budgets to maximize use of resources.  Proactively steered fundraising campaigns.
Serving as Park Reservation Campaign Leader, drove successful campaign to protect Rock Creek National Park by stopping a road project proposed by D.C. government; in direct response to personal advocacy, City government will build multi-use recreational trail through park and abandoned road development project.

 

Professional Credentials/Licensure

Member in Good Standing, State Bar of Wisconsin, Fall 1999-present

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yyyyyy x. yyyyyy

1825 T Street N.W., #0000 xxxxxx xxxx , xxxx , xxxxx 00000

Phonexxx-xxx-xxxx

Email: abc@xyz.com

SSN: xxx-xx-xxxx

Country of Citizenship: United States

 

 

 

KSA RESPONSES

 

1.     Have you worked as a senior adviser on complex legislative or appropriations issues? YES

* 1.1. Please describe your work experience that supports the choice you selected.

 

Since 2006, I have worked as a senior advisor on complex legislative as well as appropriation issues, and with a cumulative nine years of experience in Congressional liaison offices of both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), I am well qualified to advise on these critical issues.  At a GS-13 and GS-14 level with the CDC, I have successfully managed all agency interactions with Congressional authorizing committees for two major agency programs with over $2.75 billion in combined budgets.  These include The Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER), with a mission of preparing the nation s public health system to effectively respond to natural disasters and acts of terrorism, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which focuses on supporting research into new work practices and technologies targeted toward preventing on-the-job injuries and fatalities.

 

In this capacity, I have expertly advised numerous senior officials within the agency, including my direct supervisor, the Director of the CDC Washington Office, as well as the Director of COTPER and the Director of NIOSH, on complex legislative issues.  I have further applied my expertise toward advising

the Director of Formulation, Evaluation & Analysis in the Financial Management Office, who leads CDC s budget and appropriations issues on complex legislative issues related to the COTPER and NIOSH budget and appropriations.  Illustrating my wealth of experience, I would like to highlight three recent examples of my success in advising senior agency officials on complex levels.

 

In 2009, staff of a U.S. Representative who introduced the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (H.R. 847) and the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to whom the bill was referred, requested agency comments on the legislation.  This proposed legislation would formally authorize NIOSH s existing World Trade Center Health Program while making several significant changes, such as naming specific entities that would receive grant funding from the agency.  I advised my supervisor, the Acting Director of the CDC Washington Office, on key provisions of the legislation and how they would affect the agency s program; I also partnered with the Acting Director of NIOSH to develop agency comments on the bill.  Additionally, I wrote a memorandum for my supervisor to present to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Assistant Secretary for Legislation identifying key policy issues the Obama Administration should consider in formulating official comments on the bill.  In response to my memorandum, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Legislation initiated discussions with senior political appointees within HHS as well as officials at the Office of Management and Budget to discuss the legislation and initiate formulating administration comments and views on the bill.

 

 

KSAs C Page 1 of 6

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Staff of a U.S. Senator who introduced the Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act (S. 1649) requested CDC comments on the bill in September of 2009.  In response, I analyzed the legislation and advised the Acting Director of COTPER, the Acting Director of the CDC Washington Office and other senior agency officials; in particular, I identified significant concerns about provisions of the legislation that would establish new programs at the Department of Homeland Security, duplicating and potentially conflicting with existing CDC programs of COTPER s Select Agent Program and Strategic National Stockpile.  I also resourcefully worked with colleagues representing CDC s global health programs to generate objective comments on these provisions that would establish new programs at the U.S. State Department, duplicating existing CDC programs.  I developed agency comments on the bill that were included in consolidated comments submitted to the Senator s staff by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  In response to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee s subsequent approval of the legislation without addressing CDC s significant concerns, I personally took the initiative to seek approval from the HHS Acting Assistant Secretary for Legislation to draft a views letter stating the agency s concerns regarding the bill.  In less than 24 hours, I successfully drafted the letter, received input from COTPER staff and submitted it to HHS.  While the letter was in the HHS clearance process, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) decided instead to develop a single set of administration comments on the bill; as a direct result of my efforts, OMB s comments incorporated all of CDC s most significant concerns.

 

As a third example, when the new H1N1 swine flu virus outbreak began in late April of 2009, the CDC
released guidance recommending that healthcare workers in close contact with patients suspected to have the virus wear respirators (tight-fitting masks) to protect against the virus.  As CDC learned more about the virus, it became evident that the virus was not as dangerous as initially feared, and CDC considered relaxing the guidance to recommend healthcare workers use what would be considered less protective surgical masks.  In response, labor union representatives, the Department of Labor s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the House Education and Labor Committee all raised concerns about CDC relaxing the guidance. In recognition of my experience as office lead for NIOSH and related occupational safety and health issues, I assumed the lead responsibility for managing congressional interactions with Congress on the guidance.  I proactively advised the Acting Director of the CDC Washington Office and the agency s Deputy Incident Manager on strategies for successfully interacting with the main staff contact at the House Education and Labor Committee, with whom I had developed a very strong working relationship.  In preparation for a congressional committee hearing before another House committee in May, I communicated with DOL s Acting Assistant Secretary who headed OSHA to coordinate CDC s and OSHA s messages and testimony relevant to the guidance, ensuring the successful presentation of key messages.

 

I also take the initiative to enhance my skills and knowledge of legislative and appropriation issues through ongoing professional development.  For instance, in September 2009 I completed a Federal Appropriations Law course through the USDA Graduate School. I also completed a Congressional Update course through the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University in January 2008.

2. Have you worked in an environment where you were required to apply laws, regulations, legislation, policies and procedures related to complex program areas, such as energy efficiency, nuclear security, nuclear waste management, or environmental issues? YES
* 2.1. Please elaborate on your answer to the previous question. Include in your answer the size and complexity of each program described. Indicate where this is reflected in your resume but do not paste resume here.

I have routinely been required to apply laws, regulations, legislation, policies, and procedures related to broad-scope complex agency programs over the course of my nine-year career working in Congressional liaison offices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic

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Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).  Of note, I have been the lead congressional liaison for two programs within CDC s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program and the World Trade Center Health Program, as well as two programs under CDC s Coordinating Center for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER), the Select Agent Program and the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement Program.

 

Representing the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program to Congress for over four years, I have acquired and developed an extensive knowledge of law, including a bill enacting the act in 2000 and subsequent bills amending the act in 2001 and 2004, as well as the Executive Order and agency regulations implementing the act.  I ve also acquired a solid working knowledge of policies and procedures of the program and the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health, which advises the program.  My primary role has been to interpret and explain this complex program for congressional staff members in spite of limited scientific background or familiarity with the complexities of the program.  The program provides compensation to former Department of Energy (DOE) employees and contractors who have developed cancer as a result of their exposure to radiation while working in nuclear weapons facilities.  While administered by the Department of Labor (DOL), NIOSH plays a critical scientific role by estimating former workers radiation dose and assessing the probability that radiation exposure caused their cancer.  Since finalizing its regulation for estimating radiation dose in 2002, the agency has received over 30K claims from the DOL and to date the program has funded over $5B in compensation to former DOE workers and their survivors. In FY 2009 alone, DOL received $108M to administer the entire program, with NIOSH receiving $55M for its portion of the program.  My ability to not only rapidly acquire sufficient knowledge of volumes of highly technical, scientific information but to develop a comprehensive knowledge of applicable law, regulations and policies impacting the program has been vital to successfully liaising between the program and Congress.

 

I have also represented the World Trade Center Health Program to Congress for over four years, gaining solid knowledge of appropriations legislation governing the program as well as NIOSH s policies and procedures in implementing the program.  Throughout 2009, I have diligently tracked legislation that would formally authorize the program in law.  I have analyzed the bill and advised senior CDC officials on its impact on NIOSH s existing program, and have written memorandum on the bill, focusing on key policy issues that should be taken under consideration by the Obama Administration in formulating official comments on the bill. 

 

In support of the COTPER s vital Select Agent Program over the past two years, I have become very familiar with laws and agency regulations applicable to pending legislation that would impact the program.  In 2008, I analyzed legislation reauthorizing the program and developed quality written agency comments on the bill, which were provided to the staff of the U.S. Senator who introduced the bill, and subsequently discussed with his staff members.  Since the 2009 introduction of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act (S. 1649), I have thoroughly analyzed the legislation and tracked the process to provide informed advise to senior agency officials on how the bill would amend the law and affect the program.  This program was initially authorized in law by antiterrorism legislation enacted in 1996 and has since significantly expanded through legislative enactments in 2001 and 2002 in response to the 2001 anthrax attacks.  It is extremely complex, as it is jointly administered by the CDC, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), with the mission of regulating over 300 laboratories possessing dozens of biological agents and toxins designated  select agents and toxins due to their potential to be used effectively in a terrorist attack.  Adding to the complexity, because of the sensitive nature of information regarding the location of these facilities, the agents and toxins they possess and the individuals who have access to them, program information is tightly controlled as it has been considered Sensitive But Unclassified. 

 

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I have also analyzed legislation and drafted a summary of key provisions for the Director of the CDC Washington Office to present to the CDC Director in support of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program, a COTPER cooperative agreement program for which the CDC provides substantial Federal funding and technical assistance to state, local and territorial health agencies.  Focused on effectively responding to varied public health hazards spanning terrorist attacks, natural disease outbreaks and natural disasters, the CDC has released $700M to 50 states, four large cities and eight territories in FY 2009.  Initially authorized by 2002 bioterrorism legislation, in 2006 a U.S. Senator introduced legislation to reauthorize the program, proposing several requirements recipients of program funding would need to meet in response to concerns over past inefficiencies in achieving preparedness objectives.  I coordinated CDC comments that were shared on the legislation and served on an HHS committee that implemented the legislation, where I capitalized on the opportunity to speak authoritatively about information I d learned in communications with Congress during the legislative process.

 

Complementing my practical experience, I earned a J.D. in 1999.  While attending the University of Wisconsin Law School, I spearheaded an environmental law conference, requiring the ability to effectively apply law toward critical environmental issues.  I have been a Member in Good Standing with the State Bar of Wisconsin since 1999.

 

Supporting information can be found throughout the work experience section of my resume, with particular focus on the period of 2004-present describing my history with the CDC.

 

3. Do you have experience analyzing Federal agency budgets? YES
* 3.1. Please elaborate on your answer to the previous question.

I have valuable experience in analyzing Federal agency budgets gained over the course of my nine-year career with both the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).  While primarily in a Congressional liaising and senior advising role, I annually follow the Administration s budget development process as well as the Congressional appropriations process.  For example, upon release of the President s Budget Request each year, I closely review CDC s Congressional Justification document, paying particular attention to how the budgets for two key components of CDC that I am responsible for, the Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), are affected from prior year final appropriations.  I thoroughly examine budget tables to define which programs are being increased or decreased and which new initiatives are being funded, with a focus on projecting how Congressional members and staff are likely to react.  Subsequently, when the House and Senate Appropriations Committees release their respective bills and committee reports for the agency s appropriation bill, I analyze information to determine changes the committees have made that deviate from the President s Budget Request and any earmarks or directives that would impact COTPER and NIOSH programs. 

 

I also review cross-functional agencies budgets and appropriations.  For instance, in November 2009 I researched the appropriations histories of the Department of Homeland Security s (DHS) Office of Health Affairs and Science & Technology Directorate to gather critical information for inclusion in briefing materials I wrote for CDC s Director in preparation for his first meeting with the DHS Assistant Secretaries of Health Affairs and Science & Technology. I have additionally gained an enhanced understanding of the agency s budget and appropriations by taking the initiative to attend internal budget and appropriations briefings delivered by leaders of CDC s Financial Management Office. 

 

During my tenure with Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), I prepared the agency s Assistant Administrator to testify in response to the President s Budget Request. Of note, I also believe my experience as a leader with the Sierra Club since 2000, which has entailed budget analysis,

development and administration, complements my qualifications in this area.

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4. I have experience researching, analyzing and making recommendations regarding issues and legislation affecting budget appropriations. YES
* 4.1. Please provide an example demonstrating your expertise in exercising judgment in the dissemination of information.

 

I have been consistently held accountable for exercising sound judgment in disseminating information to Congress, agencies and those outside the Federal government while working in the Congressional liaison offices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) over the course of nine years.  This has included legislation affecting budget appropriations.

 

In my present position as Public Health Analyst (GS-14), I have responsibly disseminated volumes of information to Congressional staff involved in the legislative process for the Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act (S. 1649), which would establish new programs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State and consequently duplicate and potentially conflict with existing CDC programs. From the inception of the legislation s introduction by the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I began communicating with majority and minority staff of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which has jurisdiction over CDC and HHS, in order to discuss the legislation and share information.  After drafting CDC s comments on the legislation and during the clearance process at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), I maintained confidential accountability for the information, knowing that I could not disseminate this information to anyone, even our allies, in Congress.  Instead, I strategically held phone conversations with Senate HELP Committee staff to discuss our concerns about the legislation in general terms.  Once the HHS had finalized agency comments and shared them with Senate staff from both committees, I then initiated follow-up conversations with the Senate HELP Committee staff to garner their reaction and proactively respond to their questions.  To address any additional questions about a key section of the legislation impacting his program, I scheduled and held a follow-up meeting with the Director of CDC s Select Agent Program.  Supporting effective negotiations with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee staff, I also communicated with several Senate HELP Committee members to discuss CDC s preferred policy alternatives to the approach reflected in the legislation. 

In response to critical remarks made by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee about the performance of CDC s Select Agent Program at a hearing and a subsequent meeting to mark up the bill, I promptly contacted their staff to provide relevant information that would effectively address their concerns.  I also arranged a briefing for the staff so that the Director of CDC s Select Agent Program could respond to these concerns. Further, I arranged a briefing by the Director of CDC s Select Agent Program for staff to several minority members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee who disagreed with the legislation and were interested in CDC s perspective.  Following a session to mark up the legislation, where a senior majority member of the committee raised concerns about the legislation s impact on the CDC s Select Agent Program, I immediately followed up with his staff member.  After an initial conversation with this staff member, I provided him with CDC s official written comments as well as several documents about the program, and also arranged a briefing for him by the Director of CDC s Select Agent Program to productively discuss a number of statements made by the Ranking Member of the committee at the mark-up session.  As follow-up, I provided additional information specifically addressing several detailed questions that he had raised during the briefing. 

 

As the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee was considering the legislation, I arranged a briefing by CDC s Acting Director of the Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER), his Directors of the Select Agent Program and the Strategic National Stockpile and others for the Executive Director of the Commission for the Prevention of Weapons of Mass

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Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.  My strategy capitalized on the opportunity for key CDC staff to present their programs accomplishments and challenges as this commission s recommendations provided impetus for legislation and was about to release a progress report.  As a result, the commission s progress report ultimately reflected favorably on CDC and clearly stated that CDC should continue to maintain control of all aspects of the Select Agent Program rather than granting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) new authority conflicting with CDC s authority in this area, supporting CDC s position.

 

I also coached CDC s briefing presenters on what information they could share, as well as what information should be avoided, in preparation for a briefing requested by Congressional Budget Office (CBO) staff on CDC s public health preparedness programs affected by the legislation.  This included advising them that while they could provide documented costs of existing CDC preparedness programs, they should not speculate about potential future costs or needs for appropriations for any new program requirements called for in the legislation.

Throughout the legislative process in the Senate, I periodically updated a key staff member to the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over CDC, as well as shared CDC s formal written comments on the Senate bill and provided timely updates on the legislative progress in the Senate.  I also communicated with a key staff member of the House Homeland Security Committee who was working on a House version of the legislation.  Additionally, I provided CDC s written comments and offered a briefing to permit program staff to elaborate further.

 

5. Give an example of a complex issue related to the appropriations process with which you were faced and that you resolved.

In 2007, I was faced with addressing and resolving a challenging budget situation.  The CDC s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) had received funding for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program, which provides compensation to former Department of Energy (DOE) employees/contractors with cancer resulting from workplace radiation exposure as part of an interagency agreement with the Department of Labor (DOL).  Due to conflicting advice from Office of Management and Budget (OMB) examiners, DOL did not provide NIOSH with the funds requested to cover CDC s overhead costs, yet CDC deducted the amount for overhead, leaving the program under-funded.  In response to the issue, NIOSH decreased funding available to a key contractor responsible for a substantial portion of the agency s programmatic activities and announced delays in finalizing work on claims for compensation.

Soon after this delay in claims processing was announced, Congressional staff began contacting me to voice their concerns; multiple Congressional members subsequently sent letters to CDC formally advising of their concerns and demanding an explanation.  I immediately informed my boss, the Director of the CDC Washington Office, as well as the Director of the Office of Formulation & Analysis at the Financial Management Office (FMO), which led CDC s budget and appropriations issues, to make them aware of the Congressional members emerging concerns.  I encouraged them to escalate the issue to senior CDC officials and to quickly define a solution to the funding shortfall problem so that claims compensation would not be delayed.  Concurrently, I formulated a proactive response to Congressional members letters, reassuring them the CDC was aggressively working to resolve the funding problem.

As a result of my prompt and strategic response to this issue, senior leaders were immediately aware of the funding issue and resulting Congressional concerns, and the CDC s Chief Operating Office was able to free up additional resources for the program to fund the contractor at a higher level, mitigating delays in claimant payment, by resourcefully decreasing CDC s overhead costs.  These actions had far-reaching results.  In the subsequent fiscal year, OMB and Congress determined that funds should be appropriated directly to NIOSH, eliminating need for an interagency agreement, reducing overhead charges and resulting in a long-term solution to avoiding this problem in the future.