First and foremost, all of us on ODV are grateful for your persistence and dedication in crossing the goal line with this critical legislation. I feel as though we’ve been in 4th down, 1 yard to go for a long time.
This past weekend, the Roanoke Division hosted the VHF Super Conference. Director Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, and I were impressed with a presentation by Joe Taylor, K1JT. Not only is he a Nobel Prize laureate, he is easy going, approachable and speaks in laymen’s terms. Joe openly credits Amateur Radio for his career development. At a time when our nation is trying to stimulate careers through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math), Amateur Radio is a logical avenue for such education and career development.
Does it make sense for representatives like Joe Taylor and Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, to make a joint visit with Sen. Nelson’s staff? Craig would naturally speak about the EmCOMM angle, but Joe could point out that HOA restrictions are artificially stifling youth from pursuing a hobby which promotes STEM. Perhaps I’m naïve, but I believe a senator would likely not turn down a meeting with an American Nobel Prize winner.
I feel your frustration at this juncture, and I offer this approach in the spirit of trying to break the logjam in Sen. Nelson’s office. Again, on behalf of all board members, we appreciate your ongoing efforts.
73 de Bill, N2COP
Bill Morine - N2COP
Vice Director – Roanoke Division
Serving ARRL members in the Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina sections
ARRL – The National Association for Amateur Radio™
From: arrl-odv [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of Tom Frenaye
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 9:46 AM
To: arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org
Subject: [arrl-odv:25303] Re: Status Report - HR-1301
At 03:59 PM 4/14/2016, Mike Lisenco N2YBB wrote:
BOARD CONFIDENTIAL BOARD CONFIDENTIAL
Not to be discussed outside of the ARRL Board of Directors
Greetings ODV:
On Tuesday, April 12, 2016, Rick Roderick, Chris Imlay, Frank McCarthy, and I met with Dave Redl, Majority Counsel to the House Telecommunications subcommittee and Frank, Chris, and I met with Josh Baggett, Legislative Director for Rep. Adam Kinzinger, sponsor of H.R. 1301. As per our conversations with with them, we have hit a very substantial roadblock that we need to deal with. According to both Dave and Josh, our bill has no chance of passing this year unless we can get an agreement with CAI. This is due to what they perceive as an absolute wall in the Senate due to Bill Nelson of Florida, and, according to Redl, Nelson's objection is being echoed in the House by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18) the ranking minority member of the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee. The difference is that, in the House, it takes only a 2/3 majority to pass the bill "on suspension" (meaning in a summary fashion on the House Floor). The Senate process for streamlined consideration of a bill is called "Unanimous Consent" and it requires precisely that. There is not a good way around the Nelson objection because our Bill will never reach the level of importance necessary to compel full Senate Floor consideration of the Bill.
Thanks for the update Mike. Appreciate all of the time everyone has been spending on this.
I don't quite understand why Reidl would have a problem if we went directly to Rep Walden. Walden is one of the Republican leaders and is in a pretty safe district (he's been getting 65-70% of the vote each time). He'll be around as long as he wants to be in Congress and at age 59 he should have many more years.
We should at least sit with Walden and ask him for advice again, let him know we're in it for the long run. The 124 co-sponsors we have accumulated are many more than he originally urged us to get. I'd like to think he wants to deliver on this for us.
-- Tom
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e-mail: k1ki@arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/
Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444