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By William LaForge As a practical guide to assist witnesses and their organizations in preparing and delivering Congressional testimony, this desk reference is intended for use by anyone or any organization called upon to testify before a committee of the United States Congress, and for those who are providing assistance in preparing the testimony and the witness. This book can serve as a guide through the unique maze of the Congressional hearings process for virtually any witness or organization, including especially federal departments and agencies, the federal judiciary, members and staff of the legislative branch itself, associations, corporations, the military service branches, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private and voluntary organizations (PVOs), public interest entities, state and local governmental officials and institutions, and individuals who are chosen to appear as a witness before Congress for any reason on any topic. Similarly, in the world of academics and scholarship, this reference work can be helpful to scholars and writers in think-tanks and research organizations, as well as to faculty, researchers and students engaged in the study of law, business, government, politics, political science and the legislative processes of government. This desk book can also serve as a reliable reference source and helpful tool for law, lobbying, government relations, accounting, and other public policy-related service industry professionals who are involved with the Congressional hearings process on behalf of their clients', their customers' and their own public policy, legislative and government relations interests. It is the purpose and intention of Testifying Before Congress to help demystify the Congressional hearings process, and to assist witnesses and their organizations to be well-prepared when appearing before a Congressional committee to testify. This book is organized in such a way that it can be utilized as a ready-reference and easy-to-use guide section by section, or it can be used to obtain information and understanding about the various aspects of preparing and delivering Congressional testimony through a review of the book in its entirety or its individual chapters. As a desk reference, the treatise lays out for the reader's use and guidance the various processes and stages of proper hearing, witness and statement preparation, as well as the best practices involved in delivering testimony and answering committee questions. To a great extent, the principles in this book may also be used by those preparing for hearings before federal agencies and international tribunals, as well as state and local governmental bodies. However, the major thrust of this work focuses on the distinct Congressional hearing process and its major elements. From the Introduction 475-plus pages, 2010 Softcover ISBN 10: 158733-163-2 ISBN 13: 978-1-58733-163-3 Hardbound ISBN 10: 158733-172-1 ISBN 13: 978-1-58733-172-5 Softcover, $xx Hardboundd, $xx Table of Contents Index  The Author Reviews Sample Sections Details

Reviews

"Testifying before Congress isn't a fair fight, and there are few rules to protect you. Bill LaForge has packed years of experience, seeing Congressional hearings done well and done very badly, into this practical book, Testifying Before Congress.

If you are a corporate leader summoned to testify before Congress and you want to survive what could be one of the most horrible, and dangerous, experiences of your career, you must read this extremely valuable book. If you are a lobbyist or government affairs professional advising a client who will be testifying before a congressional committee, you must give them this book before they dig whatever hole they are in even deeper.

If you want to make the fight fair, prepare yourself and read this book."
-- Charlie Cook, Editor and Publisher of The Cook Political Report, Political Analyst for the National Journal Group
 

"Bill LaForge has written a thoughtful guide for those who are called to testify before the House or Senate. His insights are right on target."
-- Thad Cochran, United States Senate
 

"Testifying before Congress is a critical opportunity to tell your organization's story, but to do it effectively, it pays to have the advice of an old pro. Bill LaForge's excellent how-to guide to the hearings process and preparation of witnesses is a 'must-read' for any executive called to testify on Capitol Hill."
-- Susan Neely, President & CEO, American Beverage Association

"Bill LaForge has written the perfect resource for anyone who wants to understand the Congressional hearings process or who is preparing to testify before Congress. This book opens the door to the world of Congressional hearings, and lays out a path to excellence for witnesses testifying on Capitol Hill."
-- Charles A. Bowsher, Comptroller General of the United States (Retired)

"Being called to testify on Capitol Hill can be a career high point or a disaster. Whether your organization is a not-for-profit or a Fortune 100 company, you will want this practical guide by Bill LaForge at the ready when you face one of the most important moments in the life of a citizen."
-- Dan Perry, President & CEO, Alliance for Aging Research

"Testifying Before Congress by Bill LaForge is a gold mine for anyone engaging in the Congressional hearings process."
-- Richard E. Wiley, Managing Partner, Wiley Rein LLP

"Testifying before congress is a new but increasingly necessary experience for most business leaders. Bill LaForge's book, Testifying Before Congresss, is a practical and comprehensive how-to guide that should be required reading before your first experience on the 'hot seat' in front of a congressional committee."
-- Chad Holliday, former Chairman and CEO, DuPont

"Testifying Before Congress is the "bible" for anyone engaging in the Congressional hearings process and the preeminent guide for any witness preparing to testify before Congress. This deskbook 'picks the lock' of the Congressional hearings process and the preparation of witnesses. Everything you want to know to prepare your client or the head of a federal agency to testify before Congress is thoroughly discussed in this exceptional guidebook. This informative 'how-to' guide should be required reading for every new Congressional staffer and for the Congressional relations staff of every federal department and agency.

Bill LaForge's book is a very useful, one-of-a-kind, comprehensive treatise that provides an excellent road map. Private and government practitioners -- and their clients -- will be well-served by consulting this valuable guide before going to testify on Capitol Hill."
-- Lawrence Baca, President, Federal Bar Association, and Deputy Director of the Office of Tribal Justice in the Department of Justice (Retired)

"This insightful and instructive treatise is ideal for mayors and other municipal officials who deal with the U.S. Congress and its committees, and it provides excellent background and preparatory guidance for those testifying or preparing witnesses for testimony before Congress."
-- Susan Narvaiz, Mayor, City of San Marcos, Texas

"I wish I had a book like Bill LaForge has produced when I first testified before Congress. The year was 1958; I was testifying on behalf of the Methodist Student Movement; and Bill was still in short pants. Now LaForge is sharing his years of experience with us, and he has turned out a unique manual for anyone who wants to, or must, appear before a Congressional committee, from ordinary citizen to experienced advocate. This book can become for Congressional testimony what Robert's Rules of Order has become for legislative procedure."
-- Richard F. Celeste, President, Colorado College; Former Governor of Ohio, Peace Corps Director, and Ambassador to India

"Testifying Before Congress is a superlative work. The book has the depth of background and the precision of practicality to make it a helpful treatise for the practitioner as well as a thoughtful textbook for use by professors in classes on Public Policy or Congressional Oversight. It should be on the bookshelf of anyone who follows the business of Congress."
-- Jim Rosenblatt, Dean, Mississippi College School of Law

"Bill LaForge’s excellent treatise, Testifying Before Congress, is the ideal 'one-stop-shopping,' easy-to-use reference for any witness preparing to testify before Congress. For example, Chapter Four focuses on the details of preparing the witness to testify. It discusses in practical detail the use of prepared materials and witness preparation, including making certain the witness knows what to expect. Every corporate and association executive should have this valuable resource tool available before venturing into the Congressional hearings process."
-- Larry D. Thompson, Senior Vice-President for Government Affairs and General Counsel, PepsiCo; former Deputy Attorney General of the United States

"The Congressional hearings process with its tough questions, full media coverage and complicated array of participants has become a bewildering spectacle. In this book, Bill LaForge draws on his experience as a congressional staff member as well as a lobbyist to bring coherence to the process and much needed advice for those charged with providing testimony. He sets these hearings nicely within the legislative process to highlight their importance for the development of public policy. He is an excellent coach for witnesses in preparing effective testimony, delivering it successfully and responding to difficult questions.

His experience as an adjunct professor in the School of Business at George Washington University has broadened the targeted audiences to include faculty and students involved in courses in the American legislative process, business and government relations and business representation and lobbying. Both practitioners and academics will find this book enlightening.

It is an enjoyable read as LaForge includes examples throughout to bring the Congressional Committee rooms to life with conflicting interests often waging heated battles in shaping public policy."
-- D. Jeffrey Lenn, Associate Vice President for Academic Operations and Professor of Strategic Management & Public Policy, The George Washington University

"Testifying Before Congress should be on the desk of every government relations professional in the corporate, association, agency and private firm arenas."
-- Jack Gerard, President and CEO, American Petroleum Institute (API)

"Bill LaForge has written an important treatise on Congressional investigations and the legislative process. It blends a thorough understanding of the purpose of Congressional investigations in gathering and evaluating information on a wide range of issues with an informative and practical guide to the preparation for and participation in the hearing process. With its step by step approach to dealing with the preliminary fact finding process, the Committee hearing and the legislative report, including the nuances of an uneven playing field, it is must reading for lawyers and witnesses involved in this critical governmental function."
-- Mark H. Tuohey III, Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P.

"I wish I had this book before I testified in front of a Senate committee examining eye safety and computer use. I sat at a table with two academicians and peered at a group of Senators sitting above us - quite an intimidating experience. What you see on the evening news or C-SPAN doesn’t reflect the reality of testifying before Congress. As physicians we were prepared with the facts but totally unprepared for dealing with the process. A must reference for associations or NGOs!"
-- William L. Rich III, MD, FACS, Medical Director of Health Policy, American Academy of Ophthalmology

"Testifying Before Congress is the best "how to" resource that I have seen -- it is well-researched, experience-based, and thoughtfully written, with a dash of humor added for good measure."
-- Samuel M. Davis, Dean of the School of Law, The University of Mississippi

"For anyone or any group delivering testimony to Congress, Bill LaForge's book should serve as the Bible for preparation and delivery of the message. It is a must for those who approach this sometimes intimidating experience."
-- David Pryor, Former U.S. Senator (D-AR), Dean of The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and Director of The Institute of Politics, Harvard University

"Bill LaForge has penned the definitive treatise on the preparation and delivery of Congressional testimony, and a valuable resource for scholars, researchers and staffers. Packed with how-to insight, it's leavened with humor."
-- Charles Babington, Congressional Reporter, The Associated Press

 

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Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony

Also see these Capitol Learning Audio Courses

Congressional Testimony - Tips, Tactics & Techniques for Writing Legislative Histories: Bills, Resolutions, Committee Hearings, and Committee Reports Crisis Communications: Establishing an Internal Crisis Communications System Crisis Communications: Hoping That It Will Never Happen, But Glad You Planned For It Effectively Using Persuasion in Your Oral Presentations: A Trial Lawyer's Perspective How to Work the Hill Like a Pro Maximizing the Internet for the Public Affairs Professional Media Relations: Merging Policy and Media Strategies Preparing for Congressional Oversight and Investigation

 

 

Summary Table of Contents

• Acknowledgements

• About the Author

• Introduction

• Chapter 1. The Context for Congressional Hearings and Testimony

• Chapter 2. Congressional Hearing Organization, Planning and Preparation

• Chapter 3. Preparation of Written Testimony

• Chapter 4. Preparation of the Witness

• Chapter 5. Presentation and Delivery of Oral Testimony

• Chapter 6. Responding to Committee Questions

• Chapter 7. Post-Hearing Activities and Follow-Up

• Appendices

• Index pdf