When Governor Mitch Daniels (Indiana) compared testifying before Congress to getting a root canal, he was being polite. Sitting vulnerably at a witness table under hot television lights while members of the House or Senate stare down at you from above is not just intimidating; it can wreck your career, your company, and your credibility if you say the wrong thing.
Testifying Before Congress is the practical guide to assist witnesses and their organizations in preparing and delivering Congressional testimony. This book is essential for anyone, or any organization, called upon to testify before a Congressional Committee. It is also an invaluable resource for those who are providing assistance in preparing the witness and the testimony. Testifying Before Congress demystifies the Congressional hearings process and assists witnesses by preparing them to appear before a Congressional committee.
Testifying Before Congress guides you through the unique maze of the Congressional hearings process. Its insights aid witnesses from any organization chosen to appear before Congress for any reason, or on any topic. These organizations include federal departments and agencies, the federal judiciary, members and staff of the legislative branch itself, associations, corporations, the military service branches, NGOs, private and voluntary organizations (PVOs), public interest entities, state and local governmental officials and institutions, and individuals.
Similarly, in the world of academics and scholarship, Testifying Before Congress is a helpful resource for scholars and writers, as well as the faculty, researchers and students engaged in the study of law, business, government, politics, political science and the legislative processes of government. Testifying Before Congress is the go-to reference for law, lobbying, government relations, accounting, and other public policy-related service industry professionals involved with the Congressional hearings process on behalf of their clients’, their customers’ and their own public policy, legislative and government relations interests.
William N. LaForge is a retired attorney, lobbyist, university president and professor, and congressional staff member. His career has been a blend of government service, private sector law and government relations practice, and higher education. For more than forty years, he was involved with law and federal public policy in all three branches of government. On Capitol Hill, Bill served as senior legislative counsel to Republican and Democratic lawmakers in both houses of Congress. He was clerk and chief counsel of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, chief legislative counsel and chief of staff to United States Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), and legislative assistant to Congressman David Bowen (D-MS). He also served in the executive branch as congressional liaison for the Peace Corps.In the private sector, Bill was the DC office managing shareholder for the Winstead law firm, and previously worked as general counsel and of counsel with firms in Washington. A registered lobbyist, he specialized in federal government relations and public policy advocacy, and he represented businesses and organizations with public policy interests before the United States Congress and federal executive branch agencies. As a U.S. Senate committee staff professional, Bill organized and helped conduct numerous congressional hearings. In the private sector, he prepared a wide array of written testimony for clients, advised and trained witnesses appearing before congressional committees, and testified as a hearing witness himself.
"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 "Previous victims of the congressional hearing root canal will ask themselves, 'Where was this invaluable book when I needed it?'" -- Mitch Daniels, Governor, Indiana</p>
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