Congressional Hearing

instruction is attached

Students must attend a Congressional Hearing (or other Legislative or Parliamentary Hearing)
on any public health-related matter and write a short (2-3 page) reflection paper about the
experience. The hearing must be before a federal, state, or international legislative body. It may
be before a subsection (such as a committee or commission) or the whole body. It must be an
occasion where policymakers hear from invited stakeholders about a public health policy issue.
Ask your professor if you arent sure whether a particular hearing is appropriate for this
assignment.

The reflection paper should include the following components:
Identify the main topic of the hearing (including title of the hearing, committee name,
and date;
Indicate why you think this topic is an important public health policy issue;
Identify the various stakeholders at the hearing and generally discuss their views about
the topic (be sure to identify the speaker);
Indicate why you found any arguments presented either persuasive or unconvincing;
and
Include your thoughts/reflections about the experience of attending/viewing a hearing.
Your paper should not simply report what was said at the event and must not duplicate any
reporting about the event by other parties. We encourage all students to attend the hearing in
person. In the Washington, DC, area, there are hearings going on in the House and Senate that
are open to the public when Congress is in session. If you live near a state capitol, you may
attend a hearing at the state legislature. (Leave extra time to go through security and bring ID if
going in person.) Online students may watch either a live hearing or a recording of one that
happened within the past 6 months. Some hearings are longer than others. You should watch at
least 2 hours of the hearing. (A summary or other report of the hearing is not a substitute for
the actual proceeding.)
The paper should not exceed 3 pages, typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman 12-point
font, and standard 1 inch margins all around. You must provide sources/citations for the
information provided in your paper, using a consistent style for citations. You may use
endnotes or list references on a separate page at the end of the paper. The endnotes or
references do not count toward the 3-page maximum.
You must write a cohesive, well-written paper, not a series of bullet points or stand-alone
paragraphs. Your paper will be assessed based on adherence to the required elements, writing
style (cohesiveness, grammar, spelling, etc.), inclusion of proper citations, clarity, and overall
effectiveness. Be sure to include in your references the url address of the hearing if you
reviewed a recorded session.

Resources for finding Congressional hearings:

C-Span: https://www.c-span.org/congress/
Congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/committee-schedule
House: https://www.house.gov/legislative-activity
Senate: https://www.senate.gov/committees/hearings_meetings.htm
Also see individual committee webpages for hearing schedule and details.
International hearings, including the United Nations, must involve an appeal for regulatory
changes (i.e., committee with legislative authority). Informational sessions, panel sessions, or
town hall meetings do not qualify for this assignment.