Baldrige Nonprofit Expansion Succumbs to Politics at End of Congressional Session

December 3, 2003

MEMO TO: Baldrige Award expansion supporters

FROM: Amy Kimball, ASQ Washington Representative

SUBJECT: Legislative Update on Not-For-Profit Category

Thanks to all of your on-going efforts, congressional support for H.R. 3389, the Baldrige expansion bill recently introduced in the House by Representatives Miller (D-NC) and Hart (R-PA), continues to grow significantly. In fact, because of that support, plans by Chairman Boehlert (R-NY) were originally to by-pass the normal time-consuming committee procedures, and bring the bill directly to the House floor for a vote under a “suspension of the rules”, a process generally reserved for non-controversial matters. However, with the immense crush of last minute legislation required before the first session could end, our bill was not able to be placed on the suspension calendar before Congress finished most matters for the year.

Fortunately, this is only the end of the first session of Congress, with the second session starting again quickly on January 20, 2004. Consideration of unfinished business, such as our bill, carries over to the second session with only a minimal time delay over the holidays. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s (R-TX) office has suggested that January will be a good time to advance our bill in the House, when things aren’t quite as hectic as they are at the end of a session. In that regard, we plan to continue to push for our bill to be addressed quickly in the House, and then in the Senate.

Our work in the Senate has put us in a good position to move the bill as soon as the House passes it. Senator McCain (R-AZ) is supportive and Senator Hollings (D-SC) will hopefully agree as well to pass H.R. 3389 without delay early next year.

Letters from nonprofits that have won state awards were hand delivered to both these Senators’ staff last week. I want to thank those who took the time to share their quality journey with those in Congress who will determine if nonprofits will indeed be permitted to compete on a national level for the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. This can be an ongoing project as we will be able to use these and any other stories of how nonprofit organizations improved their operations by applying for and winning a state quality award. We can utilize this information as we enter the appropriations process and meet with Members on those committees.

Thanks again for your help so far. We have a ways to go but we have made a lot of progress this year to set us up for victory next year.

Amy Kimball – Washington Representative, ASQ