With oversight hearings over and the Mayor set to release her proposed budget to the Council by May 27, it is time to sign up for budget hearings! Unlike oversight hearings, which cover the performance of the agencies over the last year, budget hearings are a time to advocate for how your local government should spend its money in the upcoming fiscal year (FY22, which starts October 1, 2021). To learn more about what the Legal Clinic think the local government should focus its resources on, check out the budget asks of the Way Home Campaign and the Fair Budget Coalition.

What does it mean to testify before DC Council?

Testifying is a way to share stories with DC Councilmembers and staff about the ways in which DC programs have affected your life. This is an opportunity for anyone tell their elected leaders what programs need more or less money or what needs in the community are most urgent.

Things to keep in mind

  • These are public events. All DC Council hearings and roundtables are recorded and shown on public access television. The public can watch hearings live, as well as view the recordings afterward on the DC Council website.
  • Testimony can be verbal and written. Written testimonies are added to the public record.
  • During the COVID-19 public health emergency, Council hearings are happening virtually. “Live” testimony means participating in the hearing online, “voicemail” testimony means leaving a voicemail with your thoughts.
  • Generally, people who testify are referred to as witnesses, and individuals are usually given three minutes to speak (although there is some variation among committees).
  • If you or someone you are helping needs language interpretation or reasonable accommodations for live testimony, let the Council committee know when you sign up.

Here are some tips on testifying from Legal Clinic Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator, Kristi Matthews:

  • Identify who you are (name, why you are testifying, and program you are testifying about)
  • Tell your story (pick an event or issue that you have worked directly on or been affected directly by that you are comfortable sharing with the public)
  • Explain why you felt the need to testify (how you have been impacted by this program)
  • Describe solutions (how can they improve the program if needed)

Please feel free to contact us with questions or to request help preparing your testimony: (202) 328-5500.

 

Some Key Agency Performance Oversight Hearings

Department of Behavioral Health

Under the oversight of the Committee on Health (Committee Chairperson: Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray)
Programs covered: mental health services, housing programs for people with mental illness

Live testimony

  • Date: June 4, 2021, 9AM
  • How to sign up: email mcameron@dccouncil.us or call 202-341-4425
  • Deadline to sign up: COB on June 3, 2021

Voicemail testimony: 202-350-1828

Written testimony:

Department of Housing and Community Development

Under the oversight of the Committee on Housing and Executive Administration (Committee Chairperson: At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds)
Programs covered: Housing Production Trust Fund, use of federal funds for rent relief

Live testimony:

  • Date: June 4, 2021, 9:30AM
  • How to sign up: call 202-724-8198 or email housing@dccouncil.us
  • Deadline to sign up: June 2, 2021

Voicemail testimony: 202-350-0894

Written testimony:

Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services

Under the oversight of the Committee on Health (Committee Chairperson: Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray)
Programs covered: encampments, including trash removal and clearings/displacement

Live testimony:

  • Date: June 7, 2021, 9AM
  • How to sign up: email mcameron@dccouncil.us or call 202-341-4425
  • Deadline to sign up: COB June 4, 2021

Voicemail testimony: 202-350-1828

Written testimony:

Office on Returning Citizens Affairs, Commission on Reentry and Returning Citizen Affairs

Under the oversight of the Committee on Government Operations and Facilities (Committee Chairperson: At-Large Councilmember Robert White)
Programs covered: services and housing for returning citizens

Live testimony:

  • Date: June 8, 2021, 12PM
  • How to sign up: email facilities@dccouncil.us or call (202) 741-8593
  • Deadline to sign up: COB June 4, 2021

Voicemail testimony: none

Written testimony:

Metropolitan Police Department

Under the oversight of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety (Committee Chairperson Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen)
Programs covered: policing, violence prevention, diversion of funding to community needs

Live testimony:

Voicemail testimony: none

Written testimony:

Department of Health

Under the oversight of the Committee on Health (Committee Chairperson: Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray)
Programs covered: DC Healthcare Alliance, vaccine distribution, pandemic testing and response, housing programs for people with HIV/AIDS

Live testimony:

  • Date: June 11, 2021, 9AM
  • How to sign up: email mcameron@dccouncil.us or call 202-341-4425
  • Deadline to sign up: COB June 10, 2021

Voicemail testimony: 202-350-1828

Written testimony:

Department of Human Services

Under the oversight of the Committee on Human Services (Committee Chairperson: Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau)
Programs covered: homeless services, emergency shelters, Permanent Supportive Housing, Targeted Affordable Housing, Rapid Re-housing, TANF, EBT (food stamps), IDA, eviction prevention funds (including ERAP), child care

Live testimony:

Voicemail testimony: 202-350-1927

Written testimony:

Office of Human Rights

Under the oversight of the Committee on Government Operations and Facilities (Committee Chairperson At-Large Councilmember Robert White)
Programs covered: enforcement of the DC Human Rights Act, Fair Criminal Records Screening for Housing Act, proposed new protections including Fair Tenant Screening Act and Eviction Records Sealing Authority Act

Live testimony:

  • Date: June 14, 2021, 12PM
  • How to sign up: email facilities@dccouncil.us or call (202) 741-8593
  • Deadline to sign up: COB June 10, 2021

Voicemail testimony: none

Written testimony:

DC Housing Authority

Under the oversight of the Committee on Housing and Executive Administration (Committee Chairperson: At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds)
Programs covered: public housing, vouchers, Local Rent Supplement Program

Live testimony:

  • Date: June 16, 2021, 9AM
  • How to sign up: call 202-724-8198 or email housing@dccouncil.us
  • Deadline to sign up: June 14, 2021

Voicemail testimony: 202-350-0894

Written testimony:

Entire Budget

Under the oversight of the Committee of the Whole (Chairperson Phil Mendelson)
Programs covered: taxes, anything in the budget, Budget Support Act

Live testimony:

Voicemail testimony: (202) 430-6948

Written testimony:

For more key budget dates, you can see the schedule here.