Step 1: Lay the groundwork.
Learn as much about your legislator's background as you possibly can. For example, their political party, legislative committees served on in Congress, personal facts such as their hometown, education and profession. These can provide insights into their view of the world. Most of this information can be found through our Take Action site, or in a congressional directory at your local library or bookstore.
Step 2: Find out when your lawmakers will be in their local offices.
Congress takes several "District Work Period" breaks each year, and spends this time working from their local offices rather than on Capitol Hill. Members are also frequently at home during August, around holidays, and at the beginning and/or end of each week. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your members' Hill offices. They will be able to tell you when your Representative and Senators will be meeting with constituents in their local offices. Our Take Action site also has information on members of Congress.
Step 3: Contact your Representative and Senators.
Call the member's Washington office and request a meeting in the local district office nearest you. When attempting to meet with a member, ask for the Appointment Secretary/Scheduler and explain the purpose of your visit. (Many offices schedule both Washington and home district visits out of the Capitol Hill office. If they don't, they'll refer you to the appropriate local contact.)
Step 4: Explain who you are and why you want to meet.
"Hello. This is [your name] from [city & state]. I'm a constituent and [an audiologist/a speech-language pathologist/a speech, language or hearing scientist]. I would like to stop by the [Representative's/Senator's] local office and briefly talk with [him/her] about [issues that affect the professions of speech-language pathology/audiology]."
Step 5: Confirm your appointment(s).
- Some offices may ask you to send your request in writing (letters or fax). Whether you are requesting an appointment or confirming one:
- Follow-up your calls with a letter to request and confirm your visits. If you don't hear from them, be polite, but persistent. Don't give up!
- Let ASHA know when you have appointments scheduled by calling 202-624-8198.
Step 6: Be prepared for your visit.
- Request a packet to leave with your legislators by writing to ASHA's Director of Grassroots Advocacy at grassroots@asha.org.
- Know your issue well and be familiar with how it affects your patients and the professions. Know all sides of the argument. Have the materials for your lawmakers in hand as you depart for your visits.
- If you are meeting with your Senators with other colleagues, decide in advance who will be the spokesperson and who will leave the materials.
Step 7: Be prompt and patient for your visit.
When it is time to meet with your legislator, be punctual and patient. Lawmakers have very busy schedules – a late arrival may mean that you miss your appointment. However, it is not uncommon for a lawmaker to be late, or to have a meeting interrupted, due to the member's crowded schedule. Be flexible if your time is cut short – offer to accompany your lawmaker to his or her next appointment so you can talk further.
Step 8: Be to the point, politic and polite during the meeting. Then ask for something to be done.
- Concentrate on only one or two issues, and be well organized in the meeting. Use personal stories to underscore a point about the issue that brings the concern home to the lawmaker's district or state, (e.g., how important SLP supplier status is for Medicare patients; how IDEA full federal funding is needed to continue to provide students with proper education). You should be able to state your views in about half of the time allotted for your meeting, giving you time to hear the lawmaker's thoughts on the subject too.
- Members of Congress want to represent the best interests of their district or state. Be careful not to antagonize or lecture the lawmaker or, conversely, say only what you think the lawmaker wants to hear. Be straightforward, but courteous in expressing your views, and be receptive to the lawmaker's questions and comments. If the lawmaker doesn't volunteer his or her position on the issue – ask!
- If you are asked a question that you can't answer, don't guess. Instead, say that you will look into the question and give the lawmaker an answer as soon as possible.
- Never make a campaign contribution when meeting with a lawmaker about a legislative issue. In fact, don't mention political contributions at all.
- Be sure to politely ask your lawmaker to do something! For example, "I hope you'll co-sponsor and support the repeal of the Medicare therapy cap." This may sound trivial, but numerous lawmakers complain that they meet with lots of nice constituents who never make it clear what it is they want.
Step 9: After your visits.
- Let ASHA staff know how the meeting went by e-mailing grassroots@asha.org or calling 202-624-8198. This information will be crucial to ASHA staff in planning lobbying efforts and will ensure that ASHA's message is consistent.
- Send a thank you letter and re-emphasize key points you discussed. Be sure to provide any additional information you may have promised.
Step 10: Continue to be an advocate for the professions.
If you developed a rapport with your lawmaker, consider building a relationship by:
- offering to host a visit by your lawmaker to your office or department to better educate them about audiology and speech-language pathology professions;
- attending a local fundraiser or event of the lawmaker's; or
- visiting your legislators in their Capitol Hill offices when you are in Washington, DC for an ASHA meeting or at any other time.
If you have any problems or additional questions not covered in these instructions, please contact ASHA's Director of Grassroots Advocacy at 800-498-2071, ext. 5612 or by e-mail at grassroots@asha.org.
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