You don’t have to go all the way to Washington to make a difference. Sometimes the easiest way to meet with Members of Congress is when they are back in the district. In fact, in-district meetings are often just as effective as meetings in Washington.

 

We have included some basic information below.  We have also provided some basic materials.

 

ü      Talking Points

ü      Leave Behind (a one pager to leave with the staff after your meeting)

ü      Sample thank you letter

 

What is an in-district lobby visit? Having an in-district lobby visit means that you meet with your elected official or his/her staff in the district office instead of going all the way to Washington, D.C. At this meeting you share what you think about a certain issue or bill, and to try to get him or her to take action on that issue.

 

Where can you meet? Every Member of Congress has one or more offices in their congressional district that they frequently visit. The staff at these offices report to the Member about what is happening in the home state and district.

 

Who do you meet with? A meeting with a staffer, such as the Member’s district director, is often a good prelude to meeting with the actual Member. You can also take advantage of informal meeting opportunities – at town hall forums, fundraisers and other local events that you know the elected official plans to attend.

 

Requesting Your Meeting

• Make your request in writing and follow up with a call to the Appointment Secretary/Scheduler.

 

• Suggest specific times and dates for your meeting.

 

• Let them know what issue and legislation (Prosthetic and Orthotic Parity Act, House Resolution 2575) you wish to discuss.   We will also mention healthcare reform. 

 

• Make sure they know that you are a constituent.

 

WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THIS!  We would be happy to work with you or to go ahead and schedule the meeting on your behalf.  Contact us at (202/742-1886 or federal@amputee-coalition.org).  

 

 

Prepare for Your Meeting

• Check out the ACA’s “Arms and Legs Are Not a Luxury” page for information.  We are also including some of the basic materials along with this overview.

 

ü      Talking Points to help you figure out your message.

ü      A one pager to leave with the staff. 

 

You can also contact us if you have any questions or want to talk through how to prepare.

 

• Decide who will attend the meeting.  You can certainly go on your own or you can bring along friends, family, support group members, etc. 

 

• Bringing more than four or five people can be hard to manage. Keep it small, but bring people who represent different groups that have an interest in the legislation like amputees, prosthetists, doctors, etc. 

 

• Agree on talking points. We have provided a sample, but if you have more than one person, talk about who is going to say what. 

 

• You or someone else may also want to share a personal story expressing the need for strong protections for prosthetic coverage!   (just keep it short)

 

• Plan out your meeting. People can get nervous in a meeting, and time is limited. Be sure that you lay out the meeting beforehand, including who will start the conversation.

 

• Decide what you want achieve.  Asking your legislator or his or her staff member to do something specific will help you know how successful your visit has been!

 

Right now, we really want lawmakers to sign on as co-sponsors of the bill.  That is your ask ---- the thing you are looking to help us achieve.    

 

During the Meeting

• Be prompt and patient. Elected officials run on very tight schedules. Be sure to show up on time for your appointment, and be patient -- it is not uncommon for legislators to be late or to have your meeting interrupted by other business.

 

• Keep it short and focused! You will have 20 minutes or less with a staff person, and as little as 10 minutes if you meet with your elected official. Make the most of that brief time by sticking to your topic.

 

• Bring up any personal, professional or political connections to the elected official that you may have. Start the meeting by introducing yourselves and thanking the legislator for any votes he or she has made in support of your issues, and for taking the time to meet with you.

 

• Stick to your talking points! Stay on topic, and back them up with no more than five pages of materials that you can leave with your elected official.

 

• Provide personal and local examples of the impact of the legislation. This is the most important thing you can do in a lobby visit.

 

• Saying "I don't know" can be a smart political move. You need not be an expert on the topic you are discussing. If you don't know the answer to a question, it is fine to tell your legislator that you will get that information for him or her. This gives you the chance to put your strongest arguments into their files, and allows you to contact them again about the issue. Never make up an answer to a question -- giving wrong or inaccurate information can seriously damage your credibility!

 

• Set deadlines for a response. Often, if an elected official hasn't taken a position on legislation, they will not commit to one in the middle of a meeting. If he or she has to think about it, or if you are meeting with a staff member, ask when you should check back in to find out what your legislator intends to do about your request. If you need to get information to your legislator, set a clear timeline for when this will happen. That way, you aren't left hanging indefinitely.

 

WE CAN HELP DO FOLLOW-UP.  If there is a question you could not

answer or any information/materials they are looking for, just let us

know.  We will help you! Contact us at (202/742-1886 or

federal@amputee-coalition.org).  

 

After the Meeting

• Right after the meeting, compare notes with everyone in your group to understand what the elected official committed to do and what follow up information you committed to send.

 

• Each person who took part in the meeting should promptly send a personal thank you letter to the Congress member.

 

• Follow up in a timely fashion with any requested materials and information.

 

• If the elected official or staff member doesn't meet the deadline for action you agreed to during the meeting, ask him or her to set another deadline. Be persistent and flexible!

 

• Hold your member accountable! Let the ACA's advocacy department know what you learned during your meeting by sending an e-mail to federal@amputee-coalition.org.  Knowing what arguments your Congress member used, what issues are important to him or her, and what positions he or she took will help us make our national lobbying strategy more effective!

 

MAKE SURE to send the ACA a write up of the meeting (who was there,

who did you meet with, did they seem supportive, any questions/issues or

follow-up). 

 

 

Good luck and have fun!

www.armsandlegsarenotaluxury.com

Amputee Coalition of America

Advocacy Department

Morgan Sheets, Sheila Van Pay, Dan Ignaszewski

202/742-1886

federal@amputee-coalition.org