Posted By: Jil Staszewski, Policy and Advocacy Manager
Starting this week, U.S. elected officials in Washington, DC will go into August recess. While Capitol Hill will grow quieter during the break, this doesn’t mean our advocacy activity should stop. In fact, this recess creates a unique opportunity for you as a constituent to help keep the momentum going right at home.
As you may be aware, ASHG, along with FASEB, the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, and the rest of the biomedical research community has been busy advocating for a $41.6 billion budget for the NIH for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 – a $2.5 billion increase from FY 2019. Last month, the House passed a $41.1 billion budget, and after the August recess, the Senate will begin developing its own legislation.
As your Members of Congress travel back to their home state or district offices for the remainder of the summer, scheduling a face-to-face meeting is a powerful way to establish a connection and advocate for your profession. Your personal story and achievements help your legislator understand the significance of your work in the state or district they represent, and why supporting NIH funding is crucial.
Not sure where to start? Here is a step-by-step guide (PDF version).
- Request the meeting.
- Find your elected officials and their contact information using the House and Senate.
- Email the legislator using the contact form or email address provided. In your email, be sure to confirm that you are a constituent, mention which institution you are from, and briefly describe the purpose of the meeting. Use the below template letter as a guide.
- If you do not hear back within a week, you may follow up with the staff, as they receive many requests. Email again, and call the office and speak with the scheduler if necessary.
Dear Senator/Representative ______________:
My name is ____ and I am a geneticist and your constituent. I am writing to request a meeting with you and your staff in your district office to discuss the value of robust funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its significance for my work. I am available to meet on (date). Please let me know a time that would work best for you.
Thank you so much for your time, and I look forward to meeting with you to discuss this important issue. You may contact me at (email/phone #).
Sincerely,
[Your name, institution, address, and contact information]
- Once confirmed, prepare for the meeting.
- The purpose of the meeting is to educate your Member of Congress about the importance of the field, and the value of federal funding and its impact on your research. Bring a handout to leave with the legislator and read through the material beforehand.
- Read up on the legislator you are meeting with. Having a shared personal connection can help develop a rapport and make a lasting impression.
- Develop a list of questions the legislator might ask and how you can answer them.
- Let ASHG know the date of your meeting and who you are meeting with.
- Attend the meeting.
- Describe your job using layman’s terms, and connecting it to the legislator’s constituents.
- Thank the legislator for their support on past relevant issues.
- Explain why the legislator’s support of increased NIH funding would be valuable for your work, and that this year, the research community is asking for $41.6 billion.
- Answer any questions the legislator may have and ask how else you can be of assistance.
- Take pictures with the legislator and their staff!
- Leave behind materials, including your business card, and ask for theirs and their staff’s.
- Invite the Member to visit your lab.
- Follow up.
- Send a follow-up email shortly after the visit, thanking the legislator and staffer for their time.
- Let ASHG policy staff know how the meeting went! Send us an email at policy@ashg.org. We may ask you to share your experience to help other ASHG advocates.
We look forward to hearing your stories, and are happy to assist with any questions – just email policy@ashg.org. Thank you for your continued advocacy.