1. Meeting with Your Members of Congress National College Access Network January 11, 2017

2. Presentation Outline How a bill becomes a law and your opportunities
Overview of 115th Congress
The Power of Advocacy
Developing and Making a Clear Ask
An Advocate’s Toolbox
Engaging with your Members of Congress (the specifics)

3. How You Were Taught

4. The Reality

5. Some Perspective 112th Congress (2011-12) 12,299 bills introduced
284 laws enacted (2.3 %)
113th Congress ( )
10,637 bills introduced
297 laws enacted (2.8 %)
114th Congress ( )
12,048 bills introduced
254 laws enacted (2.1%)

6. U.S. Senate: Republican Majority (52-48)
Control of the 114th vs. 115th Senate
■ Democrats ■ Republicans ■ Independents
Control of the 114th Senate ( )
Control of the 115th Senate ( ) 44 54 46 52
Republican Senate Majority
Republican Senate Majority
Source: National Journal research, 2016.

7. U.S. House: Republican Majority (241-194)
Control of the 114th vs. 115th House
■ Democrats ■ Republicans ■ Independents
Control of the 114th House ( )
Control of the 115th House ( )
218 Needed for Majority
218 Needed for Majority
Republican House Majority
Republican House Majority
Source: National Journal research, 2016; AP, 2016.

8. The Power of Advocacy

9. Advocacy is…
Empowering
Fun
Makes a difference
Easy; anyone can do it

10. Power of an Advocate Educate and build broader awareness of a topic
Build relationships with your members of Congress and their staff
Make an issue real
Tell the bigger story and impact an issue has on Americans
Grassroots = your collective advocates all together making a difference

11. Advocates Make a Difference

12. Developing and Making a Clear Ask

13. Key Question: What do you want?
Support a specific legislation
Raise awareness
Provide education base
Make a connection for the district

14. Framing & Making The Ask
Have a sense of the landscape
Know who you are talking to
Be clear and concise
Make the ask early
Weave the ask into the conversation
Reiterate the ask in your follow-up

15. An Advocate’s Toolbox

16. Components of Effective Advocacy
Narrative: Your story
Data: Data and fact that support your ‘ask’
Visuals: Illustrate the problem and/or solution
Three components to framing the ask or making it real.
Narrative – your story
Data – is their data/facts to support your ask; research something; can be something very simple or complex
Visuals – one page leave behind outlining the problem and solution; developing infographics.

17. Who Where When What Why How Developing Your Story Who is impacted?
Where are you from or where did something occur?
Where
When did it occur?
When
What happened or didn’t happen?
What
Why did something happen? Is there a specific policy or decision that is the cause?
Why
How you are impacted?
How
Who: who you are, where you are from
What: what you are hear to talk about; impact; the ask
Where: where you are from?
When – when did their story occur? Was it a point a time, ongoing – helps to demonstrate impact
Why – why you are here?
how – how were you impacted by a situation or a specific policy?

18. Story Telling Tips Communicate the key points Demonstrate the impact
Be clear and concise
Write your story out
Own it; the story is yours and no one will question that.
You absolutely do not have to be an expert on the policy issue, but you need to know what is the ask, and how the ask frames your story
For Grassroots: Create a template to help advocates frame their story

19. Using Data Pull out key points to support your story
Highlight key points to support the ask
Use only relevant data
Be clear and concise
Make the data digestible

20. Creating Visuals Leave behinds Infographics Photos Documentation
Charts and Graphs

21. Engaging with Your Members of Congress

22. Advocacy Actions Sign a petition Send an email or letter
Make a phone call
Engage via social media
Write op-eds or letters to the editor of local papers
Attend a town hall meeting
Meeting in-person (District or Washington, DC)

23. The Journey of Your Communications
/Snail Mail
Phone Call
@Tweet
Front Desk
Front Desk
Communications Director
Chief of Staff
Member
General Public
20% of legislators write their own tweets.
Legislative Staff
Legislative Staff

24. In-Person Meeting (D.C. or District)

25. Determining Your Members of Congress
or to determine your Members of Congress
Visit their website for contact information (District and Washington DC)

26. Scheduling a Meeting Make the request in writing Call to follow-up
Explain your connection to the district/state
Mention what you want to discuss
Propose a date and time
Call to follow-up

27. Prepare Research your members of Congress
Status of the legislation or some details on the policy
Know the primary stakeholders and their positions/thoughts
Key talking points for the meeting
Materials to leave behind

28. What to Expect Meet with staff Young people 15, maybe 30, minutes
Can be very hectic
Interruptions and schedule changes
Staff juggles multiple issues and will likely not know (or need a reminder) about your topic
Meeting in the hallway or while walking

29. Tips for a Successful & Effective Meeting
Make the ask
Be prepared, prompt, and patient
Greet your member of Congress/staff and explain your connection to the district or state
Budget your time wisely; cover all your points and leave time for discussion or questions
Make it personal; tell your story and relate the story to them
Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know, but I will find out and let you know.”

30. Follow-Up Thank the Member and/or the staff for their time
Reiterate your ask
Provide answers to any questions you couldn’t answer in the meeting
Tell them that you are a resource
Invite them to visit you in the district
Keep in touch

31. Questions
Thank you!! Kim Cantor Director, Health Practice HCM Strategists Tel. (202)