1. Infectious Diseases Advocacy
Amanda Jezek
Senior Vice President
Public Policy and Government Relations
IDSA
April 27, 2017

2. Agenda What is advocacy? Why advocate?
What can I do and how do I do it?
What is the impact?

3. What is Advocacy?
Advocacy: any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others.
Types of Advocacy
Organizing individuals and communities to support your cause
Educating legislators/regulators/policymakers
Educating the public about the legislative/regulatory process
Lobbying

4. Why Advocate?

5. Why Advocate? Advocacy seeks to ensure that people are able to:
Have their voices heard on issues that are important to them.
Defend and safeguard their rights.
Have their views and wishes considered when decisions are being made about their lives.

6. From my community/state
What Can I Do?
From my home?
From my community/state
In Washington, DC
And beyond

7. What can I do…from my home?
PLF Campaigns
Call/ Policymakers
Share Your Story
Social Media

8. Calling/Emailing Congress
Individual calls/ s even more powerful than form letters
Phone Calls
Call the Capitol Switchboard, get connected to your Senators’/Representatives’ offices:
Identify yourself and city/state you are calling from; note that you are a constituent!
Ask to speak to health staffer or speak to the person who answered the phone
Prepare brief talking points s

9. What can I do…in my community/state?
Congressional townhall events
Meetings in congressional district offices
Especially during district/state work periods: May 29-June 2; July 31-September 4; September

10. Townhall Tips Be prepared Tell a personal story Use numbers
Be respectful
Bring a group
Talk to staff
Leave paper
Follow up
Persistence

11. What can I do…in Washington DC?
Meeting with Congressional Offices Join a coalition’s “Hill Day”

12. Tips for meeting with a Member of Congress/Congressional Staff
Schedule your meeting in 2-4 weeks in advance, arrive on time, thank the Member or staff person for their time
Be/include a constituent
Be concise, organized and relevant—practice and bring talking points
Do your homework
Make local connections
Consider a “leave behind” with your relevant messages
Have a clear “ask”—what do you want your Member of Congress to do
Follow up

13. Mobilize More Advocates

14. Extending Your Reach Educate your community Mobilize your contacts
Traditional Media Social Media

15. Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor
Check out your paper’s submission guidelines
Length
Original
How to submit
Connect to current news/recent stories
State your reason for writing at the beginning
Limit yourself to one or two key points
Express a strong opinion

16. Impact of Advocacy on Undecided Representatives
Source: Congressional Management Foundation 2015 Survey of Congressional Staff asked what advocacy strategies impact their bosses’ decisions.

17. Straight from the Staffers’ Mouths
“My boss rarely acts if there isn’t an impact on his district. Show me a connection as to how your issue directly affects our constituents. Frank discussion about political impact is always appreciated, as are district-specific data.” —House Legislative Assistant
“Town hall meetings are probably the most directly impactful for individual constituents to communicate with the Senator and I’m not sure people typically understand the impact that their presence and comments can have.” —Senate Communications Director
“In person meetings are the easiest way for staff to understand an issue because it gives us the chance to ask questions, and put a face with the issue.”—House Deputy Chief of Staff
Source: Congressional Management Foundation Citizen-Centric Advocacy Report, 2017

18. Constituents Matter
Members of Congress report that “staying in touch with constituents” is the job aspect most critical to their effectiveness.
Source: Life in Congress: The Member Perspective, A Joint Research Report by the Congressional Management Foundation and the Society for Human Resource Management, 2013.

19. Thank You!
Questions