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

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)

How You Were Taught

The Reality

Some Perspective 112th Congress (2011-12) 12,299 bills introduced 284 laws enacted (2.3 %) 113th Congress (2013-14) 10,637 bills introduced 297 laws enacted (2.8 %) 114th Congress (2015-16) 12,048 bills introduced 254 laws enacted (2.1%)

U.S. Senate: Republican Majority (52-48) Control of the 114th vs. 115th Senate ■ Democrats ■ Republicans ■ Independents Control of the 114th Senate (2014-2016) Control of the 115th Senate (2016-2018) 44 54 46 52 44-2-54 46-2-52 Republican Senate Majority Republican Senate Majority Source: National Journal research, 2016.

U.S. House: Republican Majority (241-194) Control of the 114th vs. 115th House ■ Democrats ■ Republicans ■ Independents Control of the 114th House (2014-2016) Control of the 115th House (2016-2018) 218 Needed for Majority 218 Needed for Majority 186-246 194-241 Republican House Majority Republican House Majority Source: National Journal research, 2016; AP, 2016.

The Power of Advocacy

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

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

Advocates Make a Difference

Developing and Making a Clear Ask

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

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

An Advocate’s Toolbox

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.

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?

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

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

Creating Visuals Leave behinds Infographics Photos Documentation Charts and Graphs

Engaging with Your Members of Congress

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)

The Journey of Your Communications Email/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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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

Questions Thank you!! Kim Cantor Director, Health Practice HCM Strategists Kim_Cantor@hcmstrategists.com Tel. (202) 547-2222