1. AACRAO Congressional Hill Day

2. Background What to do before coming to DC What to expect for the day
What to do after your visit
AACRAO legislative issues for Hill meetings

3. Things to do before coming to DC
Check weather forecast
Pack comfortable shoes
Pack professional attire for meetings
Bring business cards to leave behind for staffers
Plan to wear your AACRAO pin

4. Things To Keep In Mind For Hill Meetings
Hill meetings are about policy debates, so please avoid political debates
If necessary, agree to disagree
Remember that you are representing both AACRAO as a board member, as well as your institution

5. Method of Arranging Meetings
All of you represent higher education “voices” from the respective states where your institutions are located.
We matched your states with members of the House Education and Workforce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee.
Thus, all offices that you will be meeting with have DIRECT jurisdiction over higher education issues.
You will be meeting with the individual responsible for Education issues for the Congressman or Senator.

6. Items that AACRAO will provide for the day
AACRAO will provide individualized folders that will have all information for the day, including:
Your schedule of Congressional meetings
Congressional directory and map
A bio of each Member of Congress whose office you will be visiting
Information about AACRAO members from each of their states
Talking points for each of the issues to discuss
One pagers on each of the issues that we want to discuss with staff
AACRAO staff members to accompany you for each meeting

7. Items that AACRAO will provide for the day
AACRAO staff members will be present for each meeting
For the meetings, AACRAO will provide folders for the staff member that will be left behind. These will include:
About AACRAO information, including our overall legislative priorities
One pagers about the specific issues that we will discuss with each office
A roster of the AACRAO Board and staff members that were present at the meeting
U.S. map of AACRAO members per state

8. Getting to Capitol Hill
Breakfast will be provided at One DuPont Circle, Suite 520 between 7:30 am -8:00 am
Overview of the day will be from 8:00 – 8:40 am. We will depart for the Hill at 8:45am
AACROA will provide an UBER code for transportation to the Hill
Do not bring luggage or large bags. Security is like at the airport

9. What to Expect On The Hill
First meetings are scheduled for 9:30 am
At 10:00, am all Board members will meet in Longworth 1712 for a meeting with Rep. Jarid Polis (D-CO)
After this, we will go to Longworth 1230 to meet with Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN)
These will be very short substantive meetings and photo-ops.

10. What to Expect on The Hill
When you arrive to an office, please let the front desk person know who you are and who you are meeting with
Many times they will ask for your business card
If you are running late, or need to cancel, please be sure to notify the congressional office

11. What to Expect on The Hill
Designate a spokesperson to start the discussion
Most effective is if the constituent is point
Spokesperson should ask everyone to introduce themselves and mention that you are with AACRAO. Provide staff a folder.

12. What to Expect on The Hill
Space is limited on the Hill (especially the House) so you may end up meeting in the hallway or cafeteria if no room in office. Do not be offended
Do not underestimate the “youthful” look of Hill staff
At the end of the meeting, make sure that you get a card from the staffer

13. What to Expect on The Hill
Between your meetings be sure to give yourself time to walk, especially if you are going from the House to Senate (or vice-versa). Normally a minute walk
Give yourself enough time to go through security again

14. After Your Congressional Meetings
Use UBER code to return to AACRAO
We will have a “debriefing” session at the AACRAO office
Lunch will be provided
Send a follow up to staffers within a week after your meeting

15. AACRAO Issues for Hill Meetings

16. Issues to Discuss
There are a lot of issues that are important to AACRAO in the higher education space
However, we only will have minutes per meeting
Therefore, we want to limit the number of items to 2-3 issues

17. Issues to Discuss
HEA Reauthorization: Updates to FERPA and Electronic Records
Correcting Provisions Created by 2012 Regulations
The Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act of 2017
NOTE: As part of the , you will find one pagers about each of these issues and bullet points for you to discuss during the meetings