M. Fordyce MD, California Coalition for Caregivers 1

BASIC ADVOCACY HINTS Contacting legislators and their staff by letters, faxes, telephone calls, emails and visits, helps the staff and lawmaker:  Develop their positions  Decide whether to cosponsor a bill  Determine how they will vote on a particular issue Remember – lawmakers ultimately are accountable to us, their constituents – we employ them.

1. How is Health Policy Made in Congress? a) Majority party sets the agenda b) House and Senate leaders play influential role in determining priorities c) Due to the high volume and complexity of its work, Congress divides itself into committees and subcommittees, which play a critical role in the legislative process d) Committee and subcommittees hold hearings on issues to hear testimony from government officials, outside experts, and affected interest groups e) Subcommittees/committees consider legislation in “markup” sessions, where they vote on bills. f) Once a bill is approved or reported out of committee, there is little opportunity to change it on the Senate or House floor, so favorable committee consideration is key

2. Whom Do You Contact?  Federal Issue - Immigration, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, Health and Human Services, Veteran’s Services U.S. Senator and/or U.S. Congress Member  State Issue - Education, Medicaid, Housing, Transportation, Health and Human Services, Veteran’s Services State Senator and/or State Assembly Member  Local Issue - Street repair, lighting, noise abatement, housing ordinance, transportation County Supervisor Mayor Council Member

3. Who Are Some of the Staff People?  The District/State Scheduler schedules the member’s time when he or she is in the district or state.  The Field Representative handles local policy issues and is the principal liaison between the elected officials and local businesses, organizations, and citizens. M. Fordyce MD, California Coalition for Caregivers 2

 The District/State Office Director oversees the operations of the district or state staff and is often the point person in the district office for highly sensitive local political issues.  The Legislative Director handles policy issues and oversees the legislative staff.  The Chief of Staff may sometimes handle a few policy issues, but generally his or her time is spent managing the office  County/City Council Deputies often are assigned to handle health, senior and transportation issues.

4. Advocacy Actions a) Letter writing, email, telephone calls, faxes Effective ways to communicate with elected representatives, for example: Send a letter:  To a state or federal agency about a concern you may have with a particular agency action.  In support of a state or federal grant application you have made.  To an influential member of the Legislature or Congress, such as a committee chair or a member of the leadership, about a particular issue you may care about. Best to fax letter – if number is busy, keep trying!

b) Face-to-face meetings  The most effective means of political communication  Call your representative's district office and ask to speak with a staff member who is responsible for the issue about which you are concerned  Request a meeting between you and the staff member or legislator to discuss your concerns and recommended actions  Be there ahead of appointment time – do not keep staff person/legislator waiting for you  Prepare well for visit – know facts and figures – be well organized  Introduce yourself and explain what you do  If it is a group at the visit, choose a spokesperson in advance who will speak first, then everyone else can speak up as the visit progresses  Be brief and concise throughout visit  Avoid medical jargon – speak in clear, easily understood terms  Don’t use acronyms like CAGS – say California Geriatrics Society  What do you want from the visit? Be specific, for example, restore Title VII funding  Give staff person/legislator your business card. If it is a group stick business cards in advance to a sheet of paper so that it is clear at a glance who has attended

c) Testimony M. Fordyce MD, California Coalition for Caregivers 3

 Prepare remarks based upon your experience that are relevant to the issue or proposal  Your testimony can be given in person during a formal hearing, or only in writing, or both to all members of the legislative committee

d) You can ask your legislator to:  Introduce legislation to change already existing and/or create new  Cosponsor existing legislation introduced by another legislator.  Vote for or against legislation being considered by the committee he or she serves on  Ask another legislator to support a proposal that is under review by another committee

5. Follow Up Action  Telephone call, email, letter/fax to the legislators at the City Council Office, Supervisor Office, District Office, and/or to the state Capitol Office or Washington DC  Restate who you are, the reason for your visit and what you would like the lawmaker to do  Say thank you  Praise the staff person if he/she was helpful (the staff person is more likely to put your letter on the lawmaker’s desk if he/she is mentioned favorably in it)

Resources  Find my State Assembly Representative  Find my Congress Representative

Links  www.ccoa.gov  www.4csl.org  www.c4a.info  www.senate.ca.us.gov  www.assembly.ca.us.gov

My thanks to the following for their help in developing and reviewing this: Marie. S. Torres, Ángel G. Obregón, Laura Allendorf, Susan Emmer, Vicki Farrell