February 19, 1999 04:10 PM
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Meetings with your Legislators The key to getting results for the community is effective communications with policy makers. The best and most effective contact is personal face-to-face discussion. This permits you to present your views, to ask and answer questions, and to most accurately assess the level of support of the public official. Writing a personalized letter, sending a telegram, or telephoning a member's office are other effective ways of letting legislators know how the Parkinson's advocate, and a constituent, feels about a specific issue. Remember, your elected official is interested in your views. Scheduling a meeting with your legislator Find out your legislator's schedule. Congressional representatives are usually available at their district offices when Congress is in recess. To find out when your representative will be in his/ her district office, call that office. Or if you are in Washington, D.C., call the legislator's office to schedule a meeting there. Make the appointment. Call your legislator's district office and ask for the appointment secretary. Introduce yourself and briefly explain your reasons for wanting to meet with the legislator. Be sure to mention that you are a constituent. Consider inviting the legislator to your group meetings. Bring a legislator or his/her staff representative to a meeting of your support group, chapter or other organization. Prepare for that visit with a plan for the meetings, including compelling personal stories and a request for support of specific current actions. Tips for Having a Successful Visit Prepare for the meeting. If you are meeting with the legislator personally, the meeting will probably be brief. Therefore, it is essential that you prepare yourself in advance so that you are able to make the most of your time. Think carefully about the issues you will want to discuss and decide the best way to present them. Decide who will attend. If you are working with a group, call together your group members and discuss who would best represent the group's interests. Think about "experts" that you might want to invite. Know how the issue affects Parkinson's. What specific effect will passage or failure to pass the bill have on Parkinson's research, the Parkinson's community action agenda, Parkinson's patients, and why? Research your legislator's stance on this issue. It will help to be knowledgeable about your legislator's background and positions. Find out how he/she stands on major proposals related to Parkinson's. If possible, learn how the legislator feels about health care issues in general. This information will help you know the best way to frame your argument. Keep your message as focused as possible. During the visit, be specific about bills you would like the legislator to vote in favor of or against. Talk about your group's goals in simple, real terms. Know precisely what you want the public official to do. If you want your representative to vote for or against the bill or amendments, speak on behalf of or against the bill or amendment, etc. Be sure to ask for it! Politely try to get a commitment. or at least a response. Don't settle for vague statements of sympathy or support. Be persuasive -- use your personal story. Use what you know about your legislator's views to appeal to him/hen Be emphatic, personal and convincing. Cite statistics, studies, polls, and articles to support your views. Bring materials. Bring educational materials to leave with the legislator for future reference, like "leave behind" materials provided by the Network. Always report back to the Parkinson's Action Network. Try to remember what was said at the meeting. It helps to write it down as soon as possible after you leave the office or at the end of the phone call. The Network needs that information to judge the level of commitment of the Member. Always say thank you. After your visit or telephone conversation with an elected or appointed official, write a letter to thank him/her for taking the time to speak with you and to confirm any commitment you feel you received. Please send a copy of your letter and the official's response to PAN. The Importance of Staff Contacts While Senators and Representatives are the ultimate decision-makers, staff can have significant influence over the course and content of legislation. PAN advocates are urged to maintain ongoing contacts with these individuals, especially health-related legislative aides. When the time comes to contact a lawmaker about specific Parkinson's-related legislation, your staff contact should also he notified. This is one way of insuring that our issues are not lost or overlooked among the stack of legislation that is discussed every day. How to Write a Letter to Your Legislator Letter writing is one of the easiest and most effective ways for Parkinson's advocates to ensure that their voices are heard by policymakers. Although it might not seem that a single letter could make a difference, the power of a solitary voice on this issue should not be underestimated. Congressional offices frequently cite the enormous impact that even just one well-written letter can have. Steps to follow when writing a letter to your legislator: Identify your congressional, state and local legislators. To identify members of Congress, call the Network, look in your phone book, check with the Federal Election Commission in your state's capital, or look for a U.S. Congress Handbook at your local library. For ideas about Congressional committees to whom letters could be sent, refer to the List of Key Congressional Committees in this Guide. Letters to individual representatives should be addressed: For Senators: The Honorable (Senator's name) US. Senate Washington, DC 20510
For Representatives:
For the President: President William Jefferson Clinton The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20500Connect the letter to a specific bill or issue. Your letter will be more effective if it focuses on your opinions about a single issue or legislative proposal. When writing in support or opposition of a specific bill, cite the bill title and number Personalize your argument. Talk about your personal experience with the issue you are writing about.. Policymakers and their staff are more likely to read and to be concerned about these real life experiences. Keep the letter brief and to the point. A short letter is more likely to be read. Also, try to deal with only one subject and outline your request clearly in the first paragraph. Ask for a response, and remember to include your name and address. You need to hear how your legislator responds to your request. Also, knowing your name and voting district will provide the legislator with greater incentive to pay attention to your opinions on an issue. |
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