From the College | Issue: June 2016 |
Ways to use the ACR’s advocacy toolkit to contact Congressional representatives and articulate your message to lawmakers
Members of Congress will spend more time in their respective districts this year. This is great news for both experienced and new advocates, because members of Congress are often more accessible when they are home. If you are apprehensive about meeting with your members of Congress in Washington, D.C., these district work periods provide the perfect opportunity to begin building a valuable relationship with your legislators. Here are a few ways for you to reach out to your legislators while they are at home.
With an influx of new faces in the 118th Congress, Government Affairs Committee Chair Christina Downey, MD, notes that now is a great time to establish a relationship with your member of Congress and help them understand the day-to-day of what it takes to take care of patients.
Many members of Congress return to their home states and districts in August, making it a great time to engage them in local conversations about healthcare policies and how they affect rheumatology practices and patients.