The Endocrine Society Government and Public Affairs (GPA) Department keeps members up to date on relevant policy measures pending in the US Congress, government agencies, and in the European Union in our weekly Advocacy in Action. We’ll let you know when endocrine-related legislation is headed for a vote or is in danger of being ignored.
You, the constituent, are the boss of your Senators and Representative. They want to hear from you – you don’t have to be an expert or a professional policymaker to make your voice heard. Lawmakers use the rule of thumb that each letter they receive from constituents represents a similar view of at least 100 constituents – that's why communicating with them is so important. Below is an ADVOCACY TOOLKIT for how you can effectively get your message to policymakers. For more information or for help getting involved, email us at [email protected].
Not sure who your lawmakers are? All Senators can be found at senate.gov and all Representatives at house.gov.
The Endocrine Society constantly monitors the latest happenings on Capitol Hill and relies on your voice to help make our message heard. Throughout the year, we will create online campaigns with prewritten messages for you to send to your delegation on the Hill. All you need to do is enter your information and hit send. In thirty seconds or less, you can have an impact. Check out the latest campaigns on our Take Action page.
If you’re passionate about an issue that the Society doesn’t have a campaign for, we encourage you to write your own email to your congressional delegation: your two Senators and your Representative. Below are a few tips and tricks of writing to your Congressional leader.
You may be wondering, “Wouldn’t a hand-written letter be more effective?” While it is true that in a world of digital communication, a hand-written or typed letter is a real novelty and will attract extra attention in most Congressional offices, it is important to understand the limits of one as well. Congress scans all postal mail for suspicious substances, which can delay the arrival of your letter by several weeks or even months. Therefore, to ensure your message is delivered in a timely manner, we recommend you use email. Email contact information can be found on your Representative and Senators .gov websites.
Phone calls are a great way to communicate your concerns to lawmakers. You will likely speak with an aide or an intern rather than the lawmaker, but your call is still very important, and your message will be passed on. You can be connected to any congressional office by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121. Below are some tips and tricks to calling your lawmakers’ offices.
Sometimes the person taking your call can tell you how the member is planning to vote on an issue. If you get information like that, reporting it back to us is extremely helpful. You can always tell us how your call went at [email protected].
By far, the most effective way to articulate your views to your elected official and positively affect the outcome of legislation is to speak with your lawmaker or a member of their staff face-to-face. The Endocrine Society organizes Hill Days several times of year. Contact [email protected] to find out more information. If you want to organize your own trip, below are a few ways to do this.
To schedule an appointment in your lawmaker’s state or district office, in Washington, DC, or on a virtual platform, call your lawmaker’s office. You can contact any Washington office using the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121. Contact information for district offices can often be found on the lawmakers’ .gov websites.
In Washington, DC, many members of Congress conduct a weekly “Constituent Coffee” when in session to host constituents who are from out of town. When you schedule a meeting, you may want to find out when this is, as this is a great opportunity to connect with your policymaker in addition to their staff.
When you call, identify yourself as a constituent. Oftentimes, the legislator cannot meet with you directly, but their staff can; meetings with staff are just as important. When you are requesting a meeting, share what you would like to discuss, and you will be connected to the staffer who works on that issue. Staff in congressional offices are very busy. If you leave a voicemail for the scheduler and they do not return your call, try again in about two days. Polite persistence pays off.
Introduce Yourself. Share where you’re from, what you work on, and who benefits from your work. Be prepared to give a quick overview of what endocrinology is.
Come prepared with a specific request for action. Think about what you want your lawmaker to do. After clearly stating your position and why it matters to you, ask for the lawmaker’s position on the issue or legislation. Politely press for a commitment. If the legislator is not able to state their position at the time of the meeting, ask when you should follow up, usually within a week of the visit, and how, by phone or email, you should inquire about any action taken.
Discuss how legislation will directly affect you. Personal stories are memorable and carry weight. If possible, demonstrate widespread support by mentioning others in the community – organizations, officials, etc., – who agree with your position.
Be polite, positive, and professional. Start off your meeting by thanking the lawmaker or staffer for meeting with you and for any past support. Close the meeting with a “thank you” as well, regardless of whether the lawmaker will do what you want them to do. Always refer to lawmakers as “Senator XYZ” or “Congresswoman ABC”, never by their last names only. It’s also a good idea to bring written material, such as an information packet, that you can leave with the lawmaker or staffer.
Follow up after your visit. A personal email thanking the lawmaker or staffer for their time is always appreciated and can keep the conversation going. This is an opportunity to reiterate your ask of the meeting and, if the office made a commitment, to remind them of such.
Bring too many materials. A few leave behind materials can be helpful, but too much paper is overwhelming and will not necessarily be reviewed.
Bring up multiple, unrelated issues. Make sure what you discuss is focused and timely.
Talk in Overly Technical Terms
Meetings are typically 15 minutes or less and can take place in an office, the lobby of an office, or in the hallway. It’s wherever the staff person can grab space.
You will likely meet with a staff person. Staff are typically young, just a few years out of undergrad, but do have the ear of the lawmaker and often know more about the subject. Staff are typically not physicians or scientists, so be prepared to talk in layman’s terms.
Staff are likely to meet with a dozen other constituents with different issues that day. Make a connection – most but not all staff have some connection to the state or district.
Public events such as town hall meetings are commonly used forums for members of Congress to connect with their constituents during recess. When attending a town hall meeting, be prepared to ask short, pointed questions and politely press your elected official to give clear answers. Be polite, but direct and persistent. Town hall meetings are a great chance to:
Take a look at our how-to guide for attending and utilizing your lawmaker’s town hall meeting to make your voice heard.
Letters to the editor provide you with an opportunity to comment on articles, editorials, and advertisements appearing in local newspapers. Letters to the editor are widely read by lawmakers and community leaders to gauge public sentiment about current issues in the news. If you are interested in writing a letter or want to share one you have had published, please email it to us at [email protected]. Below are some tips for writing a letter to the editor.
These are simple, time-tested methods of how you, a constituent, can make a huge impact on the legislative process. We hope you’ll use these to get involved in our efforts and help support endocrinology. Remember: we can’t do it without you! For more information or if you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
