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Congress: How to Advocate

Congress is responsible for legislation to approve funding for biomedical research and health care. Our elected officials create policies and set standards that affect the health of all Americans.

You can directly influence the legislative process and help advance the treatment and care of children with cancer (see Advocacy Continuum). Advocacy can be as simple as making a call to your Representative or Senator, organizing a letter writing campaign, or even testifying before Congress.

To learn more about legislation that affects childhood cancer, visit the pending legislation section. You can express your concerns by calling the Congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Tell the operator your zip code and you will be connected to the office of your Representative or Senator.

For more information about Congress and the legislative process, visit THOMAS, the Congressional legislation Web site.

Hearings

Before the House or Senate can vote on legislation, it must be approved by Congressional committees and subcommittees. Committees frame the language for the issues and markup the bills. A majority of committee members must approve a bill before it goes to the House or Senate.

When Congress is in session, committee hearings debate legislation almost every week. Hearings offer a powerful forum for advocates, administration officials, and experts to offer testimony on issues related to pending bills.

Writing Letters

Letters to members of Congress are effective tools for voicing opinion and priorities about childhood cancer. Congressional staff pay careful attention to correspondence from their district’s constituents. It helps to address the letter to your Representative’s or Senator’s health care legislative assistant,. You can call your representative’s office for that persons name.

Some tips for letter writing:

  • Keep the content focused and on 1 page;
  • Mention the bill number or title; and
  • Include your personal story when it is relevant.
  • Consider a follow up call to the legislative assistant within a week.

Phone Calls Calling your Representative's or Senator's office to express your opinion to the health care legislative assistant is another effective way of conveying your legislative and policy priorities.

Some tips for calling:

  • Inform the staff member that you are a constituent and provide your mailing address and telephone number;
  • State the bill number, name, or the policy issue about which you are calling;
  • Briefly explain why the issue is important to you; and
  • Ask about your elected official's position on the issue and for a response in writing.

Visiting Capitol Hill

Visiting the office of your Representative or Senator is the most important way to bring attention to your concerns. Local issues are best addressed in a home District office. A visit to the Washington, DC, office is more effective when the issue is national.

First, send a letter to request a meeting, stating that you are a constituent and briefly outlining the subject for discussion. Include possible dates. Follow up with a phone call to the Member’s “Scheduler” about a week later. If your elected official is unavailable, ask to meet with the health care legislative assistant.

Some tips for visits:

  • Bring a 1 page bulleted summary on why you are there and what you want;
  • Explain your position on the issue and share your personal story when it is relevant;
  • Ask about the elected official's position on the issue; and

Don’t forget to send a thank you note after your meeting.