Written by Lisa Van Allen, Chair of the RSDSA Advocacy Committee, for the RSDSA blog.
Building relationships with your Members of Congress is important to ensuring that CRPS patients are heard on Capitol Hill and policymakers are working to improve the lives of patients living with pain.
Members of Congress are more responsive to their constituents and more likely to support a policy proposal when they hear directly from people who live in their district. You can find contact information for your House Representatives and Senators here.
To build a relationship with your Member of Congress, you can:
- Schedule a meeting with your Member in your local District office or on Capitol Hill
- Get to know the key staff who handle health care policy in the district and in Washington, DC
- Invite your Member of Congress or their staff to special events held in your community
- Attend events like town halls that your Member of Congress holds in the district and state
- Volunteer for a candidate’s campaign activities
- Engage with legislators on social media
- Write letters or emails to your legislators
- Write op-eds for your local newspapers
- Send “thank you” messages (call, email, letter, social media) when your legislators support rare disease issues
When should I engage with my Representative and Senators?
Anytime and all the time! Start out slowly, with one or two different activities. As issues arise, engage with your legislators on those issues. Pay attention to the issues you care about most.
As a bill progresses through Congress (committee, House vote, Senate vote, conference committee, etc.), let your legislators know about your position on the issue. Don’t wait until it’s too late to voice your support or concerns on legislation you care about.
How do I connect with my legislator?
- Find personal connections you have in common! As a constituent, you are from the same state and area as your legislator. You may even live in the same neighborhood, go to the same school, etc.
- There may be local products, places or activities your legislator loves – when appropriate, reference them in your correspondence (I.e., Sen. Grassley is passionate about cancer prevention, and Rep. Ashley Hinson has two young sons involved in sports).
- Research the issues that are important to your legislator (check out their website, newsletter, and press releases).
- Research legislation that the legislator has supported previously (check out their website and press releases).
TIP – Staff are an amazing resource and Members of Congress rely on them to advise them on issues that affect their district and constituents
This information was adapted from the Everylife Foundation.