Citizen Advocates: Learning the Ropes for Effective Capitol Hill Visits

American Bar Association

Presenters

Thomas Susman

Director Governmental Affairs Office, ABA

Julie Strandlie Grassroots Director/Legislative Counsel, ABA

Brad Fitch

Vice President, Client Services, CQ-Roll Call Group

Angela RyeSenior Advisor & Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives,

Committee on Homeland Security

How to Lobby Webinar

Agenda

1. Capitol Hill Environment – Post Internet

2. Challenges to Interacting with Congress

3. Tips for Effective Lobbying

4. Follow-up and Reports

Dear Congressman Bartlett:

I voted for you three times, and I think you are wonderful. Please send me $900 at once, so I can buy an icebox and repaint my car.

-John J.__________

P.S. The three times I voted for you were in the election of 1946.

Letter: Investigate Elvis sightings 2,523 unread

e-mails

Faxes from group promising mass protest at next town hall meeting

Is it $1 Bud night at the Hawk & Dove

Pub?

Report: “National Intelligence Estimate of Osama bin Laden Location”

Letter: Local mayor asking for earmark project

Mail & E-mail to Congress(source: Congressional Management Foundation)

25

100

200

150

125

175

50

75

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

E-mail

Postal Mail

182 million

18 million

"If your Member/Senator has not already arrived at a firm decision on an issue, how much influence might the following advocacy strategies directed to the Washington office have on his/her decision?"

9070 8020 50 6030 40 100

Constituent Visits

Form Faxes

Form E-mail

Individualized E-mail

Lobbyist Visit

Individualized Faxes

Phone Calls

Form Letters

Rep. for Constituents

Individualized Letters

A lot of Influence

Some Influence

99%

96%

96%

94%

93%

91%

88%

65%

63%

57%

Source: Congressional Management Foundation

“The best groups find influential citizens to singularly focus on one issue.  The heavy lifting is not done by paid lobbyists -- it's done by citizens.”

- US Senator

Members of Congress Research

• Biography, committee positions

• Local connection to our issues

• Recent legislative/press activity

• Use ABA’s “Suggestions for Congressional Hill Visits”

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATIVE VISITS

There is no one "correct" way of calling upon a Member of Congress. But there are some things that you can do that will greatly increase the effectiveness of your visit. Here, are a few guiding principles to remember:

11 Steps to a Successful Visit

1. Make an Appointment

2. Do your Homework

3. Select a Spokesperson

4. Be Brief and Focused

5. Be Positive but Respond Honestly

6. Localize the Issue

11 Steps to a Successful Visit

7. Do Not Ignore Staff

8. Leave a “One-Pager”

9. “Close the Deal”

10. Write a Thank You

11. Report Results to GAO

Make an Appointment

• E-mail a letter to the scheduler in the office of each Member, advising of your trip to Washington and requesting a meeting. Include the issues you would like to discuss.

• Contact the ABA Governmental Affairs Office staff for the most current scheduler names and e-mail addresses.

• Follow up with a call if you do not hear back in a week.

Appointment Tip

Leave plenty of time between appointments—at least 30 minutes, more

if going between House and Senate appointments to account for delays.

Be Prepared!

• Know the issues that are of primary concern to the Member—address those first.

• Use the ABA Constituent Visit Checklist to learn the issues, the personalities, the legislative process and the Member's voting record.

• Know the key points you would like to make and anticipate likely questions or reactions.

• Know and be able to respond to alternate arguments.• Recognize the roles played by the parties, House and Senate

leadership, committee chairs, etc. and what each can and cannot do.

Be Prompt!

Be on time!—even though you should plan to wait for Members to finish previous

meetings, return from committee meetings or the House or Senate floor, etc.

Select a Spokesperson

Select a person who is:

Known to the Member, preferably a close friend, business colleague, etc.;

Known by a participating staffer;

Most knowledgeable on the issues; or

Otherwise best able to state your case.

Select a Spokesperson

• If each group member is going to speak, decide in advance who is going to say what.

• Be prepared to adjust this plan in the event the Member has to cut the meeting short.

TIP: if you have a large group, ask the scheduler in advance how many people can attend the meeting – there may not be room for everyone!

Be Brief! • Don't try to cover more than three issues.• Decide in advance which is the most

important to cover for each particular Member. (talk to a relevant staff person ahead of time, review

committee membership, leadership roles, etc.)

• Meetings typically last no more than 15-20 minutes, but can be cut short by a floor vote, etc. Make your point and move on.

• Don’t overstay your welcome – keep your eye on the clock.

Be Positive!

• Thank the Member for his/her past support on key issues.

• Look for common ground – don’t retreat from your position, but respect the Member’s point of view even if it differs from yours.

• If a question arises for which you do not know the answer, say so and make a note to follow up with the answer.

Localize the Issue

• As Tip O’Neil said, “All politics is local.”• Most important, explain how the

legislation/issue affects the Member’s district or state.

• Be specific – e.g. use local stories regarding legal aid.

• Make it easy for the Member to vote your way!

Do Not Ignore Staff!

• Find out which staff person handles your issues and develop a working relationship with him or her.

• Many staff members are very influential with their bosses and can be of great help in relaying inside information, influencing a Member, etc.

• Do not be disappointed if you wind up meeting staff only because the member could not make the meeting; proceed as if that was the plan.

Do Not Ignore Staff!

• Build a Relationship with Staff – DC Staff handle substantive issues; local

staff generally handle casework and Members’ participation in local events.

Exchange e-mail addresses with staff who handle your issues—doing so will allow you to build a long term, reciprocal relationship.

Leave a “One-Pager”

• Leave behind “One-Pagers” setting forth your position on each issue so that the Member or staff can refer to it after you've gone.

• Make sure your name, address and telephone number is imprinted on your business card and securely attached.

“Close the Deal”

• Tell the Member exactly what you would like them to do – sponsor legislation, write a letter to a committee, etc. Members hear from many different constituencies on

most issues, and are careful to avoid making too many commitments.

• Don’t take generalized statements of interest or support to be true commitments on your issue.

• Be sure to “Close the Deal!” or, at least determine a solid plan of action for next steps.

Write a Thank You Letter

• Write a letter thanking the Member and/or staff for their time and attention.

• Briefly summarize your position and any understandings that might have been reached.

• E-mail this letter (in PDF format) to the relevant staffer and stay in contact with her/him throughout the year.

Report Results to GAO

• Complete Hill Visit Report Forms ASAP –drop off or complete during breaks spent at the ABA Headquarters on the Hill.

• Talk to ABA GAO legislative counsels if explanation is needed.

Conclusion

• Don’t wait for a crisis!• Make sure your Members are reminded of

your priorities well in advance of committee markups or floor votes!

• Develop and maintain working relationships with Members and staff:

• Offer to serve as an information resource; • Invite Members and staff to bar/pro bono/legal aid

events/community activities; • Participate in campaigns.

• What is one great way to do this?

Participate in

The ABA Grassroots Advocacy Program &

ABA Day in Washington!

You will achieve your goals and have fun doing it!