Lobby Day 2003
Report
Media Alert: 10/02/2003
Help make Lobby Day a nationwide effort!
Hurricane Isabel arrived in D.C. on September 18, the same day
advocates were scheduled to be on Capitol Hill, closing the federal government
and forcing the cancellation of The CFIDS Association of America’s 12th annual
Lobby Day. This was a major disappointment, particularly to those advocates who
attended Lobby Day training on September 17.
In spite of Isabel’s best efforts, we have not lost our chance
to educate Members of Congress and staff about the need for greater federal
resources to conquer CFIDS. Below are suggestions for contacting your Members of
Congress to raise their awareness of CFIDS—quick, easy ways to make your voice
heard. Personal contact from constituents can have a profound impact on a
Member, helping them to recognize the importance of an issue and its resonance
with voters.
So, how to turn lemons into lemonade? The Association
recommends the following actions:
•Make an appointment to see your Representative and/or
Senators when they are home. Senators will be home from October 3 – 13;
Representatives will likely be home around Columbus Day weekend. Contact
district or state offices to inquire about the Member’s schedule and to make an
appointment. If the Member is unavailable, ask about meeting with staff. Staff
in the district/state offices will likely give you more time than you would have
on Capitol Hill and will pass along your concerns to the Member. If you do
schedule a meeting, try to bring along a small group to demonstrate that this
issue is important to many of the Member’s constituents. Remember to follow up
with staff after the meeting to keep CFIDS on their radar screen.
•Write a letter to your Representative and/or Senators. Share
your story of living with CFIDS or having a family member with CFIDS. Include
the Association’s requests, which can be found in the advocate packets
distributed at the training session. If you were unable to attend the training
or were not registered for Lobby Day, please contact the Association at
advocacy@cfids.org for a copy of FY’04 congressional requests. Keep letters
relatively brief and to the point. Letters should be sent directly to local
offices to avoid the 4-week delivery delay on Capitol Hill.
•Send an email or call your Members’ offices to share your
concerns with them. See the bullet above and follow those guidelines. If you
call the office, ask to speak to the person who handles health care issues for
the Member. Be respectful of the staff member’s time: you will likely have only
a few minutes to speak with them, so use your time wisely. Ask about contacting
them to follow up on the Association’s requests.
A Member’s Web site will have all relevant contact
information. Visit http://www.senate.gov
and
