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AUCD - Hill Visits

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pdf File Directions to Capitol Hill from AUCD2014 Conference Hotel.pdf (182KB) [download]

Appointments must be made on your own


Wednesday, November 12, 2014 12:30 PM

Featured Presenter(s)

Thank you for participating in the AUCD annual meeting and conference.  We hope that you will stay and schedule time to meet with your Members of Congress on Wednesday, Nov. 12 following the close of the conference.  The purpose of your visits are to make sure that your Senators and Representatives hear directly from you about the work that you do and why it is important to people with disabilities in your state and nationwide. We also need to build new congressional champions on disability issues.

You will need to call your Members to schedule the meetings before you arrive.  If you haven't already done so, we suggest that you do this as soon as possible but at least a week in advance.  Making appointments and meeting with your Members is easy! Just follow these simple steps:

 

  1. Call the Capitol switchboard 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senator or Representative or use our Action Center and enter your Zip Code to find your officials' phone numbers.
  2. Ask to speak to the staff person that handles health, disability or appropriations (if they are on the Appropriations Committee)
  3. Say that you would like to schedule an appointment for Nov. 12 early in the afternoon to provide an update on the research, education, training, and services your Center is providing.
  4. Then make the next appointment.  (Schedule Senate or House visits together and give yourself at least 30 minutes to walk to the other side of the Capitol.  We suggest scheduling multiple meetings in 30 minute increments.) See also Tips for Making Hill visits prepared for the Disability Policy Seminar.
  5. Prioritize your visits depending on the Committee assignments of your Members of Congress or as well as the representative that is in the district of the Center (see full congressional directory on AUCD's Action Center. Is your Member on the House or Senate Appropriations Committee? If so, s/he please make that visit a priority! 
  6. Use the attached sample talking points or prepare your own. Take copies of research briefs, helpful data, and real people stories and tie them to your policy objectives.
    Contact Kim Musheno or Rachel Patterson with specific policy questions or if you need assistance to make your appointments.
  7. Finally, provide us feedback from your visits.  We will provide feedback forms to help you.

 

Thanks again for making an effort to meet with your Members of Congress or their staff.  This activity will help policymakers make better policy decisions and help AUCD advocate for congressional support of network activities!