Build Relationships with Elected Officials
Advocacy doesn’t just happen in Washington, D.C. Building relationships with local officials is just as important, and you can do it anytime. Congress is in recess and working from their home states, typically from July through early September and from mid-December through the end of the year.
Some tips to connect with your representatives:
Call or write your elected officials: Communicating with your elected officials and their staff is a great way to emphasize the importance of supporting human genetics and genomics research. E-mails, letters, and calls provide a way for you to stay in touch.
The email and physical addresses of your elected officials are available on their websites. You can find out who represents you on the House and Senate websites.
Use this letter template and customize it depending on your advocacy interests, or visit the ASHG Advocacy Action Center for current action alerts. We recommend using your personal email and/or phone number rather than your institutional contact information.
Host a lab tour: Invite your Members of Congress or their staff to visit your lab and events held in your community (Steps for a successful lab tour (ASCB) & FASEB’s Guide to Hosting a Lab Visit).
Visit your members of Congress: As a constituent, you can set up a meeting with either your member of Congress’s district office or their D.C. office. To do so, we recommend that you email the office 2-4 weeks before your visit and follow up with a phone call a week later. You can find your members’ information on the House and Senate websites. Offer the office a few time slots that work for you, keeping in mind that most meetings are scheduled in 15-minute increments, and request to speak with the office’s health staffer. Use this Research!America guide to learn about how you can prepare and what you might be able to expect.
Connect with your university’s government relations team: Your university or company may have dedicated government relations professionals whose job it is to advocate for your institution, and thus, your work. Stop by their offices, send an email, or give them a call to express your interest and they will likely be happy to share ways for you to stay informed or advocate for your science. You can also work with government relations professionals to organize advocacy events – this could be anything from organizing a webinar to having your representatives tour your lab to see where research funding goes and how vital your work is.