There are a variety of avenues by which residents can be involved in legislative advocacy efforts. Sign up on the Federal Advocacy Action Network (FAAN) on the AAP Federal Affairs web site to receive important advocacy action alerts on timely federal issues. This site has information about current legislative issues, and sample letters that you can personalize and send to your legislators. Constituents’ opinions have a substantial impact on a legislator’s vote, so fax, E-mail, call, or meet with your legislators when there are upcoming votes on bills that impact patients. Letters to the editor or op-ed pieces can also be effective for raising community awareness on issues. Finally, consider attending the annual 3-day AAP Legislative Conference or daylong “Advocacy Days” in Washington D.C. to receive formal training in legislative advocacy with the opportunity to visit Capitol Hill. 

When scheduling an appointment with your legislator, call the office and ask to speak with the health legislative aid if possible. Tell them that you are a physician and a representative from the American Academy of Pediatrics and would like to discuss issues related to child health with them. Typically, you will be scheduled for a 15-minute appointment with a staffer. It is rare to meet directly with the legislator. When attending the meeting, you should dress professionally, arrive on time, and bring a business card to exchange. It is important to discuss one or two timely issues on which you would like specific action by the legislator to be taken. It is important to not overwhelm them with too much information, or to discuss too many issues. Be succinct, and clear, and if possible provide specific examples from patients you have cared for. Remember, you are the expert on this issue. Anecdotes are powerful examples that staff will remember and can share with the representative. Finally, it is important to have a one-page sheet referred to as a “leave-behind” that summarizes the issue with bullet points. The AAP will often provide these for federal issues and will be available on the Federal Affairs section of the web site. After the meeting, you should send an E-mail or letter to thank them for the chance to discuss your issue, and to reiterate the action you hope the legislator will take. Most importantly, these meetings are an opportunity to build a relationship with the staff of your representative. These relationships are longitudinal and valuable for achieving success in legislative advocacy in the long run.