Visit Capitol Hill

Whether you’re participating in an ASHA-hosted visit to Capitol Hill or planning your own visit, here are some tips for successful meetings. Additional meeting and logistics information is available for ASHA-hosted visits to Capitol Hill. If you have any questions or need more information about legislative advocacy, please email ASHA at federal@asha.org.

See what ASHA's Capitol Hill Day is all about in this video.

Meeting Tips

Schedule your meetings 3–4 weeks in advance because members of Congress and their staff have very busy schedules. Contact the legislator's office, which can be found on their website at United States House of Representatives or United States Senate. Most congressional offices do not accept appointments more than 4 weeks in advance.
Review the issues/legislation and memorize one statistic or fact to share with the legislator/staff.
Tell your legislators/staff the town where you reside and where you are employed.
Talk about your profession, what you do, and why it's important to the representative's/senator's constituents. Share state specific information on the professions.
Share a personal story to help explain how the issues/legislation will specifically impact you and your clients, patients, or students.
Ask for the legislator to do something, such as cosponsor the bill or support increased funding. This will let the legislator know exactly what you expect. If your representative or senator has already cosponsored the legislation, thank them for their support.

(For more information on in-person meetings, see the Step-by-Step Process for a Successful Meeting.)

Meeting Length

Plan for a 15 minute meeting.

What to Bring

You should bring ASHA's "leave behind" materials to leave with your representative/senators, as well as business cards and any other relevant materials.

Prepare for Your Day

Review the Capitol Hill Map and Lunch Suggestions [PDF]
Familiarize yourself with the wheelchair accessibility map for Capitol Hill
Know what to do during a lock-down or an active aggressor situation [PDF]

Dress Code

Dress in business attire and wear comfortable shoes. There will be a lot of walking.

Following Up

Write a thank-you email and provide any follow-up information you promised. If you requested they sign specific legislation, you can ask if the representative or senator has agreed to cosponsor the legislation.