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Advocacy Tips and Guidelines

Advocacy Basics

The most important key to protecting your legislative interests is to never have them threatened in the first place. This is accomplished by forging and nurturing a positive relationship with your elected officials whether you voted for them or not. Once a representative is elected, they are not guaranteed to support your interests if you did vote for them and they don't have to challenge your interests if you didn't. Their actions on your behalf rely entirely on your ability to make them aware of the issues important to your business.

All HARDI members should invite and host their elected officials' tour of your facility so they can meet you and your employees, learn about your business and the products you sell, and understand the significant factors that determine your business' success. Invite your representatives to opening ceremonies for new locations and offices.

Consistent communications with your representatives is also important because they probably won't anticipate every issue that might affect your business. Ideally, you want to be one of the constituents staffers contact for input on issues they identify as in your sphere of interests.

Communications can be in-person visits, letters, emails, faxes and phone calls. Take advantage of the scheduled recesses when you know your representatives will be in their state or district offices. Finally, while it is always important to have a relationship with your elected official, do not underestimate the importance of knowing key staffers as well.

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when meeting with members of Congress and/or their staff:

Tip 1: Make an Appointment

In order to have a productive meeting, you will need to schedule an appointment with a member of Congress or his/her staff at least a couple of weeks prior to your visit. Please keep in mind that when Congress is in session, members and staff are very busy attending hearings and meetings, therefore, please be patient and arrive on time. 

Tip 2: Prepare for the Meeting

Prior to your meeting, make sure that you prepare any material that you will need for your discussion, including background information, facts, and statistics. Research your member's position on your issue (i.e. voting history, past legislative action) so that you can better target your message and have a more meaningful discussion. The best place to do your research is on your member's website or at the Library of Congress website at www.thomas.gov. On this site, you can search for legislation by name, date, or committee, and you can also find the Senate and House weekly schedules.

Tip 3: Stay on Message

When discussing your issue always be polite and brief. Remember that members are looking to act in the best interests of their constituencies, so try to provide a direct link between your issue and the welfare of your region. It may help to include a personal story highlighting the importance of the issue. Keep in mind that you are presenting yourself as a resource and be sure to answer any questions that the member or staffer may have. Finally, thank the member for his/her past support on various issues.

Tip 4: Continue the Relationship

After returning home, write or email your member thanking them for the opportunity to discuss the issue. Provide regular updates on what is happening in the district and/or state. Another way to involve the member is to invite them to visit, especially for events and launches of new projects or the opening of new branches.

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