Conference Agenda Snapshot

Transcription

1 Capitol Hill 101

2 What We ll Cover Conference Agenda Snapshot Congress: The Basics The Legislative Process Capitol Hill: The Basics What s a Hill Visit Like? Social Media 2

3 Conference Agenda Snapshot Monday 9 AM 2 PM: District Activist Leaders meeting Monday 3:30 PM: Public Policy Conference starts, reception with food that evening Tuesday All Day: Sessions at the conference hotel, dinner on your own (check with your chapter about any dinner plans) Wednesday: Breakfast at the hotel, Capitol Hill visits 3

4 PPC Hotel The hotel reservation deadline has passed If you still need a hotel room for any/all nights, please leanne.sims@nmss.org 4

5 Transportation The hotel does not operate an airport shuttle Taxis/shuttle service or metro (subway) must be used Recommended that accessible services be arranged 3+ hours in advance Comprehensive transportation guide is on the PPC website: Transportation will be provided to/from Capitol Hill on Wednesday 5

6 Congress: The Basics 6

7 U.S. Senate Republican Control 54 Republicans 44 Democrats 2 Independents (caucus with Dems) 7

8 U.S. House of Representatives Republican Control 246 Republicans 188 Democrats 1 Vacant 8

9 114 th Congress: Fun Facts 20% women 17% minorities 97 = number who ve served in the military 18 physicians 31 = youngest member (Rep. Elise Stefanik, NY-21) 9

10 Taking 3 Issues to Capitol Hill Advancing Research for Neurological Diseases Act MS Research Funding (NIH and MS CDMRP) Access to MS Medications 10

11 Legislative Process What You Learn in School Reality 11

12 Many Paths to a Bill Becoming Law 12

13 Advancing Research for Neurological Diseases Act The House and Senate have introduced the bill The House included the bill in a larger legislative package the 21 st Century Cures Act The Senate just started moving the bill, but made some changes 13

14 MS Research Funding We will be advocating for 2 government sources of MS research funding: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) MS Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) Every year, Congress decides the funding level for each research program 14

15 Federal Budget Process President s Budget Budget Resolution Dear Colleague Letters & Appropriations Committees Work If not completed by Oct. 1, a Continuing Resolution to provide more time Once through Committee, to the Floor for a Vote (as individual or combined bills) 15

16 Dear Colleague Letters Members of Congress can sign on to Dear Colleague letters to show their support for a specific amount of funding for a specific program The letters are sent to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees as they decide funding levels The more signers, the more support that shows! Members of the Appropriations Committees rarely sign on to these letters 16

17 Dear Colleague Letters There will be an MS CDMRP Dear Colleague letter in the House There will be an NIH Dear Colleague letter in the House and Senate Some of the letter deadlines are before PPC this year, so stay tuned for opportunities to contact your members of Congress and ask for their support 17

18 Appropriations Committees and Beyond If your member(s) of Congress are on the Appropriations Committees, they are very important for NIH and MS CDMRP funding After PPC, several opportunities to urge your members continued support as the federal budget process moves forward 18

19 Capitol Hill Visits Each state has a Visit Coordinator who is scheduling your state s Capitol Hill visits They will be in touch with your schedule There will be time at the Conference for your state delegation to meet and finalize details for the meetings (who s covering what, etc.) 19

20 Map of Capitol Hill 20

21 Capitol Hill: Visuals 21

22 Capitol Hill: Visuals 22

23 Capitol Hill: Visuals 23

24 What a Hill Visit is Like Casual, a conversation Some will be with members of Congress, many will be with a congressional staffer A staffer s job is to listen and relay your needs to their boss Level of knowledge about MS varies minutes typically 24

25 Congressional Staff Chief of Staff Responsible for overall office functions; oversees staff and budget; advises member on political matters Legislative Director Establishes legislative agenda; directs legislative staff; briefs members on all legislative matters Health Legislative Assistant Develops legislation and strategies related to healthcare Legislative Correspondent Researches and writes legislative correspondence; assists Legislative Assistants as needed Scheduler Manages member s meeting and travel schedule 25

26 What a Hill Visit is Like Your role: To tell your story We provide you with a script per issue these are called Talking Points. Talking points will be posted on the PPC website soon so that you have time to get comfortable with them; will also be in the PPC app You can keep the talking points in front of you during your Hill visits 26

27 How to Tell Your Story & Make the Ask Hook Start w/ your request Paint the picture: What is MS?; How has MS impacted you and your family? What are the stakes? Line The issue (neuro data, NIH/CDMRP funding, access to MS medications) Why does the issue matter to you as someone living with or affected by MS? Sinker Also end with the REQUEST: What do we want the member of Congress to do? Benefits of Congress doing this 27

28 Hill Visit Tips If they ask questions and you don t know the answer, that s ok. Make a note of it and Society staff can follow up with the office. Thank them for the visit. Make sure they have your contact information and you have theirs. Grab a business card on the way out. 28

29 Important Reminders PPC Prep Call is on March 1 at 3 PM eastern; call will be recorded and posted PPC Website More materials will be posted as the Conference approaches so check back often! 29

30 Questions? Region, etc. Northeast PA, NJ, MD, DE, DC and VA Southeast South Central Midwest West District Activist Leaders Hotel/Logistics 30