Search online using the Find My Representative tool or the Search for a Senator tool to find your members’ websites, which will include their Washington, D.C. and district office locations and phone numbers.

Call and ask to set up a meeting with the member of Congress or their relevant staff who works on the issue you’d like to discuss. You can also ask for that staffer’s name; once you have their name, send them an email at the standard House and Senate email addresses. House staffer emails are structured: [email protected] (for example:[email protected]) and senate staffer emails are structured as [email protected] (for example: [email protected]). When requesting a meeting, staff will always appreciate brevity. In your email, be sure to touch on:

• Where you’re from (tell them if you’re a constituent!)
• What you work on (use clear language, no jargon)
• What issue you’d like to discuss
• When you’d like to meet

Don’t be afraid to follow-up if the office doesn’t get back to you in a few days. We have a sample meeting request email to get you started.

When thinking about scheduling a meeting with your legislator, it’s always a great idea to take others with you! Bring colleagues who will help strengthen your message. If you are bringing multiple people to the meeting, let the office know everyone who will be coming.

Being aware of when your legislator is in Washington, D.C. or in their home state or district, and what legislation they are considering and drafting, is helpful in determining when is the ideal time to meet with them. Check the congressional calendar for when the House and Senate are in session (in Washington, D.C.). If you’re planning a district visit, you can always plan on members being home during August recess.

To prepare, brush up on your member’s positions on science bills and issues, their recent actions, and what the latest science policy issues being discussed on Capitol Hill are. Pay special attention to the following:

• Member’s website: What committees do they serve on, what are their positions on various issues, and what is their recent voting record? Even if you disagree with most of what your member does, finding something they’ve done recently that you can thank them for it is a great way to begin a meeting. On their website, review the following:
  • Member biography
  • Committee and caucus membership
  • Issues pages
  • Press releases
• Social media: Check the member’s Twitter, Instagram and Facebook feed to see how your member views the latest issues being considered by Congress.
• Congress.gov: This site shows each lawmaker’s recent voting record and bills they’ve introduced (sponsored) or co-sponsored.

So, what is an “ask”? It’s congressional lingo for the purpose of your visit and should be framed as a call to action. It can be anything from requesting that the member of Congress vote a particular way on a bill to simply letting the office know that you are an expert on a topic of interest to the district and would be happy to be a resource. When explaining your ask, make it clear and concise, and discuss the relevance to the state or district. Remember – all politics is local.

It’s important that you clearly explain to the member or staffer why your ask should matter to them, and this is where your message comes in. How can you frame your message to make them care?

Some questions to ask yourself while creating your message:

• What impacts have your science or program had on the state or district?
• Did your program recently discover something? Have you been recognized or awarded recently? Does your university stimulate your area’s economy and bring in constituents?
• What are the congressperson’s values (e.g. sustainable agriculture, national security, a strong economy, public health)? How can you connect those values to your science? For example, if your member of Congress is passionate about STEM education, you could discuss how excitement about science gets kids interested in STEM and makes them more likely to eventually pursue a STEM career.
• What’s the personal story behind your science? Did your program bring you to the area? What sparked your interest in science?

Your goal in creating a leave behind, or “one-pager,” is to have a single document that includes your contact information and most important points. The document serves as a reminder to the person you met with of your main points and expertise, and allows them to easily contact you if they have questions at a later date. It should be clear enough that it could be handed to someone with no prior knowledge of the topic, and they would understand your main points. If you don’t have time or resources to create an original one-pager, it’s still helpful to bring a one-page document or brochure about your science, organization, or business. Contact your institution’s federal or government relations office to ask if they have one already.

Here’s a sample of how a meeting might be structured:

• Exchange business cards and very briefly introduce yourself and others in the group.
• Thank the staffer for meeting with you, and for any positive actions the congressperson has taken recently that you’ve supported.
• State your ask – what’s the explicit goal of the meeting?
• Share your message – why do you want what you’re asking for? Why should they care?
• Spend time listening to the staff person and answering their questions.
• Share your leave behind and thank the staffer for their time.