Meeting with A Member of Congress

Scheduling an Appointment

• Look up the office information for your representative and senators.
• Call the legislator’s scheduler or appointments secretary.
• Identify yourself as a social worker and NASW member from the district or state and request an appointment to meet for 15 to 20 minutes with your senator or representative about welfare reauthorization.
• If you are unable to set up a meeting with your representative or senator, request a meeting with a staff member who is familiar with the issue. Congressional staff are important; they track issues for members of Congress and advise them on the pros and cons of issues for their district.

• Be on time. Staff in most Capitol Hill and district offices are very busy and work on tight schedules. Remember that their time is very valuable.
• Establish a rapport. After introductions and handshakes talk about things or relationships you might have in common. For instance, maybe you have a mutual friend, or you both went to the same elementary school. Thank your senator or representative for all that he or she does on Capitol Hill to represent your state or district.
• Select a spokesperson. If several people will attend the meeting, select a spokesperson. If everyone there will have a role, select one person to move the meeting along in a timely manner.
• State your purpose. For example, you might say, "Congressman Lee, we are here to talk with you about welfare reauthorization. Our professional association, the National Association of Social Workers would like to have your support for its recommendations to improve the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act."
• Make the issue real. Personalize the results of PRWORA. For example have someone relate his or her personal experiences of helping a family receiving assistance under PRWORA.
• Paint the little picture and the big picture. After you discuss how PRWORA has affected you or someone that you serve, provide statistics on how the PRWORA has affected people in the district, state, or country.
• Make a clear request. Tell your member of Congress exactly what you would like him or her to do, and don’t leave without learning the legislator’s position on your issue. For example, you might say that you would like for your legislator to vote for legislation that would extend time limits for welfare recipients who are trying to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency.
• Answer all questions truthfully. If a legislator asks you a question, answer it to the best of your ability. If you do not know the answer, apologize and let your legislator know that you will find the answer and let him or her know.
• Summarize your major points. At the end of the meeting summarize your major points and your request.
• Leave promptly. Do not extend the meeting past your scheduled time. Your legislator is on a tight schedule. Staying past your scheduled time could distract the legislator from your conversation.
• Follow-up. Send a thank you letter to the member of Congress or his or her staff for meeting with you. Use your thank you letter to reiterate your major points. Fill out the follow-up form and return it to NASW by e-mail so that NASW staff can do any follow-up that might be necessary.

Fact Sheets

Legislative Office Visit Follow-Up Report Form (PDF)

Lobbying Do’s & Don’ts