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Ilankai Tamil Sangam

Association of Tamils of Sri Lanka in the USA

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Preparing for a Lobby Visit

Choose your issue.

Pick the legislative concern that is most important to you. You will have a more effective conversation with your legislator or staffer if the team focuses on a single issue rather than discussing a broad legislative agenda.

Choose your team.

Assemble a small group that represents the diversity of your community and is interested and knowledgeable about your issue. A group can demonstrate the breadth of support for your position. Are there people in your meeting, church, or congregation who share your concerns? Do you belong to a professional or service organization where these issues are addressed? Just be sure to keep the group small, three to four members, to have an effective visit.

Schedule an appointment.

Go on the internet to find contact information. You can also call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or check the government pages of your phone book. Do your research.

Review the legislator's voting record, committee assignments, and any views that have been publicly stated. Check your legislator's web site: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. Establish a message and goal.

Be specific about the desired action: vote for or against a pending bill or amendment; sponsor a bill; insert an article into the "Congressional Record," or raise a specific concern.

Choose roles.

Meet with your team members ahead of time to discuss your approach to the issue. Then designate someone to lead the discussion in your lobby meeting and another to take notes. Decide who will handle which points so you cover everything from the introductions to the political issues. Discuss which angles will be most effective with this member. Look at their voting record, their committee assignments, even their personal background (pre-Congress profession or activities, religious faith, area of education).


Holding the Meeting

Be on time to the meeting. Be positive, constructive, friendly, and brief. Relax. Remember that you have an advantage in this meeting. You prepared on one issue, while your legislator or staffer must handle dozens of issues daily, and you are a constituent with a vote come election time.

How to start.

You should each introduce yourselves and mention where you live and a brief reason for your involvement in the issue. Also add if you are representing any organizations and how many members those groups have to show the reach of your small lobby team. Then express appreciation for anything (big or small) you can find in the public record. A "thank you" helps establish a cordial meeting.

Discussing your issue.

Clearly articulate the purpose of your visit. Be concise when you present your position. It is important to talk about only one issue and to stay on this topic. Ask questions about it. Allow plenty of opportunity for listening to your legislator's views and concerns. Listen closely to what your legislator says -- there may be hints that will enable you to follow up with resources. And, even if your legislator is not won over to your position on this issue, she or he might be supportive on another issue, so make sure to remain polite.

It is a good idea to leave printed material that summarizes the points you made or provides additional background information on your concern. Tamil American organizations are good sources of this material.

You don't need to know everything.

Many people are put off by the idea of a lobby visit because they do not feel sufficiently expert on a given issue. So long as you have the basics down, simply be honest when there is something you do not know, and offer to send the information after the meeting.

Ask for a specific action.

Discussing an issue is important, but the goal is action. Be ready with a concrete request. Some examples: "Senator, will you vote for this bill?"; "Will you make a floor speech against this legislation?" or (to a congressional staff member) "We would like your boss to co-sponsor this bill."

Promise to follow-up.

Say when and how you will be in touch to follow-up your request. (Example: "I will call your staff next week to follow up.")


After the Meeting

As soon as possible after the meeting, ideally immediately, your lobby team should spend time debriefing. Take notes to help with future work with your legislator. Follow-up with a thank you letter, recapping your key points, adding any additional information. Plan other ways to work with this office on your issue, such as generating letters and calls from other constituents.


An Alternative: Hold a Public Event

Organize a local event focusing on an issue of concern during a recess and invite your members of Congress to speak. A delegation representing a broad and diverse local constituency or the promise of a large audience will help get you on your busy member's schedule. Leave plenty of lead time to organize such an event.