July - August 2001

Congressional Visits: You Can Make a Difference

by Jim V. Leonard, P.E.

We elect our U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators. Once they are elected, they make the laws of the land. It does not matter whether or not we voted for them; they represent all of us.

Because members of Congress make decisions on our behalf, it's important for us to be in touch with them. As their constituents, it's critical for us to voice our opinions on the issues we consider important. By letting them know what we want, our congressional leaders will be able to make more informed decisions and we will know our voice matters. 

Recently, for example, IEEE-USA members met with their respective elected representatives. They urged members of Congress to make improvements in pension, pension portability and IRA legislation. They voiced their opinions on behalf of engineers across the country, and as a result, we saw those improvements through.

Is a Trip to 'the Hill' Necessary?

How can you communicate with our nation's elected officials? The most effective way to make your views heard is to meet face-to-face with Senators and Representatives. Remember, though, that these folks are very busy. When you visit a congressional office in Washington, D.C. (on Capitol Hill), chances are that you will meet with a legislative assistant who specializes in the field of your concern, rather than with your Senator or Representative directly. You will have a better chance of meeting your legislators in person in their district or state offices than you will when they are in Washington.

But let's get down to the nitty gritty. Where do you start? If you want to make a "Hill visit," call the office of the elected official with whom you want to talk. Phone numbers and other contact information are available in the IEEE-USA Congressional Directory for the 107th Congress; you can get a copy from the IEEE-USA Office in Washington, D.C. 

When you call, give the receptionist your name and address (with your zip code), and describe the subject of your call (e.g., "pensions" or the "marriage penalty"). You will be put in touch with a legislative assistant in that office who specializes in your area of concern. Make an appointment to meet with this person, specifying the date and time. Also, tell the assistant that you want to meet with your elected representative while you're there. Who knows? You might get lucky! Before hanging up, make sure you know which building on Capitol Hill you need to go to (e.g., the Rayburn House Office Building or RHOB), and verify the room number.

Go for Three-in-One

When planning your trip to Washington, try to set up meetings in both of your Senators' offices as well as your Congressperson's office. If you want to arrange local visits in your home district, you can follow these same procedures.

I have made at least two Hill visits in the past 10 years to urge the passage of legislation to improve pensions, pension portability, and IRA expansion. Many other IEEE-USA members have made similar visits. I have also taken advantage of arranging local visits to my Congressman, and have accomplished a lot during these one-on-one visits. In addition to talking about the issues, I was able to arrange for my Congressman to participate in a local IEEE Section meeting. When he did, our attendance went up tremendously; more than 100 members showed up, making this open forum with one of our nation's top decision makers extremely effective and worthwhile.

Being There 'In Person' Isn't Absolutely Essential

Of course, personal visits sometimes are just not possible. In these cases, you can still voice your opinion — and make a difference. Writing letters, sending e-mail messages, or making telephone calls can be just as effective as person-to-person visits with members of Congress. The key is to be involved and make your voice heard. IEEE-USA provides periodic legislative alerts on critical issues, and includes sample letters with those alerts. You can receive IEEE-USA Legislative Alerts automatically if you join the IEEE-USA Congressional Advocacy Recruitment Effort (CARE) program. For details about CARE, go to www.ieeeusa.org/forum/care/index.html.

Start Today

Now is the time to get out there and make your point! As active IEEE-USA members who are committed to being involved participants in the policymaking process, we can all make a difference!

Jim Leonard is an IEEE-USA Member-at-Large.