Rally on the Hill

Advocacy Resources

“Rally on the Hill was a great opportunity to meet with my state Senators and Congressmen.”

- Robert Austin, Granite Mountain/Helicomb International, Blue Ribbon Award Winner

Find the resources you need here to advocate for smart policies for small business and to voice your legislative concerns to Congress.

Small Business Policy Briefs: View these policy briefs as you prepare for your meetings on Capitol Hill.

How to Book Meetings with Your Elected Officials

Step 1: Find out who represents you in Congress.

Visit http://www.congress.org/— Under “Get Involved” and next to “Find your lawmakers, tell them what you think,” enter your zip code. This will provide you with the name and contact information for your two Senators and one Representative.

Step 2: Get their contact information.

Click on the name of each Senator and your Representative. Click on the “contact” tab and note the Washington, D.C. office location, the office phone number and office fax number. Click on the “staff” tab and note the name of the scheduler.

Step 3: Draft your request letters.

Send a separate letter to each Senator and your Representative requesting an in-person meeting On Wednesday, May 25. Sample letters can be found here.

Step 4: Fax your letters.

Fax (do NOT mail or email) the appropriate letter to the attention of the scheduler for each Senator and your Representative.

Step 5: Follow-up with a phone call.

One to two days after faxing your letter, call the main number of the Washington, D.C. office of each Senator and your Representative to follow-up on your meeting request. Ask to speak with the scheduler (who should have received your letter via fax). If your Senator or Representative can meet with you, confirm the exact time and location of the meeting. If your Senator or Representative is unable to meet with you, tell the scheduler you would like to meet with whichever staff person handles the issue you’d like to discuss.

Step 6: Confirm your meeting(s).

Before leaving for Washington, D.C., call the scheduler (or the individual staffer with whom you will meet) to once again confirm the exact time and location of your meeting.

When meeting with your elected official in Washington, D.C. or in their local district office, it is best to request the appointment four to six weeks in advance.

  • Use this letter template to request a meeting with your legislator.
  • Get prepared by finding out what to expect during your time on the Hill.
  • In your meeting, be sure to share your personal story. Let Congress know which issues are having an impact on your bottom line.

Send a Letter

Find a letter that addresses your issue to send to your elected officials. They want to hear from you!

Stay Up to Date

Sign up for news updates to stay informed on current legislation. Visit
http://www.uschambersmallbusinessnation.com for more policy insight.

 

Note: Luggage is NOT permitted inside the Capitol or the Capitol Visitors Center. Attendees may leave their luggage at the Omni Shoreham Hotel during their Hill meetings. Be sure to allow enough time to return to the Omni to collect your luggage when scheduling your departure. Any bag larger than 14" wide x 13" high x 4" deep is prohibited on Capitol Hill. 

See the full list of prohibited items or visit www.visitthecapitol.gov for more information.