How to Connect with Your Members of Congress During the August Recess

It may seem counterintuitive, but summer is one of the best times to advocate on behalf of pathologists to your members of Congress. There may be a misconception that Congress does not work at all during its summer recess. Many legislators seize the opportunity to spend time back in their district or state to hear from their constituents. CAP members can educate their legislators this summer on several of the CAP’s legislative objectives. Even if you attended the DC fly-in earlier this year for the Pathologists Leadership Summit, August recess advocacy is a different type of legislative engagement that is just as important.

When Congress returns to Washington, DC, in September, they will have a packed agenda with competing priorities. They need to hear from you now, so pathology issues are top of mind when they get back to Capitol Hill. Here is how you make your voice heard this month:

1. Learn more about CAP’s legislative agenda. The CAP’s website, cap.org, has a wealth of materials that cover the federal legislative objectives.
   The main goals this year are:
   1. Medicare payment cuts
   2. Saving Access to Laboratory
   3. Resident Physician Shortage Act
2. Advocate Locally.
   1. In-district meetings. In-district meetings are some of the most effective ways to engage with Congressional offices. Recent studies of Congressional members have shown that these in-districts meetings rank equally in effectiveness as Capitol Hill visits. You can normally request a local meeting through your legislator’s website. Remember that each Congressional member’s website is set up differently and the process may vary. If you need assistance, please contact pathnet@cap.org and CAP staff can help!
   2. Sign up for emails and look for informal opportunities to engage with your legislators During August recess, legislators are active back home in their communities and attend a variety of events where they can connect with constituents, so check out their emails and websites for more information on events happening locally.
   3. Hosted laboratory tours. Conducting a laboratory tour for a member of Congress is extremely effective and educational. It is one of the most impactful ways to help CAP members develop relationships with their members of Congress. These tours help put a face on the profession and demonstrate pathology’s crucial role in the delivery of quality health care.
3. Advocate from the comfort of home (or anywhere!) Even if you are busy this summer, you can still support CAP’s advocacy efforts. Contact your legislators at the CAP’s action alert center, which provides prewritten drafts of emails or tweets that you can send with the click of a button or edit as you see fit!

Remember that your member of Congress wants to hear from you, as a constituent and a physician, especially on health care policy. For any further questions, please email pathnet@cap.org.