Throughout the year, the CAP’s political action committee, PathPAC, identifies and coordinates opportunities for CAP members to connect locally with their members of Congress. This in-district congressional engagement is key in helping grow personal relationships with lawmakers and educating them on the legislative issues most impacting the pathology profession.

Recently, Thomas Cooper, MD, FCAP represented PathPAC at an in-district fundraising event for Representative Michelle Steel (R-CA). Rep. Steel is a newcomer to the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means, and she also sits on its Health subcommittee. The event provided a more personal setting for Dr. Cooper to get to know the Congresswoman and to thank her for supporting two bipartisan CAP-backed bills, the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2023 and the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act.

Dr. Cooper shared his takeaways from the event, which took place right before the crucial House vote on raising the debt ceiling:

“I was extremely impressed by her presentation, mostly around the budget deadline (this was the evening before the vote on raising the debt ceiling. She was on the red-eye flight right after the event. With that I was able to spend time talking about the issues that were discussed at the Pathologists Leadership Summit earlier in the year in DC.”

Dr. Cooper was also pleased with Rep. Steel’s knowledgeable and approachable staff, remarking that “she has assembled a very effective and diverse group of both experienced political actors and very energetic and dedicated young people.” Given her position on one of the CAP’s committees of jurisdiction, and her demonstrated support for policies that would expand the physician workforce and address harmful Medicare cuts to clinical laboratory services, Rep. Steel is certainly a relationship that PathPAC will continue to invest in growing.

Additionally, C. Leilani Valdes, MD, FCAP was able to catch up with Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) at a fundraiser in Austin last month. Rep. Doggett is another pathology champion on House Ways and Means, and he currently serves as Ranking Member on the Health subcommittee. Dr. Valdes thanked him for being a long-time pathology champion and for his recent co-sponsorship of the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act--one of the CAP’s Hill Day asks in April.

While there will be plenty of legislative action on Capitol Hill to look forward to this summer, the in-district work periods (including one lasting the entire month of August) will allow for CAP members to continue making valuable advocacy touchpoints from home and maximizing pathologists’ political impact nationwide.