APMA News - July/August 2017 - 36

Federal Advocacy Forum
By Patrick A. DeHeer, DPM

A Favorable Time for Face-to-Face Meetings
The August congressional recess is approaching, and it presents an opportune time to meet face-to-face with your US representatives and senators in their home districts.
Check their websites to view their schedules. Attending a
local event provides an excellent opportunity to speak with
members of Congress (MOC) about the two podiatry-specific
bills moving through Congress, the VA Provider Equity Act
(HR 1058) and the Helping Ensure Life- and Limb-Saving Access to Podiatric Physicians (HELLPP) Act (HR 1542, S 1533).
You should specifically ask your MOC to cosponsor both bills.
To demonstrate how effective this approach can be, I would
like to share an example. My wife and I attended a gun violence prevention event in Indianapolis in June (Congress was
in recess at this time). We live in the fifth congressional district
in Indiana. Representative Andre Carson (D-IN-7) attended
the event, as well. I was able to discuss both podiatry bills with
the congressman and left my contact information with his legislative aide. Two days later, the congressman's deputy chief of
staff emailed me for more details. Three days after I provided
the requested information, I received an email confirming that
Congressman Carson would cosponsor both bills.

KEEP
PACE

with the
evolution
of podiatric
medicine!
Visit APMA.org/education
for webinars and other
educational resources.

These smaller, more intimate events can serve as unique
occasions to develop a relationship with a MOC. I do not live
in Rep. Carson's district, but I seized the moment to engage
in grassroots activism. I am asking each APMA member to attend one event with a MOC this August. Then follow up with
a call and an email. You will have done a tremendous service
to your profession by advocating on behalf of your career.
Attending a fundraiser can also be an excellent method of developing an even deeper relationship with MOCs.
It is a critical time for HR 1058 and HR 1542, and the time
to act is now! Both of these bills have a chance to be passed in
the 115th Congress, but an engaged membership participating in grassroots activism is vital. It is important not to allow
personal political ideology to prevent you from meeting with
a MOC. For the future of podiatry, put the profession first.
Once you have identified the event you are going to
attend, preparation is essential. You can find the necessary
resources on APMA.org (visit www.apma.org/115priorities)
to provide you the talking points. You will probably have only
two to three minutes with the MOC, so having an "elevator
pitch" about both bills rehearsed ahead of time is imperative.
Follow-up is critical, so be sure to get business cards and
contact information for staff in the MOC's office. One to two
days after the meeting, send an email to a staff member thanking the MOC for his or her time and reiterating your conversation and your request. Phone calls are the best method to
stay in touch with a staff member to keep the discussion going. Continue to ask for cosponsorship.
I have been on Capitol Hill numerous times over many
years for congressional lobbying visits for APMA. In all that
time I have been unable to get a meeting with Congressman
Carson in his office. At this local event, I was able to have a
meaningful conversation alone with him for a few minutes.
He was attentive and engaged. I was conscious of his time and
respectful in my conversation. My total time investment for
this encounter, including follow-up, was approximately two
hours. Can you give your profession a couple of hours? Can
you give your career a couple of hours?
August is approaching quickly. Take advantage of an opportunity to give back to your profession. With membership
comes responsibility. Membership is APMA-it is the podiatric profession. Do your part and step up to the plate.
■
APMA Trustee and Legislative Committee Chair Patrick A.
DeHeer, DPM, can be reached at advocacy@apma.org.

36 APMA News July/August 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1DjMfyNniI http://www.APMA.org http://www.apma.org/115priorities http://www.APMA.org/education

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - July/August 2017