How to Navigate the Hill

and Engage with Media

Sable K. Nelson, Esq.

Policy Analyst

NMAC

If you have a question during

this webinar…

FYI: Everyone’s audio has

been muted by the

Presenter.

ADVOCACY

BASICS

My name is

Erika West

4

I am a Director at The

Raben Group.

Your Raben Team

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Justin Wilson

Senior Associate

Erin Darbouze

Associate

James Colligan

Associate

1.Why Advocate

2.Advocacy Principles

3.Advocacy Goals

4.Planning your Meeting

5.Conducting Your Meeting

a. Dos & Don’ts

6.Concluding Your Meeting

7.Expectations

8.Following Up

Table of Contents

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Let’s get comfortable with the process of advocating on the Hill and set you up for success.

“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the

menu.

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Why

Advocate?Advocacy allows you to

influence the

development &

implementation of

effective public

policies.

It brings your

expertise to bear on

policy decisions.

Many

constituencies

have a limited

voice in the

policy process;

advocacy

encourages

movement

beyond a “one-

size fits all”

approach.

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Principles

of AdvocacyAdvocacy is not a one time activity.

Successful advocacy is about

building a relationship over time

with elected officials, regulators,

and their staff.

Mutual respect and trust provide

the best foundation for

educating, and ultimately

convincing, someone of your

position.

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Trust

Repetition

Relationships

Goals of

Advocacy

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Be recognized by policymakers and

regulators as a familiar and trusted

resource.

Be pro-actively sought out to

answer questions and provide

feedback regarding legislation and

regulation.

Have policymakers understandyour issues.

ADVOCACY

Conduct the Perfect Meeting

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Once your team is together,

determine who will speak and

when.

Know your audience.

Prepare what you plan to ask for,

and stay on script.

Planning

Your

Meeting

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• Be concise. Plan on meeting for no

more than 15 minutes.

• Leave time for the official to

respond.

• In applicable, know the bill

number or name of the legislation.

• Speak from your area of expertise.

• Find out where the official stands

on the issue.

• Ask specific questions, and try to

get specific commitments.

• Say so if you’re a constituent.

● Suck up all the oxygen.

● Don’t get overzealous.

● Issue explicit or veiled

threats.

● Guess the answer to a

question.

● Leave without clarity on next

steps.

● Bring politics into a meeting.

Do This...

13

Do Not...

Ask if there are any other questions.

End on a positive note and express thanks,

even if the meeting was not ideal.

If you’ve been asked a question you didn’t

know the answer to, reiterate that you will

follow up.

Remind the official that you want to act as a

resource.

Concluding

your

Meeting

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At least one person in your group should

write a personal thank you letter.

In your letter to the official, remind them

of any commitments made during your

meeting.

If staff were in that meeting, an e-mail

to them is appropriate.

Keep in touch with relevant data!

Following

Up

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Notes, Tips, and Tricks

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Even if you are scheduled to meet with the

official him- or herself, there may be a

change of plans you might have to meet

with staff.

A meeting with the principal could last only

five minutes.

You may need to meet in an unplanned

location or strange setting (hallways,

anterooms).

Staff that you meet with may be young.

What to

Expect

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Member meetings always can be

canceled. Don’t take it personally.

Stick together and stay with your

groups.

Don’t worry about getting lost! Use

your map and don’t hesitate to ask

someone if you can’t find your way.

Things to

Remember

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Logistical

Odds and

Ends

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Take advantage of Mission Control.Located in Dirksen Cafeteria in the morning

and Longworth in the afternoon

Choose a deputy.

Senate meetings take place in the AM

& House meetings are in the PM.

Getting

Around

Capitol Hill

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Have fun

on the Hill!21

Switching Gears…

Media

Interviewing

101

Interviewing Basics

• Prepare responses to difficult questions

• Each question demands– Response

– Transition

– Message

• Keep it simple

Four Easy Steps

#1 Listen.

Four Easy Steps

#1 Listen. #2 Pause.

Four Easy Steps

#1 Listen. #2 Pause. #3 Respond.

Four Easy Steps

#1 Listen. #2 Pause. #3 Respond.

#4 Stop Talking!

Interviewing Basics

• Don’t ramble

• Be quotable!

• Don’t repeat negative language

• You are always “on the record”

Bridging

• Before we continue, let me emphasize that…

• However, what is more important to look at

is…

• I think it would be more correct to say…

• Another thing to remember is…

• While…is important, it is also important to

remember…

Flagging

• What your audience needs to know is …

• What I want to be sure you understand here

is...

• The critical point is…

• If there’s one point viewers need to

understand…

NMAC Message

We now have a path to potentially end the HIV epidemic. But

the Trump Administration’s proposed deep budget cuts for

federal HIV services could stop recent progress in the fight and

lead to a resurgence in HIV.

Final points

• Keep your messaging “simple”

• Always bridge back to what you know

• Repeat your key messages

For more information on Action Day, or if

you have questions after the webinar,

please email snelson@nmac.org