How To Lobby Your Member of Congress SHRM Advocacy Day – SHRM Leadership Conference – November 18, 2010

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Overview

• Logistics for congressional visits

• What to expect in your meetings

• How to conduct a meeting

• Summary of issues to be discussed during Hill visits

• Tips and tactics from dealing with congressional staff

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Draft Agenda for SHRM Advocacy Day

9:45 – 10:30 Pick up Capitol Hill Packets from Hill Desk

at the hotel

10:30 AM Briefing/Working Lunch at the Hotel

Noon Buses Depart for Capitol Hill

1:00 PM Conduct only 1 Meeting in the U.S. Senate

2:00 PM Conduct Meeting with your Representative

in the House

2:45 PM Board Buses back to the Hotel from

Capitol Hill

3:15 PM Arrive at the hotel for Opening General

Session at 4 PM

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Capitol Hill Logistics

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How to Lobby Your Member of Congress

Select a meeting leader to start the meeting:

• Group introduction

• SHRM introduction

• Issue introduction

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How to Lobby Your Member of Congress (MOC)

Issue We’ll be Covering in Our Meetings Today on Capitol Hill:

> Employer-Provided Educational Assistance – Section 127 Tax Benefit Set to Expire 12.31.10 – House only

> The Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 3772) – Only to be Discussed in Your Senate Meetings – Senate only, unless cloture vote occurs before November 18

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Section 127: Key Talking Points

• SHRM strongly supports permanent extension of Section 127 employer-provided education benefits 

• During a tough economy, tax policies should encourage employers to invest in the training and development of their employees

• Repeatedly extending Section 127, rather than making it permanent, causes a great deal of confusion for employees, employers, and educational facilities in Virginia

• Please encourage Representatives to cosponsor H.R. 5600 and support inclusion of Section 127 benefits in the omnibus tax extension proposal.

• TELL YOUR STORY: If your workplace offers educational benefits and you have seen employees use this benefit, be sure to share the experience

How to Lobby Your Member of Congress

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The Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 3772): Key Talking Points about the Legislation

• Restricts employer compensation practices—The PFA would effectively prohibit an organization from basing its pay decisions or compensation system on many legitimate factors, such as an employee’s professional experience, education, training, or the company’s profitability.

 • Encourages wage disclosures—The PFA would effectively

encourage employees to publicize their co-workers’ salaries by preventing employers from restricting employees from disclosing or discussing the wages of other employees.

How to Lobby Your Member of Congress

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Your Advantages

• You are the experts

• Only 2 out of 535 Members of Congress have an HR background

• You deal with workplace issues on a daily basis, and understand their real world implications

• You are their constituent and have a constitutional right to share your views about such matters of importance to your state and country

How to Lobby Your Member of Congress

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Wear comfortable shoes – there will be a lot of walking on marble floors.

Remember you are representing SHRM and your organization.

Clearly explain what impact the proposed issue will have on your workplace

Use workplace experiences that relate to the issue – tell your personal story

State your position

Ask official/staff to state their position on the issue

How to Lobby Your Member of Congress

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Thank them for their time and offer to be a resource on other workplace issues before Congress

Give them the leave-behind material

Leave a business card and ask for the staff member’s business card

Follow up – be sure to send a thank you note that reiterates what we discussed today

Maintain the relationship you just created

How to Lobby Your Member of Congress

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How to Lobby Your Member of Congress