Ambassador Briefing July 8, 2015
Welcome! Laura Keivel Manager of Grassroots Advocacy Thank you for joining the call and participating in the Ambassador Program!
Agenda State and Federal Updates JA Conference August Recess Activity Scheduling Your Meeting: Encountering Roadblocks Scheduling Your Meeting: Smooth Sailing Housekeeping
We re on Twitter! @SandieAF Sandie Preiss @MGArthritis Mark Guimond @LauraKAF Laura Keivel @AnnaHydeAF Anna Hyde Follow us for up to the minute advocacy news!
State and Federal Updates
Vote is today 21 st Century Cures Bill would accelerate the path to finding cures Grassroots effort by Ambassadors and Advocates Over 500 letters sent to Capitol Hill in support of the bill from Arthritis Foundation Advocates and Ambassadors
H.R. 1859 Loan repayment for pediatric rheumatologists through National Health Service Corps Introduced by Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY- 27) and Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) 9 cosponsors August Recess 2 nd ask
H.R. 1600 The Patients Access to Treatments Act 86 cosponsors Continuing to discuss Senate bill Lots of recent press on specialty drug costs and PATA
Senate Defense Authorization Bill Amendment by Sen. McCain could have taken funding away from CDMRP program Ambassadors and Advocates in Arizona and Kansas contacted their Senators to not support the amendment Sen. McCain dropped the amendment thanks to grassroots pressure!
Arthritis Caucus 44 members to go to reach our goal of 126 by the end of 2015 Big summer push to get new members Identified 90 members of Congress who may be interested Constituent outreach is the key! We need your help to make calls, write letters, and meet with your Reps and Senators during August recess!
Questions? Hit #6 to unmute your line
State Update Biosimilars Enacted in Texas and Louisiana Pending in New Jersey and Illinois
JA Conference 2016
Toolkits were created children and young adults Toolkits will be available on our website after the JA Conference Sessions for kids and adults Advocacy videos Social media JA Conference Orlando, Florida Networking at advocacy booth If you are attending the JA Conference, stop by and meet the DC team! Contact Laura if you would like to volunteer at the booth!
August Recess Activity
August Recess Meet with your Representative in their district office OR attend a town hall meeting
How to Complete This Activity 1. Call or write your Representative to request a meeting 2. Follow up on the request 3. Notify AF staff when meeting is confirmed 4. Prepare for the meeting by rehearsing and printing materials 5. Attend meeting be on time! 6. Follow up with a thank you note
The Meeting 1. State where you are from and the reason for your visit 2. Tell your personal story about life with arthritis 3. Make the asks 4. Discuss why the asks are important to you 5. Collect business cards and leave handouts
Town Hall Meeting In many cases, the town hall or tele town hall meetings are not listed online Please call your Representative s office and inquire about a town hall or tele town hall Many newsletters contain this information
Senate Please schedule a meeting if convenient in your area If not convenient, please schedule a call with your Senator s health staff Ask to join the Caucus and introduce a companion bill to H.R. 1859 in the Senate
Target Districts If you live in one of the following target districts, we will schedule the meeting for you. Gary Palmer (AL-06) Joe Donnelly (IN) Ryan Zinke (MT-01) Brad Wenstrup (OH- 02) Doris Matsui (CA-06) Bob Dold (IL-10) Leonard Lance (NJ-07) Tom Cole (OK-04) Mike Coffman (CO-06) Katherine Clark ((MA- 05) Frank Pallone (NJ-06) Steve Russell (OK-05) Tom Price (GA-06) Stephen Lynch (MA- 08) Mark Amodei (NV-02) Scott Perry (PA-04) Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) Bruce Poliquin (ME- 02) Joe Heck (NV-03) Gene Green (TX-29) Mike Quigley (IL-05) Gary Peters (MI) Steven Pearce (NM- 02) Chris Stewart (UT-02) Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) Betty McCollum (MN- 04) Eliot Engel (NY-16) Morgan Griffith (VA- 09) Susan Brooks (IN-05) Al Franken (MN) Chris Collins (NY-27) Scott Rigell (VA-02)
Materials and Preparation Materials for Printing Caucus one pager Caucus letter H.R. 1859 one pager (House and Senate) Preparation Rehearse your story Rehearse your asks
In Summary House Meet with your Representative in their district office 1. Schedule meeting 2. Follow up on request 3. Notify AF staff (Laura and ALT member) 4. Rehearse for meeting and print materials 5. Follow up after the meeting Senate If convenient in your local area, meet with your Senators in their district offices. If not, set up a call with health legislative staff. The Asks 1. Join the Congressional Arthritis Caucus 2. Introduce a companion bill to H.R. 1859 in the Senate The Asks 1. Join Congressional Arthritis Caucus 2. Co-sponsor H.R. 1859
Due Dates April s Ambassador activity and Commitment Form is due July 15 August s Ambassador activity deadline is September 9 Questions? Hit #6 to unmute your line
Encountering Roadblocks
Staci Penner Newton, Kansas
Smooth Sailing
Cindy Ducker Prattville, Alabama
Housekeeping
Advocate Webinar Series Join the Advocacy and Access team on the next Advocate Webinar Series presentation! Juvenile Arthritis Advocacy Wednesday, July 15 3:00 PM Eastern
September Ambassador Briefing The next Ambassador Briefing is Wednesday, September 9 th at 3:00 PM Eastern
Thank you for joining the briefing! Please contact Laura Keivel for any questions lkeivel@arthritis.org 202-887-2913