Capitol Hill Day FAQs
1. What time should I set up my meetings for Capitol Hill Day?
2. How long should each of my meetings last? How much time should I schedule in between my meetings?
3. What should I wear to my meetings?
4. Am I supposed to set up meetings with all three of my representatives (two Senators, one member of the House of Representatives)? Are joint meetings with other colleagues okay?
5. What issues are we supposed to talk about?
6. Will there be handouts available to us to leave for Hill staff?
7. How will we get to the Hill?
1. What time should I set up my meetings for Capitol Hill Day?
You should aim to set up your first meeting no earlier than 10:30 a.m. on Monday morning.
2. How long should each of my meetings last? How much time should I schedule in between my meetings?
You should expect each of your meetings to last between 10 minutes and 30 minutes. This will largely depend on how much time the member of Congress or staff has on their schedule.
You should schedule about an hour between each of your meetings. This will allow you enough time to get to a meeting when a previous meeting might have lasted longer than expected, or to include travel time from the House office buildings to the Senate office buildings. However, if you have no choice but to schedule your meetings closer together than an hour, then go ahead and do so and give the staff notice that you might be running a little late.
3. What should I wear to my meetings?
Business attire is appropriate. You should plan to wear slacks and a dress shirt. However, be sure to wear your comfortable shoes because you will be doing a lot of walking.
4. Am I supposed to set up meetings with all three of my representatives (two Senators, one member of the House of Representatives)? Are joint meetings with other colleagues okay?
Ideally, you will be able to set up meetings with all three of your representatives. However, schedules and other factors might not let this happen. It will be easier on you, your colleagues, and the staff you're meeting with to have joint meetings when more than one of you are meeting with the same office. Feel free to let others, who may not be able to schedule meetings, join in your meetings. (Be aware that you should notify staff about how many people will be coming to the meeting, and ask if there is a limit to the number of people you can bring. Meeting space can be a factor.)
Also, give specific attention to members of Congress that serve on committees with jurisdiction over issues that affect occupational therapy. You can find that information in legislators profiles in the AOTA Legislative Action Center. In general, these committees would include the Senate Finance Committee; and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. In the House of Representatives, it is the House Ways and Means Committee, House Energy and Commerce Committee, and the House Education and Labor Committee.
5. What issues are we supposed to talk about?
The most important message to get across in your meetings is for the member of Congress or staff to understand what occupational therapy is and how it benefits consumers and society. The second issue to be familiar with is the Medicare Part B therapy caps on occupational therapy. At the morning legislative briefing, AOTA staff will provide handouts on issues of vital importance to occupational therapy. If you have particular interest in any other issues, feel free to discuss these in your meetings as well.
Becoming familiar with what you want to talk about before your meetings is important. More details about the logistics of the meetings and day will be provided during the pre-meeting briefing. You should focus your efforts now on getting your meetings set up, scheduling travel and lodging arrangements, and familiarizing yourself with the content to discuss in the meetings.
6. Will there be handouts available for us to leave behind with Hill staff?
Yes. AOTA staff will prepare a folder that will include a brief overview of occupational therapy and the issues for 2007. Also, there are one-page policy and legislation fact sheets that you can print out.
7. How will we get to the Hill?
You will be responsible for arranging all of your travel, including how to get to Washington, D.C. and to the morning briefing. There is information about Metro travel, and the Capitol Hill building complex and wheelchair accessibility, on the AOTA Web site.