The Annual Visitation to Congress
By M. Kathleen Figaro, MD, MS
Member, Key Contact Program
Member, AACEPAC
Member, Legislative & Regulatory Committee
Without a doubt, the highlight of the AACE Legislative and Regulatory Committee’s year is the congressional
visitation. For the past few years, it has been even more exciting due to discussing a bill written by AACE and
cosponsored by an impressive list of sister organizations. As a member of the Committee, I had the pleasure of
joining 40 of my colleagues as we descended on Washington this past March. Let me try to give you a flavor for
the trip and what it might mean to us all as endocrinologists.
Before the trip, we are briefed by our only lobbyist to Congress about the important issues pending in the current
session. She tells us what the tenor of the Senate and House are: their priorities, their foibles and idiosyncrasies,
and updates us on their potential opinions of our priorities as an organization. We are then given written
information on what we will be presenting to Congress. While any citizen can visit a congressperson about an
issue close to his or her heart, when one comes as part of an organization, the entire weight of the organization is
behind the visit.
When we arrive in Washington, a morning session gives us a chance to hear more about how Congress works,
gives us a chance to practice our pitch (with cheat sheets, no less!) and allows us to ask questions to our
presenters about the process. We sit with our visitation buddies so we will hone our speeches prior to the visit.
This session is incredibly helpful for the novice visitor. AACE’s staff even gets veteran rules gurus to let us know
how Congress itself works. This knowledge is key, as the visits are incredibly short. Therefore, the main points
have to be sharp and well-stated. One can either meet with the congressperson or a staff member; I’m not sure
which is easier, or better. Both can be intimidating for the brevity of the meeting and the background din of
activity and noise in the offices. Think speed-dating and you have an idea.
The actual visitation day is even more thrilling. All dressed up and cheat sheets and handout packets in hand, we
march around from the House to the Senate buildings in well-orchestrated meetings for the entire day. We take a
break for lunch on the Hill and meet with congressmen who dash in for a moment as they make their unending
tours of meetings. While visiting, a congressperson may simply get up and leave when a magical buzzer goes off
on a wall clock. This signals a vote in their respective chamber and means they must hurry to the floor. Even at
the end of the day, they are wheeling and dealing, getting talking points across to you as you get points across to
them. It must be hard to concentrate as a congressperson. The noise alone on those highly polished floors, and
wooden doors opening and closing all morning long would preoccupy me.
I hope congresspersons have some chance to recover in
the evenings. However, I know they go to endless
receptions. The evening before we go to Congress, we
have a reception for congresspersons. They come in, often
with their drivers outside and the car running, and greet us
and speak for a moment or two. During this time, it is
often possible to recount a narrative that will press our
legislative priorities into their minds. They seem more
open when out of the office.
While this day of visitation is crucial to our organization
and to our influence on the legislative branch of
(l-r) Dr. Kathleen Figaro, Rep. Marsha Blackburn
government, Dr. Sunil Wimalawansa reminded me at the
(R-7th-TN), and Dr. Christopher Newton during
2013 AACE Annual Meeting that we must seize whatever
the 2013 AACE Spring Congressional Visitation
chance we have to influence Congress. While he was in
Washington giving a talk on health quality, congresspersons attending were asked to support AACE’s initiative,
The National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act (H.R. 1074/S. 539), and two Members responded with their
sponsorship of the bill within the next two days. Whenever we can represent our colleagues and our patients to
our representatives is a fine time to do so. The yearly visitation, well-organized by AACE staff, is the jewel of our
force-multiplying effects as members of this fine organization we call AACE. But you don’t have to be a member
of the Committee or travel to Washington, DC to get involved; you can become a member of the AACE Key
Contact Program and start making a difference from your home district. As AACE grassroots advocacy advocates,
we can join together both locally and in DC to influence legislation affecting our patients and to have our voice
heard.
(For more information about the AACE Key Contact Program or to review the resources available for district
meetings, please visit the AACE Legislative & Regulatory Advocacy webpage at
https://www.aace.com/advocacy/leg/.)