Advocacy for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention

1. Advocacy for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Fran C. Wheeler Chronic Disease Directors wheeler@chronicdisease.org

2. Topics for Discussion • Overview of Legislative Process • Influencing Appropriations • Basic Rules for Advocacy • A Call to Action

3. How a Bill Becomes Law • Bill Introduction • Subcommittee Action • Committee Action • Floor Action • Conference Committee • Presidential Action

4. HOUSE Energy & Commerce Health Appropriations Labor, HHS, Ed SENATE Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Public Health Appropriations Labor, HHS, Ed Traditional Committees for Public Health Advocacy

5. Other Committees for HDSP Advocacy • Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry • Armed Forces • Budget • Commerce, Science & Transportation • Energy & Natural Resources • Environment and Public Works • Veterans’ Affairs

6. Funding for HDSP Initiatives • Budget Formulation • President’s Budget • Congressional Budget • Legislative Appropriations

7. Budget Formulation • June – November • Agency (CDC) • Department (DHHS) • Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

8. President’s Budget • First Monday in February • State of the Union Address • Budget request to Congress

9. Congressional Budget • April 15 Budget resolution • Framework for total spending, based on revenue • Mandatory vs. discretionary • Allocations to Appropriations Committee • 13 subcommittees

10. Legislative Appropriations • October 1 = new fiscal year • Full Approps Committees (X2) • Subcommittees (x 13) • Full Approps Committee (x 2) • Full Senate/House (X2) • Conference Committee • President

11. Appropriations Process: Points of Influence • Budget Formulation • Agency, Department, OMB • Congressional Budget • House & Senate Committees • Legislative Appropriations • Full Committees • House & Senate Subcommittees

12. James Walsh, NY Ralph Regula, OH John Peterson, PA Dave Weldon, FL Michael Simpson, ID Dennis Rehberg, MT David Obey, WI Nita Lowey, NY Rosa DeLauro, CT Jesse Jackson, IL Patrick Kennedy, RI Lucille Roybal-Allard, CA Barbara Lee, CA Tom Udall, NM Michael Honda, CA Betty McCollum, MN Tim Ryan, OH House SubcommitteeLabor-HSS-Ed Appropriations

13. Tom Harkin, IA Daniel Inouye, HI Herb Kohl, WI Patty Murray, WA Mary Landrieu, LA Dick Durbin, IL Jack Reed, RI Frank Lautenberg, NJ Arlen Specter, PA Thad Cochran, MS Judd Gregg, NH Larry Craig, ID Kay B Hutchison, TX Ted Stevens, AK Richard Shelby, AL Senate SubcommitteeLabor-HHS-Ed Appropriations

14. What is Advocacy? • Advocacy = education + action. • An advocate is one who argues for a cause – a supporter or defender. • A lobbyist is a paid representative of a group, organization or industry.

15. Basic Rules for Advocacy • Advocates must have a clear agenda. • Advocacy must be based on science. • Advocates must have the discipline to be articulate. • Advocates must define their opportunities to reach key players and decision-makers.

16. Advocates have clear agenda • Specific focus not “single-issue” • Know what will sell • Know what the hierarchy wants • Written agenda: explicit • Consensus agenda: no fighting

17. Advocates use science • Know the science base • Know where can make a difference • Use and protect your credibility • Be honest, don’t oversell • Take the high ground

18. Advocates are articulate • No jargon • Make it fit one page • Know your audience • Know your opposition • Don’t criticize others • Washington Post rule

19. Advocates are opportunistic • Learn the process • Take advantage of opportunities – hearings, briefings, trips to DC, recess • Collaboration – bigger impact • Coordination – traffic control • Repetition

20. What can YOU do? • Learn your workplace rules • Act as an individual • Act as member of an organization • Act!

21. Workplace Rules • First Amendment rights • Personal views • Personal time • No use of state or federal funds • Agency policy

22. Action Items Seven easy pieces …

23. Get Informed • Who are your Members? • What are their interests? • What committees, subcommittees? • What coalitions, caucuses • Family health issues • Hometown connections

24. Write a letter • Keep it short, single issue • Identify yourself – constituent, public health professional • Be accurate • Tell why important, impact • State desired action • Thanks, praise

25. Make a personal visit • Identify yourself as constituent • Request an appointment • Bring colleagues with you • Deliver message in 3 minutes • Be prepared, be a resource • Follow up, thank you

26. Make a phone call • Call US Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121 • Ask for Office of Senator or Rep. • Identify yourself as constituent • Leave message • Support/oppose bill • Urge vote for/against • One or two reasons • Thanks

27. Be a resource to staff • Establish relationship • State or local data • Rankings, comparisons, maps • Human interest stories • State, local publications • Research articles

28. Invite them to your place • Recess: February, April, May, July, August, October – December • Give a speech • Attend an event • Make a site visit • Receive an award/recognition

29. Join a coalition or voluntary health organization • Make your voice louder • Get updates • Get action alerts • Work together

30. Where to Get Help • American Heart Association www.americanheart.org • National Association of Chronic Disease Directors www.chronicdisease.org • Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dhdsp

31. Where to get help, cont. • Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease www.fightchronicdisease.org • Partnership for Prevention www.prevent.org • National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease www.womenheart.org • American Public Health Association www.apha.org

32. Summary • We can’t do it without each other • Education + Action = Advocacy • Peanut butter and jelly • Proof is in the pudding • Many roads, one goal • Public health is watching you • Friends, gotta have ‘em • Timing is everything

33. Do something! Democracy is not a spectator sport.