OUT ON THE HILL is the official blog of the Victory Congressional Interns. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. Learn more about the internship at victoryinstitute.org/vci.
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The goal of any lobbying effort is to make yourself memorable. There are many ways to accomplish this. The Breakthrough T1D team chose to show up in numbers with over 30 children with Type 1 Diabetes and insulin pumps storming the office of senators. The American Association of Psychiatry Reimbursements showed up with a deep knowledge of their issue area. The Rural Hospital Association of California brought concerns within the scope of the Senator’s jurisdiction. The Children’s Hospital Association of California brought patients with high-impact stories.
They say that one learns on the Hill usually “by proximity.” I learned, by observing and staying proximate to meetings with constituents and organizations, there’s a clear difference between effective and ineffective lobbying. While most folks come prepared with a one-pager about their policy area, they often miss the mark on what would truly make something stick in a staffer’s mind after fifteen other meetings that week.
People on the Hill mainly rely on their instinct and expertise for what makes for a great legislative idea and where intervention is needed. When they hear an idea they haven’t heard before, especially one that’s backed by evidence and storytelling, they are likely to take steps to put it in motion.
In our current Congress, it is extremely difficult to pass any progressive changes. Since that’s the case, I’m looking at all the novel ways off-the-Hill activities impact policymaking so that I can truly understand all aspects of legislation in Washington, DC.
