Health Policy Collaborative: Get Involved

How You Can Get Involved

Getting involved in health policy isn't as hard as it seems. Being educated, active and engaged in the discussion helps you become a knowledgeable citizen on health policy. You don't have to be a lawmaker or lobbyists to have your voice heard.

Here are a few tips about how you can get involved in the legislative process.

Know your local legislators

At the state level, members of the General Assembly are oftentimes more attentive to voters than at the federal level. You may even be able to find yourself meeting with them. But first, make sure you know who represents you at the state level. If you live in Virginia, you have two representatives at the state level: one in the House of Delegates and one in the Senate.

Look up your legislator through the General Assembly's website. This search form will also let you know who represents you at the federal level. If you aren't already, you can register to vote, too.

You may also want to know what committees they sit on, and what kind of legislation they have introduced in the past.

Contact your legislators

Once you've found contact info you may want to think about how to contact them. While email can be easy, sometimes a hand-written letter can go a long way. Visit or write to them about a specific issue.

Richmond Mailing Addresses

• Delegate X, House of Delegates, P.O. Box 406, Richmond, Virginia 23218
• Senator X, Senate of Virginia, P.O. Box 396, Richmond, Virginia 23218

District Mailing Addresses

• House of Delegates
• Senate

Top 10 Do's and Dont's of Lobbying your Legislators

1. Know the current issues and position
2. Know the facts and tell the truth, and always follow up
3. Visit before a session. During the session call, email, or visit the legislative aide
4. Be brief and stick to the issue
5. Ask for a specific commitment
6. Use good manners
7. Follow up
8. Volunteer with campaigns
9. Don't mix contributions and issues
10. Don't make an enemy over one issue

Methods for Political Action

• Meet your congressperson
• Write a letter or email
• Write a letter to the editor
• Testify before a committee

Local Legislators