Advocacy Toolkit
Each year, your Representatives and Senators make decisions that profoundly affect a wide range of issues impacting hematology, including funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), research and treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD), safe and affordable access for patients to prescription drugs and therapies, and issues impacting physician reimbursement. ASH is the leader in representing the interests of scientists and clinicians working in the field of hematology, both on Capitol Hill and within federal agencies. ASH plays a vital role in influencing policies that affect researchers, clinicians, and patients by educating lawmakers and government staff on critical issues affecting hematology research and practice.
ASH can't do it alone.
Policymakers want to hear from constituents like you.
It’s not enough for organizations like ASH to advocate for hematology – policymakers want to hear from constituents, too. In advocacy, there is truly strength in numbers. To unite and advocate together on behalf of hematology, we encourage you to join the ASH Grassroots Network the foundation of the Society’s advocacy activities. Members of the Grassroots Network receive regular updates about current advocacy efforts impacting hematology and information about how to contact their members of Congress through periodic action alerts and the Advocacy Update newsletter.
How to Engage with Congress
Picking up the phone and calling your legislator’s Washington office is a great way to ensure that your voice is heard by your elected officials. Call your legislator's Washington office using the phone numbers provided in the House and Senate directories. You'll connect with a staff member responsible for recording constituent requests. Keep your calls concise, focused, and courteous, following the example in the sample script below.
Caller: Good morning/afternoon. My name is _____ and I’m a constituent who lives in (town, state). Can you please let Senator/Representative (last name) know that sustained funding for the National Institutes of Health keeps the pipeline to new cures open for the future? I strongly urge the Senator/Representative to continue to support funding for the NIH while the appropriations process continues through Congress. Thank you.
Sending an email is still one of the most effective ways to contact your Members of Congress; and doing so has never been easier thanks to ASH’s online advocacy platform.
Step 1. Choose a campaign from the ASH Advocacy Center.
Step 2. Enter your contact information.
Step 3. Personalize your message. (optional)
Step 4. Send email!
Social media has changed the way the public communicates with policymakers. Studies show that social media posts from constituents can influence a member’s actions on a particular issue.
All 535 Members of Congress have social media accounts, and most offices have designated staff member to handle social media. Visit the websites of your Representatives and Senators to find their social media handles. When reaching out to your elected officials on social media be sure to add a hematology hashtag and tell them to #Fight4Hematology or #ConquerSCD.
In-person meetings in your state and district are one of the most effective ways of letting a public official know about you, your priorities, and ASH. Meeting in the district or state is a great way to build relationships at the local level with your members and become a resource to them for issues related to hematology! Use this guide to help in your efforts to schedule a meeting with your Senators and Representative.
Attending a Town Hall meeting or other event when your member is back in the state or district is a great way to meet them at home when their schedules are less hectic. Additionally, it is a great way to make a connection as a community member. Use this resource to help you prepare to attend a local town hall meeting.
Issue-Specific Tools
ASH actively engages in policy-focused advocacy, focusing on research, training, and quality of care efforts in a variety of hematology policy areas.