How You Can Help
The ACR offers many resources to help members become more active in advocacy. At the Legislative Action Center, you can send emails to your legislators to let them know where you stand on an issue. This is a simple, quick and effective way to participate in the legislative process. Most actions can be completed with only a click or two and take only a minute.
For those who would like to engage in advocacy more deeply, the ACR can provide additional support. We can help you schedule a meeting or call with your legislators and their staff and can provide background information and one-pagers on issues important to rheumatology professionals. In many cases, we can schedule a staff member to join the call or meeting with you, so you are not going it alone. Remember that you do not have to be a policy expert to talk with legislators and their staff members. Your point of view as a provider is enough. Our expert staff at the ACR can follow up with legislators to provide policy details as needed.
Additionally, if you are considering running for elected office, let us know. Although we cannot promise support, we can help talk through important considerations and what you should expect during the process. We can also tell you what it is like to work in a legislative body. Perceptions of the jobs of elected officials are often shaped by portrayals on the news and in popular media and may be inaccurate. The schedule can be grueling, the pace is ever changing and the conditions are not nearly as glamorous as most imagine them to be. Knowing what to expect on this journey is important and will give you a head start on many people who seek elected office.
The progress we have made so far this year, despite the pandemic and a political environment that is not conducive to ambitious reform measures, is encouraging. As summer approaches, I hope we all have the time and opportunity to take a moment, take a breath and appreciate the fact that we have made it through this unprecedented last year and, along the way, have made some important advances for the rheumatology community.
Joseph Cantrell, JD, is the senior manager of state affairs for the ACR.
