Working with Congress
Conduct a Lab Tour
Show your legislators the benefits of basic research first-hand! Laboratory tours provide the opportunity for scientists to showcase their research to members of Congress and expose legislators to science and research in a memorable way. Read about the success of recent SfN lab tours. View SfN’s Guide to Public Advocacy to learn how your chapter can host your legislator for a lab tour.
SfN’s 2010 Capitol Hill Day
SfN held its 4th Annual Capitol Hill Day on Thursday, March 25, 2010 in Washington, D.C. Nearly 50 SfN members participated in this exciting event, meeting with 73 different congressional offices and representing 23 states, 3 countries, and the District of Columbia! Visit SfN's Capitol Hill Day page to learn more.
Join the SfN Advocacy Network
Sign up to receive e-mail newsletters keeping you informed on developments in Congress that could affect you and your research. When your legislator’s vote is needed on a critical issue we will send you an alert so that you can easily contact your Member of Congress and make your voice heard.
Contact Your Members of Congress by E-mail
Use our online tool to generate e-mail messages to your Members of Congress! Just enter your zip code to find your representatives and use our message templates or create your own custom messages to communicate with your elected leaders. This site also contains information on pending legislation in Congress, background information on policymakers, and election information for voters.
Meet with Your Members of Congress
SfN can help schedule meetings with your Members of Congress in D.C. or at home, schedule lab tours with legislators and staff, provide you with training and materials, and accompany you on these visits. To prepare for a meeting, read the Guide to Public Advocacy for tips on what to expect and visit the Issues page for talking points.
When meeting with your legislators, be sure to bring the new SfN state fact sheets, which use state-specific data to illustrate the potential impact of research funded by NIH. Contact SfN’s Government and Public Affairs Department at advocacy@sfn.org to learn more.
Other Advocacy Opportunities
SfN is a member of several coalitions that support biomedical research. As a member of SfN you can participate in these organizations’ Capitol Hill Days and other advocacy activities. Visit the websites below for more information on how to become involved and to find upcoming advocacy events.
Coalition for the Life Sciences
Coalition for National Science Funding
Science-Engineering -Technology Working Group