Bottom Line: Advocating for a Safer America

By Patricia Adkins
March 2007

Public policy and advocacy on Capitol Hill can sound daunting to organizations based outside the Beltway, especially when their focus often revolves around state and local issues. Capitol Hill may conjure images of suit-clad Washington-types trolling the halls of Congress. However, advocacy on the Hill is not as hard as it looks and it is certainly not an exclusive realm of Washington lobbyists and lawyers. Hill advocacy is a powerful tool, whether you are in Washington D.C. or Washington State.

In fact, reaching out to federal lawmakers and appropriators is invaluable for local organizations and can make a big difference in how you develop your programs, fund your efforts, and ultimately how you make your communities safer and healthier.

Hill advocacy, especially by smaller state and local safety organizations, was the focus of a recent panel discussion held as part of the Home Safety Council's, "All Ways Fire Safe at Home: Best Practices in Fire and Life Safety Education Conference."

The panel, which I had the pleasure of moderating, was entitled, "Advocating for a Safer America through Legislation," featuring Bill Webb, executive director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI), Jim Dalton, director of public fire protection at the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), and Jim Burns, the former New York State Fire Marshal and past president of the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM).

Following a brief analysis of the Congressional environment after the November mid-term elections, our discussion focused on how local, state, and national fire and life safety educators and organizations can advance their causes on Capitol Hill through advocacy and public policy efforts.

What emerged from our discussions was a list of helpful tips on how you and your organization can effectively increase awareness of your issues and achieve your goals on Capitol Hill:

First, learn the jurisdictions, chairpersons, and ranking members of the committees relevant to you.

• A new Congress means new members and you should introduce your organization and your issues to them.
• There are many competing interests. If your voice is not heard, how can you expect Congress to support your initiatives?
• Develop and sustain positive working relationships with Congressional staff both in your district and in Washington, D.C.

Build coalitions of the like-minded.

• Success on Capitol Hill is a result of the strength and unity of coalitions, so do not be a lone voice.
• Find others who share your concerns and work together to press your issues forward.
• As a coalition, remember to develop a consistent message. Everyone should be speaking with one voice.

Success comes in stages.

• Be patient but persistent.
• Manage expectations. Legislation and appropriation requests may not pass in the first year.

“Why the Federal Government?”

• You must be able to explain why the federal government should address your initiative instead of (or in addition to) state or local jurisdictions.
• Provide supporting materials for successful federal programs or partnerships.

Be relevant.

• Share your success stories with your Members of Congress and acknowledge them for their support.
• Provide examples of how your work directly affects the lives of their constituents and build relevance for why they should take action.
• If you have been fortunate enough to receive AFG funding from a FIRE Act grant, make sure your Members of Congress know the good work you have done as a result.

Follow up, and stay in touch.

• Leave behind user-friendly materials to help your Member of Congress answer questions from constituents and speak articulately to the issue.
• Provide your Member of Congress and his or her staff with accurate and relevant information to assist them. As you become a go-to resource, your relationship will strengthen.
• Remember that Members of Congress and their staffers can be helpful on more than one issue.

The first rule of effective public policy advocacy is to know your audience. Throughout the coming months, I will be sharing other tips and updates about the legislative climate, who’s who on Capitol Hill, and how to get your message heard. And even if you are not yet ready to become personally active in public policy, know that the Home Safety Council advocates on your behalf by letting Congress know about the Expert Network and the work that you do to keep communities across America safer.

Additional resources can be found at the following websites:

• The Home Safety Council's Policy Makers Webpage
• The Congressional Fire Services Institute
• The American Fire Sprinkler Association
• The National Fire Sprinkler Association
• National Association of State Fire Marshals
• United States Senate
• United States House of Representatives