Leading up to Election Day, some members of Congress are on recess. Here are tips to connect with your local reps. Editor’s note: This article is available for members only.
10/12/2020 11:30
October marks district work periods for members of Congress, making now a great time to connect with your local representatives.
The congressional calendar has looked a little different this year, of course, with a mix of virtual and in-person meetings and delayed or shortened recesses to continue negotiations on legislation related to COVID-19. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are meeting this week for confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett, a judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, and then are expected to adjourn for district work periods through Nov. 3.
ACA International has pivoted its advocacy strategy to connect with legislators online. The shift to virtual meetings and congressional hearings presents opportunities for ACA members to engage with lawmakers or research their work leading up to Election Day.
ACA’s advocacy is a critical component of our overarching goal of helping members succeed. This year the accounts receivable management (ARM) industry is facing an unprecedented level of attention from federal lawmakers and regulators as we respond to misguided legislation in response to COVID-19, the pending debt collection rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and continue to advocate for action from the Federal Communications Commission to address key issues about the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and call blocking and labeling.
Our goal every day, whether it be in our work on Capitol Hill with Congress, at the federal regulatory agencies or in the states with policymakers, is to ensure that ACA members can successfully run their businesses without facing unnecessary regulatory burdens or frivolous litigation based on unclear requirements.
We need you, as part of our active membership, to partner with us as we work to educate lawmakers about facts and information critical to our industry’s ability to function and thrive. Members of Congress are in their home districts to connect with constituents—give them a call!
View our updated advocacy booklet for August 2020 for an overview of ACA’s advocacy initiatives and legislation and rules impacting the industry, as well as how you can get involved.
Connecting with legislators now is also an opportunity to stay in contact throughout the year and plan calls or meetings during other recesses from Washington. If a meeting isn’t available during this work period, stay in contact with staff at your local representative’s office to schedule a meeting during the next break, likely at the end of the year. And be sure to visit your representative’s official website for background information and an updated list of their critical issues.
You may visit congress.gov to find your local representatives and their schedule.
Also register for ACA’s 2020 Virtual Fall Forum & Expo Nov. 4-5 for the opportunity to hear firsthand how ACA’s advocacy is continuing to advance the priorities of the ARM industry.
During the main stage session at 11 a.m. CST Nov. 4, Leah Dempsey, ACA’s vice president and senior counsel of federal advocacy; Patrick Russell, ACA’s federal advocacy director; Travis Johnson, principal at 1607 Strategies; Michael Morley, assistant professor at Florida State University College of Law; and Mark Neeb, ACA’s CEO, will present on ACA’s bipartisan political efforts and approach to advocacy following the 2020 election. These industry and political experts will discuss the election results and what they mean for the industry and businesses.
Russell recently reported on potential outcomes for the election in the October issue of Collector magazine.