Tips to start a dialogue with your member of Congress.
8/19/2021 14:00
This year’s August congressional recess is unique and abbreviated with House members expected to return to Washington, D.C. next week. However, this time frame still offers an important opportunity for ACA International members to engage with their elected officials.
ACA recently held an ACA Huddle outlining what happens during district work periods and how ACA’s members can use this time to interact with policymakers and tell their story.
Now we are coming to you with a challenge: Take the next step and try to start a dialogue with your member of Congress.
Here are some ideas:
1. Seek out your representative at public events. Elected officials are interested in hearing from, and meeting with their constituents – especially during district work periods. In August, they will be out and about in their community—a lot.
Nearly every politician has an official social media account or website with information about public events. These in-person opportunities can be a great way to introduce yourself and can serve as a conversation starter for the future. Town hall meetings are another good option.
2. Make a phone call or send an email. You can help inform policy experts and staff focused on relationships with constituents about the accounts receivable management industry. It’s important that policymakers and constituent experts can count on you as a resource.
Educate them about your business. This could include how you got started, how long you’ve been doing it, how many people you employ, and the types of clients you provide services for. Here are some ideas:
- Share why the work you do is important to other businesses, your community, the economy and consumers.
- Describe how COVID-19 has impacted your company, clients and the consumers you work with and the role you have served in helping those facing challenges.
- If your group is involved in any charity work, or community service, talk about it.
- Let them know you are worried about some of the rhetoric you’re hearing out of Washington, D.C., or that you’re concerned with some of the measures being taken at the state level, and that you are available if they ever have any questions.
3. Ask for a meeting. It might be hard to get all that information out in a phone call, so if you can, try to schedule something in-person. Don’t be deterred if your member of Congress isn’t available, you can meet with their staff.
Once you do get a meeting, check out the latest version of ACA’s advocacy book for talking points about ongoing topics important to the ARM industry such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, call blocking and labeling, and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. After the meeting, make sure to keep in touch with your representative or senator by sending a thank you note and ask to be added to their mailing lists for events. Moreover, keep your eyes peeled for more information about opportunities to engage with policymakers and participate in grassroots campaigns.
Keeping your name and ARM industry issues in front of district staff might make all the difference if those issues make it to Capitol Hill for a hearing or a vote.
If a meeting isn’t available during this year’s August recess, 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.
Here are the work periods for the remainder of 2021:
- House District Work Period – Sept. 15-17 / Nov. 22- 26 / Dec. 13-30
- Senate District Work Period – Sept. 16-17 / Oct. 11 – 15 / Nov. 8-12 and 22-26 / Dec. 13-31
Changing misconceptions people have about the ARM industry is a group effort. We need help informing, and in some cases, changing the views policymakers have about debt collectors and debt collection practices. As a constituent and a voter, you hold a considerable amount of power and your opinion should matter to your elected officials.
We challenge you to take these steps to start a dialogue, forge a relationship, and get your opinion out there…and keep us updated on your progress. It makes our work on Capitol Hill easier if we know about the relationships our members have in the states.
For more information about ACA’s Federal Advocacy efforts contact
Vice President & Senior Counsel Leah Dempsey at [email protected]
Federal Advocacy Director Patrick Russell at [email protected]