How to do Congressional Visits

An important way you can "share your experience" is through contact with your elected representatives. Congress oversees the government's foreign assistance programs and appreciates your feedback on our operations. While ACDI/VOCA as a government contractor/grantee is restricted from lobbying for funds or legislative advantage, we are still obligated to report on the nature and scope of our work.

We do not violate lobbying restrictions as long as we (and you acting as our agent) conduct an informational briefing. You will probably find that given the current prominence of the U.S. role in world affairs, your insights and experiences will meet with keen interest.

And you as a private citizen are of course able to express yourself in any way you choose.

The opportunity for a legitimate exchange of information may be better in Congressional state or district offices as opposed to Washington where the steady stream of supplicants tends to overload the democratic process and even jade officials.

Whether you visit the halls of Congress or meet your representatives locally, make an appointment (always recommended, especially when he or she is on a short-term home visit), stating the nature of your business. Don't be concerned if you cannot arrange a meeting with your Representative or Senator. The staff with whom you meet will be able to transmit the information to their boss. They in fact may be more cognizant of the details of what you have to talk about.

At the meeting, take a few moments to introduce yourself and to establish any ties you may have with the Member. Then, tell what ACDI/VOCA is and indicate how you came to be associated with it. Describe your assignment, with the emphasis on the impact of your service and how it fits into a broader program of assistance. You may even want to address the long-term consequences of U.S. engagement with the world, i.e., how we are making friends and trading partners, etc.

Ensure your qualifications are known and make the point that you served on a voluntary basis. Know how your project was funded (USAID in most cases, Farmer-to-Farmer?) so you can give proper credit. Remember that all politics is local so by all means if there were any aspects of your experience overseas that had implications for your state or community, let your representative know.

Bring a few photos if appropriate to illustrate your work. Avoid a travelogue. Don't count on more than a quarter- to a half-hour meeting, so be sure to have a few talking points that you are determined to get through in the course of the meeting. Leave time for questions. Leave behind your resume or business card and some of our literature. Follow up as appropriate by mailing or faxing more information and a thank-you note.