Legislative Advocacy and CSMG

• Advocacy in Washington, D.C. at the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering
   
• General resources for legislative advocacy


• Resources for advocacy in 2020
   
• Advocacy in your home state or district throughout the year

Advocacy At the Annual Catholic social ministry gathering

One of the most important aspects of the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering (CSMG) is participant meetings with members of Congress and their staff on issues of key concern to Catholics. CSMG Legislative Priorities will be identified for Gathering participants to advocate on Capitol Hill. Hill Notes and Backgrounders will prepare you to effectively articulate the Catholic position on our legislative priorities.

The following is a draft agenda of advocacy-related events for the 2020 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering. Days and times of these events will be fine-tuned.

• Saturday, 1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m. - First-Timers Orientation and Advocacy Training 101 (intended for those new to legislative advocacy)
• Saturday, 2:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. - State captains and co-captains meet to finalize details on organizing their state delegations and receive Capitol Hill "leave behind packets." (State captains are identified ahead of time.)
• Monday, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Domestic and International policy briefings on legislative issues -- this is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and to receive clarifications and the most up-to-date information on the issues we will be advocating for on Capitol Hill.
• Monday, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. - State delegations meet with your state captain.
• Monday, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. - Advocacy Training 201 - (sharpen skills and answer lingering questions on policy issues before heading to Capitol Hill -- optional)
• Tuesday, 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. - Capitol Hill Visits - Do not forget to leave a packet of information with each office you visit. State captains will distribute packets to their delegations. If you need additional packets, see the registration desk for more copies. 
• Tuesday, 3:30-5:00 p.m. - Capitol Hill Reception in one of the Senate Office Buildings -- please invite Members of Congress and their staff to attend. Copies of the invitation will be in the CSMG "leave-behind packets."

General Resources for Legislative advocacy

• The USCCB web site provides useful general tips concerning Visiting Your Congressional Representative.

• "Catholics in the Capitol" -- a CSMG Capitol Hill Advocacy Guide (Includes Quick Tips)
   
• Quick Tips for Capitol Hill Visits
   
• Watch the 2019 CSMG Advocacy Issues Webinar (PowerPoint presentation) for more detailed information on the legislative priorities.
   
• For questions and information about the CSMG Capitol Hill visits, please contact Julie Bodnar at 202-541-3134, jbodnar@usccb.org or Virginia Farris at 202-541-3182, vfarris@usccb.org.

Resources for Advocacy in 2020

Staty tuned for CSMG 2020 resources.

Making an impact with csmg AND YEAR-Round Advocacy:
Visits In Washington D.C. and in your home state or district

Completion of the Hill Visit Report Form gives us information about your Capitol Hill Visits—who you met with and their response to our legislative priorities. Your feedback will help staff members of the CSMG collaborating organizations in our ongoing advocacy efforts.

After CSMG we encourage you to continue the effort at home by planning "District Visits" with your senators, representatives, or their staff members back in your home state or district. District Visits help us, in the words of Pope Francis, "dialogue, dialogue, dialogue" with our political leaders, as well as deepen the relationships we hope that you established during your CSMG Capitol Hill Visits in Washington D.C.  Visits throughout the year help Catholics to connect the efforts of national organizations with the voices of local communities, partner organizations, parishioners, and dedicated volunteers in support of the legislative priorities of the Church advanced at the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington D.C.