BUILD

Engaging Members of Congress

Call to action

In this pandemic, consider it an obligation to tell the story of the arts and say thank you to members of Congress for their support. Your two key messages are: (i) the arts provide viable economic value in the state and need federal support and (ii) your gratitude for COVID funding.
Send open invitations to members to your events (including virtual).
Make a particular point to learn about the committees your member(s) serves on and focus on members who serve on key appropriations committees.

Recognizing the importance of developing working relationships with staff

Staff are key to effectively engaging a member of Congress.
Staff do the scheduling and a meeting with a staff member can be invaluable to you.
Don’t assume that staff have the same view(s) as the member.
Staff have policy portfolios. Whoever is responsible for the arts can be particularly helpful and so can those with other portfolios.
District staff can be instrumental in converting your issues/concerns into legislative action.
District staff can also engage their colleagues in Washington on your behalf.

Understanding the ways that a Congressional office can support you

Beyond discussing issues with you and the member’s position, a Congressional office can support you through any of the following services:
Producing certificates and commendations
Writing letters of support for your organization, project, or work - some call these “gold bonds”
Attending and organizing award ceremonies
Organizing roundtables
Publicizing recognition of national months and local observances
Amplifying your message on social media
Having a member or staff attend community meetings
Producing issue research
Coordinating bill sponsorship and development of legislation.

Dealing with objections to public funding of the arts

Provide members that may not be supportive of fiscal measures ways to support the arts other than supporting increased appropriations.
Understand that there are some people that we are never going to win over.
Focus your messaging on the arts/creative economy as economic drivers, the importance of the arts to children and young people, and the importance of arts and culture in rural communities.
Learn more about the member and their connection to the arts (for example, their connection as a supporter of a local choir or their spouse being an active arts supporter and volunteer).
Consider having young people write in to share the value of their experiences with the arts

Building relationships with Congressional offices - be strategic and don’t give up!

Consider meeting with the member as a coalition. Your coalition, for example, could consist of any of the following - an arts advocacy organization, a local arts council, several arts organizations in their district, and a representative from the private sector/business community who is an advocate for the arts.
Be prepared to speak to “arts &”, that being, arts and the economy (creative economy), arts and veterans, arts and healthcare.
In this environment, setting up a Zoom call or an in-person meeting is possible depending on the circumstances of the office. Remember, these calls or meetings are generally about 20 minutes.
Don’t worry about being annoying, rather be willing to throw anything you think is important at staff with whom you are developing a relationship. Remember, staff are responsible for staying abreast of issues in the district and nationally.

Engaging members to show public support of the arts

Members and even their spouses can be called upon to open arts events and support arts causes.
Consider leveraging art and other competitions as a means of drawing attention to the arts and building connection with members of Congress. Examples include the Congressional Art Competition, a high school art competition, and Poetry Out Loud.

Planning Meetings with Congressional Offices

- Identify your members of Congress and who you should focus on meeting with during your visit. If you don’t already know who represents your state in Congress, please refer to the 117th Congress Western Members section of this toolkit, which includes a listing of all U.S. senators and House representatives in the 13 WESTAF states. Members of appropriations committees are particularly important to consider, as advocacy on behalf of the Arts Endowment will be a key focus of your visit. Western members of appropriations committees are listed in bold in the Appropriations Committee and Subcommittees sections of this toolkit. Determine the number of members of Congress that you plan to meet with and consider this while scheduling meetings.
- Find the way your members of Congress prefer to take meeting requests and be prepared to engage schedulers directly by phone. Calling the scheduler is often the best and most direct route to setting up a meeting, and a written request in advance often helps. Visit the web pages of the members of Congress you plan to meet with to determine if it is possible to submit a meeting request online. In your meeting request, state the issue you would like to discuss with your representative and when. Make sure to mention that you are representing your state and, if appropriate, that you are a constituent of their district.
- Maintain persistence and follow up until you are able to schedule a visit. When you call, ask for the office scheduler. When you reach the scheduler, introduce yourself. Identify yourself as a constituent or representative of your state arts advocacy organization, and let him or her know that you are calling to request (or follow up on a request) to schedule a meeting. Be sure to let the scheduler know when you sent your request, if applicable, and the issue you would like to discuss. Because congressional staff are busy, you may not be able to reach the scheduler on your first attempt. If the scheduler is unavailable, leave a message with your phone number and the reason for your call. If the scheduler does not return your call by the next day, try again the following day. Be patient and persistent—it will likely take several calls before you are able to set the meeting time. Don’t give up! Confirm the time and location of the meeting with the scheduler. Meetings with members of Congress can be scheduled in increments as brief as 15 minutes. Be aware that you’ll need to be very judicious with time—even if you have been scheduled for a longer meeting. Thank the scheduler for his/her time.
- Prepare for the visit. Decide who will attend the meeting. Will you meet with the official alone or bring a small group? Consider bringing people who represent the constituencies that are affected by the issue you are discussing.
- Do your research. Learn about your elected official’s voting record and statements on arts-related issues. Know the views and arguments on both sides of the issue. Before your visit, familiarize yourself with your representative’s accomplishments and be sure to thank them for their work on any arts-related issues during the meeting.
- Have talking points. Make your position clear and keep the meeting focused. The section that follows provides more information on establishing your talking points.
- Reconfirm the meeting a week in advance. Reach out to the scheduler/staff member a week in advance of the meeting to confirm.
- Don’t be offended if your meeting is with a staffer/aide. The demanding schedules of many representatives mean that you may be scheduled to meet with an aide. In cases where a member of your delegation has already cultivated relationships with members of Congress, your prospects of meeting with them directly may fare better. Nevertheless, meeting with an aide is a meaningful step toward developing a good relationship with your representative’s office. Remember that many aides work very closely with their representatives as advisors on a range of issues.
- Be brief, express gratitude for past support, and make a clear ask. After your initial introductions, tell the member of Congress that you are a constituent of their district and clearly state the issue that you are there to discuss. Then ask for their support (“I am here to talk about the House budget proposal for the National Endowment for the Arts. I urge you to support a $176 million budget level.”).
- Make it personal. Share a story about how Arts Endowment funds have made a difference in your community.
- Keep it local. Connect the issue to what’s happening in the member’s district. Provide specific examples of the impact Arts Endowment funds have made to organizations in the Congress member’s district (search for organizations in your area that have been funded by the Arts Endowment here).

Tips for Virtual Advocacy Meetings

As the pandemic continues to alter the way traditional meeting practices, such as in-person meetings, WESTAF recommends organizing virtual meetings. Some best practices while hosting virtual meetings include the following:

Try to limit virtual meetings to 5-8 people.
Involve new and diverse voices.
Use screen-sharing sparingly.
Always send a pre-read email and a follow up thank-you email.
Be flexible with technology.
Leave the meeting with some kind of "yes“.

Crafting Talking Points for Your Meeting

Participants must decide which talking points are best suited to use with each member of Congress. The following points have been devised to give you a start in developing the specific talking points for your meetings. Please note that the primary message WESTAF wants advocates to convey is support for the National Endowment for the Arts—and especially Arts Endowment support for state arts agencies. Advocates are welcome to present other issues; however, we recommend that you incorporate “support for the National Endowment for the Arts” into your messaging. One of the best ways to make the point about the importance of the Arts Endowment is to talk about a direct experience the advocate has had with Arts Endowment funds and/or an Arts Endowment-funded program in the district of the member of Congress being visited. This isn’t always easy, and in this moment, there are a range of other topics like future rounds of relief and recovery funding that you should consider.

General Talking Points

The federal arts advocacy landscape has become increasingly sophisticated during the pandemic so WESTAF recommends that you consider incorporating elements of any of the following framing documents into your messaging:

More specifically, the visuals below present more concrete talking points about the value of the National Endowment for the Arts and the economic trends affecting the creative economy in the West. You should adapt any of these points to your own voice and to match the issues most relevant to your elected officials.

Ways To Frame the Ask for he National Endowment for the Arts

Ways to Frame the Ask for the National Endowment for the Arts

Ways to frame the dynamism of the creative sector in your state

Ways to frame creative industries growth

Ways to frame the value of the creative economy and the National Endowment for the Arts

Ways to frame the frame equity issues in the creative economy

Your State and District Talking Points

In crafting your own state (and, in some cases, district) talking points, WESTAF recommends the following:

- Tell your state’s unique story of arts funding by sharing some of the state arts agency’s key initiatives and projects that have had an impact on the representative’s constituency.
- Give examples of key Arts Endowment-funded and state arts agency funded projects in your state that speak to rural communities, economic development, tourism, and/or have had high visibility in local and national media.
- Highlight funded programs/projects and organizations in the representative’s constituency.

- Speak to the importance of Arts Endowment funding to your state, including points about:

- - - Total amount of Arts Endowment investment in your state in 2021.
    - Percentage of your state arts agency’s budget made up by Arts Endowment funds.
    - Arts Endowment direct funding of programs/projects and organizations in your state.
    - Efforts of your state to provide relief to the creative sector through federal funding.
- Emphasize the private and public dollars leveraged by Arts Endowment and state arts agency investment including:
  - - State legislative appropriations and other state funding.
    - Private funding of the arts (including the state arts agency).
- Communicate how the increase in Arts Endowment funding could support innovative or impactful initiatives and programming occurring in your state.

You can find more information about Arts Endowment grants in your state and district by searching the Arts Endowment’s grant database: https://www.arts.gov/grants/recent-grants. The database includes information about Arts Endowment grants awarded since 1998 and is searchable by congressional district, state, grantee name, keyword, or other options.

You can find more information about Arts Endowment funding of your state arts agency by utilizing research published by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA). A summary of relevant data from NASAA’s most recent State Arts Agency Revenues Report 2021 is compiled below, but the report contains more detailed state-specific information.

2021 Arts Endowment Funding and State Arts Agency Revenue in the West

Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee Membership

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations

Western Members are listed in bold

Democrats (7):

Betty McCollum (MN-04) – Chair

Chellie Pingree (ME-01)

Derek Kilmer (WA-06)

Jose Serrano (NY-15)

Mike Quigley (IL-05)

Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)

Brenda Lawrence (MI-14)

Republicans (4):

David Joyce (OH-14) – Ranking Member

Mike Simpson (ID-02)

Chris Stewart (UT-02)

Mark Amodei (NV-02)

House Full Appropriations Committee

Democrats (31):

Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03) Chairman

Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

David Price (NC-04)

Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40)

Sanford Bishop, Jr. (GA-02)

Barbara Lee (CA-13)

Betty McCollum (MN-04)

Tim Ryan (OH-13)

Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02)

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

Chellie Pingree (ME-01)

Mike Quigley (IL-05)

Derek Kilmer (WA-06)

Matt Cartwright (PA-08)

Grace Meng (NY-06)

Mark Pocan (WI-02)

Katherine Clark (MA-05)

Pete Aguilar (CA-31)

Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Cheri Bustos (IL-17)

Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)

Brenda Lawrence (MI-14)

Norma Torres (CA-35)

Charlie Crist (FL-13)

Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02)

Ed Case (HI-01)

Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

Josh Harder (CA-10)

Jennifer Wexton (VA-10)

David Trone (MD-06)

Republicans (27):

Kay Granger (TX-12) – Ranking Member

Hal Rogers (KY-05)

Robert B. Aderholt (AL-04)

Michael K. Simpson (ID-02)

John Carter (TX-31)

Ken Calvert (CA-42)

Tom Cole (OK-04)

Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)

Tom Graves (GA-14)

Steve Womack (AR-03)

Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01)

Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03)

Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03)

David Joyce (OH-14)

Andy Harris, MD (MD-01)

Mark Amodei (NV-02)

Chris Stewart (UT-02)

Steven Palazzo (MS-04)

David Valadao (CA-21)

Dan Newhouse (WA-04)

John R. Moolenaar (MI-04)

John Rutherford (FL-04)

Ben Cline (VA-06)

Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14)

Mike Garcia (CA-25)

Ashley Hinson (IA-01)

Tony Gonzales (TX-23)

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations

Republicans (7):

Lisa Murkowski (AK) – Ranking Member

Roy Blunt (MO)

Mitch McConnell (KY)

Bill Hagerty (TN)

Shelley Moore Capito (WV)

Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS)

Marco Rubio (FL)

Democrats (7):

Jeff Merkley (OR)– Chair

Dianne Feinstein (CA)

Patrick Leahy (VT)

Jack Reed (RI)

Jon Tester (MT)

Chris Van Hollen (MD)

Martin Heinrich (NM)

Senate Full Appropriations Committee

Republicans (17):

Richard Shelby (AL) – Vice Chairman

Mitch McConnell (KY)

Lamar Alexander (TN)

Susan Collins (ME)

Lindsey Graham (SC)

Roy Blunt (MO)

Jerry Moran (KS)

John Hoeven (ND)

John Boozman (AR)

Shelly Moore Capito (WV)

James Lankford (OK)

Steve Daines (MT)

John Kennedy (LA)

Marco Rubio (FL)

Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS)

Mike Braun (IN)

Bill Hagerty (TN)

Democrats (16):

Patrick Leahy (VT) – Chairman

Patty Murray (WA)

Dianne Feinstein (CA)

Dick Durbin (IL)

Jack Reed (RI)

Jon Tester (MT)

Jeanne Shaheen (NH)

Jeff Merkley (OR)

Chris Coons (DE)

Brian Schatz (HI)

Tammy Baldwin (WI)

Chris Murphy (CT)

Joe Manchin (WV)

Chris Van Hollen (MD)

Martin Heinrich (NM)

117th Congress Western Members

Senate

Alaska

1. Dan Sullivan (R)

2. Lisa Murkowski (R)

Arizona

1. Mark Kelly (D)

2. Kyrsten Sinema (D)

California

1. Dianne Feinstein (D)

2. Alex Padilla (D)

Colorado

1. Cory Gardner (R)

2. Michael Bennet (D)

Hawai‘i

1. Mazie Hirono (D)

2. Brian Schatz (D)

Idaho

1. James Risch (R)

2. Mike Crapo (R)

Montana

1. Jon Tester (D)

2. Steve Daines (R)

Nevada

1. Jacky Rosen (D)

2. Catherine Cortez Masto (D)

New Mexico

1. Martin Heinrich (D)

2. Ben Lujan

Oregon

1. Jeff Merkley (D)

2. Ron Wyden (D)

Utah

1. Mitt Romney (R)

2. Mike Lee (R)

Washington

1. Maria Cantwell (D)

2. Patty Murray (D)

Wyoming

1. John Barrasso (R)

2. Cynthia Lummis (R)

House of Representatives