Legislative – PACT
Political Advocacy Contact Team (P.A.C.T.)
What is P.A.C.T.?
With the growing public scrutiny of health care and respiratory care, the AARC launched a political contact program in 1999 to advocate public policies that will have a positive impact on the respiratory care community. Across the country each state has two PACT representatives. These PACT representatives coordinate PACT efforts within their state by communicating with state PACT members. The AARC goal is to have one or more PACT members in each Legislative District.
Objectives of P.A.C.T.
1. To form a network of PACT members in the State of Colorado.
This network of members in each Colorado District will mobilize and respond quickly to issues affecting Respiratory Therapists in Colorado.
2. PACT members must lobby within Colorado.
Effective lobbying includes developing relationships with legislators, making phone calls to legislators, writing letters to legislators and attending respiratory care related events in your community.
3. To Communicate PACT updates on a regular basis.
Colorado PACT representatives will use email, direct mail, CSRC newsletter PEAKFLOW, and the CSRC website to keep members in Colorado updated on PACT issues.
4. Building Coalitions
Colorado PACT members are encouraged to get involved with other health care groups within your community. Groups such as: tobacco coalitions, American Lung Association, American Heart Association. Joining forces with other health care groups help to build a network for issues affecting health care and Respiratory Care.
5. Tracking Information
These methods are currently being used to track information and present opportunities to put PACT members in action using AARC updates, websites, publications, and mailing lists.
What does a P.A.C.T. Member Do?
Colorado PACT members will be asked to effectively communicate with state legislators and administrators. Interaction with local and state government on public policies that affect our patients and our profession is encouraged. As an advocate for the Colorado Society for Respiratory Care (CSRC), a PACT member obligation is to advocate for the recognition of the value of respiratory therapy and therapists in all areas of public policy.
What’s in it for You?
Your involvement earns you the chance to:
- Advance your profession
- Increase Respiratory Therapists’ visibility.
- Stay informed of professional issues
- Network with others across the state of Colorado on crucial issues.
How to Get to Know Your Legislator.
Getting to know your state legislator is key to helping ensure that Colorado Respiratory Therapists’ concerns regarding legislation of interest are heard. Below is a step-by-step – approach that may help guide you as you seek to better acquaint yourself with your legislator, educating them about respiratory care issues.
Step 1:
Arrange a meeting with your state senator or representative when they are “home” visiting their district office. To do this, call the appropriate office and ask to speak to the senator or representative meeting scheduler or legislative assistant in charge of the issue of interest.
Step 2:
During the meeting, encourage you legislator to make a site visit to see Respiratory Therapists in action, providing quality patient support and contributing to positive patient outcomes. Remember, you are representing the entire respiratory care profession to this legislator.
Step 3:
Afler your meeting, keep the legislator informed about the quality services and care Respiratory Therapists have provided for patients and the general public by sharing with him or her any available news release or news articles about respiratory care subjects.
Step 4:
If the legislator shows substantial interest or support for the respiratory care profession, encourage him or her to talk with other Respiratory Therapists, medical directors and hospital administrators in your community.
Step 5:
Continue to utilize other methods of communication with these key legislators, including telephone calls, letters, emails and telegrams.
Tips for Personal Contact with Legislators
Educating a legislator about respiratory care and the critical issues for the respiratory care field is one of the most effective ways to influence positive legislation. This is particularly true if your legislator sits on a congressional or state committee that oversees issues of importance to the RT and he or she can champion your cause. Here are some pointers to help ensure an effective visit with your legislator:
- Try to schedule your meeting during a legislative recess.
- Research the legislator’s position on issues of importance.
- Let the legislator know in advance what you wish to discuss.
- Mention that your visit will be a brief courtesy call.
- If two or more people plan to meet with the legislator, designate a spokesperson in advance and agree upon your presentation and approach in advance.
- Do not make an elaborate sales pitch.
- Try to relate the Colorado Society for Respiratory Care issues to a wider public, stressing the bill’s potential impact on the legislator’s district.
- Leave behind a position statement from the Colorado Society for Respiratory Care.
- If a bill does not fully address a problem, explain your concerns and present what you think is the right approach.
- Keep calm if a legislator disagrees with you.
- Remember expertise is valued. No legislator can be an expert on everything. It is almost a guarantee that they do not know as much about respiratory care issues as you do. If you gain credibility they will feel comfortable contacting you in the future for feedback or help analyzing a bill that relates to your area of expertise.
- Take notes on legislator comments during meeting.
- Follow-up with a “thank you” for the legislator’s time.
How to Contact Your Senator or Representative in Colorado
CAPITAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
HOUSE
Speaker 303-866-2346
Majority Leader 303-866-2348
Minority Leader 303-866-5523
Information on Bills 303-866-3055
House Information 303-866-2904
Toll Free ( outside of Denver) 1-800-811-7647 SENATE
SENATE
Majority Leader 303-866-3341
Minority Leader 303-866-2318
Secretary of Senate 303-866-5289
Republican Senators 303-866-4866
Republican FAX 303-866-2012
Democratic Senators 303-866-4865
Democratic FAX 303-866-4543
Information on Bills 303-866-3055
Senate Offices 303-866-4885
Toll Free (outside of Denver) 1-888-473-8136
CAPITOL MAILING ADDRESS
Colorado State Capital
200 East Colfax
Denver CO 80203
Colorado Society for Respiratory Care Legislative Committee Members
The Colorado Society for Respiratory Care needs PACT members in every legislative district in the state of Colorado. If you have questions or would like to be a member:
Contact the CSRC Legislative Committee
Legislative Committee Chair
Legislative Committee Co-Chair
Leigh Otto
Sample Form Letter to State Legislator
Legislative Home Page
