Tips For Speaking With Your Lawmakers

Lobbying and testifying can be in-person or virtual. While in-person is preferred, don’t let the different style of talking to your lawmakers get in the way of sharing your experience and voicing your opinion on important legislation!

Speaking during Public Comment at meetings

• If virtual and possible, turn your camera on – it makes the experience more personal.

• It is okay to just read your testimony directly from the page, this is totally normal. But, if you have a chance you should practice in the mirror once or twice.

• You don’t need to be a policy expert, just an expert in your own experiences.

• If you can’t finish your testimony in the time allotted, make sure to submit a written version of your testimony.

Meeting with lawmakers in person

• Be sure to introduce yourself! Let them know your name, where you live, where you work, and what you do.

• Try to think of a specific example of why this policy would improve things for you.

• Thank them for taking the time to meet with you!

• If they ask any questions you don’t know the answer to, it’s okay to say you don’t know! Write the question down and tell them that someone from WCWC can follow up with them about it.

• Remember, you are the expert on your own experiences! Lawmakers never know more than you do about what it is like to do your job. Speak with confidence!