Farm Bill Legislative Meeting Toolkit

capitol w flag

We need you to join our nationwide effort to protect and strengthen SNAP in the 2018 Farm Bill—before it’s too late. It’s too important to sit this one out!

Change happens through face-to-face meetings, especially local meetings with elected officials and their staff. As Congress moves forward with reauthorizing the Farm Bill for 2018, this is a critical moment for you to speak out.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Step 1

SET UP A MEETING
  • Convene a group of community members to join your team (faith leaders, local business/agriculture community, direct service providers). 
  • Find your Members of Congress here. Research their committees, their positions, and how they've voted. Contact their offices using these tips and this sample meeting request letter. 
  • You can also attend your elected official's town halls and use our suggested questions.
  • Let MAZON staff know about your meeting in advance, so we can help. Contact Sammy Chavin at schavin@mazon.org or (202) 888-6352.

Step 2

PREP FOR MEETING
  • Convene a prep meeting/call to determine speaking roles for meeting participants.
  • Use these Advocacy Do’s and Don’ts.
  • Read and print out meeting materials, listed in the Resources section below.
  • Arrange for a participant to share a story in the meeting to illustrate the reality of hunger in your community.
  • If you can’t find a local story, share one from MAZON's This Is Hunger story bank.

Artboard 3REPORT BACK 
  • Fill out MAZON’s Lobby Visit Report Form and contact Sammy Chavin (schavin@mazon.org) with any questions.
  • Send an email to thank all meeting participants for joining and discuss next steps.
  • Thank the Member of Congress and/or staffers as well, and provide any additional information that was discussed.
  • If you attended a town hall event, follow up with your Member of Congress in writing (especially if you weren’t able to ask you question!).

Step 4

STAY ENGAGED
  • Sign up for MAZON E-News and Advocacy Alerts to receive updates about the Farm Bill and other important public policy issues.
  • Post on social media about protecting SNAP and tag your legislators on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram - and tag @MAZONusa.
  • Feel free to use one of MAZON’s Infographics (like this) in your post. Make sure your elected officials know that you’re paying attention to the Farm Bill!

Resources for your meeting

We've prepared these these resources for you - now we ask that you act.

FOR YOU

 FOR YOUR CONGRESSPERSON