Eating Disorders Coaltion for Research, Policy & Action

50 Citizen Lobbyists Join EDC for the Fourth Annual Lobby Day
for Eating Disorders

April 14, 2004 - Every voice counts! On April 14, 50 additional voices were counted on Capitol Hill as citizen lobbyists carried important messages to the offices of U.S. representatives and senators.

The Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action hosted the Fourth Annual Lobby Day for Eating Disorders in Washington, D.C. The lobby day attracted just over 50 advocates from around the country. After a 90-minute orientation by Policy Director Jeanine Cogan, the group marched one block to the U.S. Capitol for their first round of appointments.

"No one lobbies alone," notes Cogan. She is the founding executive director of the EDC. Since 2002 she has served as policy director, leaving administrative matters to the group's second executive director. Cogan now focuses on eating disorder policy.

"We always go in small teams so that people can each have an active role to play and stories to tell. We try to get everyone an appointment with the health LA (legislative aide) in their member's office and in the offices of both their senators."

This year, the 50 citizen lobbyists kept appointments in 33 offices. In the U.S. House of Representatives, EDC citizen lobbyists held six meetings with Democrats and five Republicans. In the U.S. Senate, EDC lobbyists met with seven Republicans and 15 Democrats.

"We usually make appointments with the legislative aides since they're easier to get," Cogan says. "And aides are usually the ones actually driving issues and writing language for bills."

The EDC lobbyists met with legislative aides, advocating for support for bills in the house and senate. (See Legislative Update.)

Let's Tell Congress Why
Eating Disorders Matter!

Become a constituent lobbyist!

Join dozens of like-minded people for a day of lobbying Congress. The day begins with Advocacy Training so that everyone knows the issues and knows the talking points.

After lunch, we'll fan out to keep our afternoon appointments in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. No one will lobby alone! Lobby teams will arrive on time for each appointment, deliver a packet of eating disorders materials, and talk about the importance of appropriate public policy. Most importantly, each team member can briefly share how an eating disorder has changed her or his life.

Each Lobby Day participant will receive an EDC lapel pin, lobby day packet.

Details will be sent to those who have registered for Lobby Day.

Schedule

8:30 Doors open

9:00 Lobby Day Orientation and Training

11:30 Appointments

12:30-1:30 Lunch

1:30-2:30 Appointments

2:30-3:30 Appointments

3:30-5:00 Senate Briefing

5:00-6:30 Happy Hour at
The Flying Scotsman