FASEB Advocacy Toolkit Offers Updated Resources

By: Jennifer Zeitzer
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
FASEB represents more than 110,000 scientists through collaborative advocacy with constituent societies. As funding for biomedical and biological research faces ongoing threats and federal agencies are impacted by mass terminations and administrative reorganizations, a newly updated FASEB Advocacy Toolkit provides resources to help scientists amplify the impact of our advocacy efforts in their home states and communities. It is more important than ever for researchers to make their voices heard, especially as Congress will soon start writing the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills that fund the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and other science agencies. 

You do not need to come to Washington to be an effective advocate! Elected officials want to hear from their constituents and are often more-focused on local concerns when they are contacted at home, compared to their busy schedules while they are on Capitol Hill. 

The Advocacy Toolkit contains downloadable resources designed for individuals who want to engage in direct advocacy activities with their elected officials, including:

• Requesting a Meeting: Instructions and sample text on how to request a meeting are provided, in addition to tips for following up on meeting requests.
• Planning a Visit with a Member of Congress: Detailed guidance is offered on how to prepare for and execute a successful meeting with a Member of Congress and/or their aides. A form is also provided to report on the meeting and notify FASEB if follow-up is needed with a specific congressional office.
• Sharing Your Story: A foolproof plan for what to say during a meeting with elected officials, including suggested talking points and best practices for following-up after the meeting or discussion.
• Attending a Local Meeting: Many members of Congress are hosting town hall meetings to hear from constituents directly. This section of the toolkit includes tips for finding out when your elected officials are holding town hall meetings, what you should do to prepare for the event, and questions to ask if there is an opportunity for constituents to speak up.
• Connecting on Social Media: Tips on how scientists can use social media to spread awareness of and engage with lawmakers about issues affecting biological and biomedical researchers. Sample posts for Bluesky, X, and Facebook are provided (and can be adapted for LinkedIn as well).
• Hosting a Lab Visit: Inviting your members of Congress (or their staff) to visit your laboratory is a terrific way to highlight exciting research occurring in their district and state and educate them about the importance of federal research investments. A step-by-step guide provides instructions for working with institutional leadership to invite elected officials to visit a research lab.
• Staying Informed: Sign up to receive email alerts from FASEB’s Legislative Action Center, which will notify you when emails sent to Congress will have the greatest impact.