All NAA members. If you are in the rental housing industry, you are a stakeholder. We want your elected officials to think about you and your association when they think of the industry.
Lobby Day
This is your one-stop-shop for all of your Lobby Day resources.
2019 Lobby Day Issues
This year's legislative priorities center around housing affordability, including:
- Transforming the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program to maximize its impact for residents and increase participation by private owners.
- Removing barriers to new housing creation through infrastructure incentives for local governments.
- Protecting existing rental housing stock through reform and reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program.
Stay tuned for more informational and materials around these issues.
Feedback from your Lobby Day meetings is critical to advocacy and it's never too late to share your feedback! Please tell us how your meetings went in this 5-minute survey.
Lobby Day is merely a springboard for year-round advocacy. We encourage you to build upon the relationships you created during the 2019 Advocate by utilizing exclusive tolls in the members-only NAA Advocacy365 Grassroots Resource Center and Knowledge Bank. The Knowledge Bank and Resource Center includes the tools you need to have an effective relationship with your elected officials, both at home and in D.C. Stay up-to-date on best practices with how-to guides on scheduling meetings, inviting a legislator to tour your property and speaking confidently about key issues.
Advocacy365 Mobile App
Apartment Advocacy Made Easy
The free Advocacy365 app is your one-stop shop to keep your finger on the legislative pulse of the rental housing industry all year round and a personal assistant on Lobby Day. Whether it’s your scheduling assistant for Lobby Day, your source for contact information on legislators, or to send instant meeting feedback to NAA staff, the Advocacy365 mobile app adds a new level of ease to civic engagement.
Features:
- Congressional Directory
- Legislative talking points and fact sheets
- Interactive Capitol Hill map
- Mobile Action Alerts
- Social Media sharing
- Send meeting feedback to NAA in seconds
Webinar
Listen to our pre-recorded training on how to conduct your meeting with your member of Congress!
A webinar was held on February 19 to discuss the 2019 issues leading up to Advocate.
FAQs
When should I arrive in Washington, D.C.?
It's best to arrive Monday evening or Tuesday morning as activities to prepare you for a successful experience on the Hill begin at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5 with Advocacy 101 for Newcomers. Following this introductory session, we'll continue with the Issues Briefing & Orientation and our keynote speakers.
As an Association Executive, how do I get the message out to my members?
A great resource for spreading the word is the Advocate Toolkit. It features a selection of flyers, digital and print ads you can use to reach your members and communicate the value of attending the conference. Don't forget that the most effective invitation is an invitation from someone you know. You can also always reach out to NAA staff for assistance. We'll work with you to help create a strategy to best utilize your available resources. Contact Megan Piferi for assistance with marketing efforts or Peter Fromknecht for general Lobby Day assistance.
Who do I contact about registration and housing?
Advocate registration and housing information can be found using the "Register" and "Travel" tabs above. If you still can’t find what you are looking for, please contact [email protected].
Where can I pick up the folders for Lobby Day?
On Tuesday, you can pick up your folders at the Lobby Day Materials Center, located in the Independence Foyer of the Grand Hyatt. On Wednesday folders will be available at the Florida House, NAA's Lobby Day Headquarters. The Florida House is located at One 2nd Street NE, a short walk from both the House and Senate office buildings.
Who do I contact about Lobby Day?
Contact Peter Fromknecht, Manager of Grassroots Advocacy by email or at 703-797-0618.
What is the NAAPAC Happy Hour and how do I learn more about tickets, the raffle prize, etc.?
The NAAPAC Happy Hour, sponsored by the National Suppliers Council, is a free reception to network with other NAA members, all while raising funds for NAAPAC to advance the industry's policy objectives before a new Congress. Six prizes will be raffled off, and entries can be purchased for $25 per ticket. You'll also have the opportunity to enter the first-ever NAAPAC Sweepstakes to win a seven-day trip for two to Bali! Contact Sheryl Eastman, Manager of Political Action Committee by email or at 703-797-0622 with any questions.
How do I know if any of my association’s members are coming?
Check the attendee list, located under the "Resources" tab above. The list is updated weekly.
Who schedules the meetings?
You or someone at your affiliate will work with the schedulers of the Congressmen whose district(s) overlaps your affiliate’s territory. There are plenty of tools available for setting up your meeting, including two meeting request letter templates, one for Senators and one for Members of the House. Edit your name and contact information for each meeting request letter. For your convenience, we have provided a list of schedulers for you to address and email your personalized meeting request letter(s). Both helpful tools along with several other resources can be found here.
Where do I send the meeting request letters?
Email it to your congressman’s office at the email list provided. Contact information listed is usually for the legislator's Scheduler. When the scheduler’s information is not available, a member of staff responsible for housing issues is listed. If you are having any issues submitting your letter, check your Congressman’s official U.S. Senate or House of Representatives website.
This seems like a stakeholder-centric activity for members, not for affiliate staff, so I don’t need to go, right?
As an employee in the industry, you are a stakeholder. As an affiliate leader, it is very important that you are there to introduce yourself to your legislator so they know that your association is the voice of the rental housing industry in your region.
On Lobby Day, you get to introduce yourself as the leading voice of your association and the region’s apartment stakeholders. Legislators usually vote for or against legislation based on the feedback they receive from their constituents and the impact that legislation may have on their key constituencies and their District’s industries. For example, if your Congressman is trying to decide to vote “yes” or “no” on a Bill to reform flood insurance, would you prefer that they only take into consideration the viewpoint of a big-name insurance company, or should they call the local association to hear how the legislation may impact actual owners/operators to get the perspective of other stakeholders? This event is a great opportunity to connect the Members of Congress with your association members who have first-hand experience dealing with an issue in their real life and can share their concerns directly with the Congressman as both an industry expert and a constituent. Data overwhelmingly supports the belief that in-person constituent with legislator meetings are one of the most effective forms of advocacy. Our goal is to have you and your association be the first point of reference that your Congressmen think of when they deliberate or seek support for an issue as it relates to the rental housing industry.
When do I start to schedule meetings?
The ideal time to start is 30 days out. If it's less than 30 days, don’t worry! Meetings are often scheduled days or even hours before the requested meeting date time. It’s never too late, but getting in touch with your Congressional staffer sooner rather than later is always the best practice.
What do I wear to Lobby Day?
Business attire is recommended along with practical shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking. Keep in mind that all visitors to the Capitol complex must pass through security. Be prepared to go through a metal detector and have your bags x-rayed.
I have a break between meetings, where can I go to relax?
Join us at the Florida House, NAA's Lobby Day Headquarters! The Florida House is conveniently located between the House and Senate offices. Come grab a drink or a bite to eat, take a break, and let us know how your meentings are going.
Tell Us What You Think
Each year, we aim to improve your experience and your feedback plays a vital role in how we develop the conference!
Advocate All Year
Use our Advocacy365 app for alerts on key issues and easy access to your congressional representatives.
