Ten Tips for Making an Impact on Policy Issues

For many people, the process of drafting and passing legislation is confusing and out of their comfort zone. While some bills attract large amounts of attention prior to becoming a law, many laws at both the national and state levels are created without much notice outside the capital. Today, as Congress and state legislatures continue to work in this tough economic climate, more eyes than ever are on the policies and programs that are receiving funding and those that are on the chopping block. When you hear about actions that excite or anger you, do you know how to effectively voice your opinion? In order to make getting involved in policymaking easier, we offer you these tips: 1. Choose to get involved--We all want to help our families and communities. Weighing in on the laws and policies that shape our lives is an important way to take action. Do not assume that someone else will speak up. Your voice counts! If several individuals share similar opinions on the same issue, you'll create a stronger voice.