Advocate – AIMBE Annual Event

Policy

Meet with Your Lawmakers

April 13, 2026 @ Washington, DC

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Congressional Appointment How to Advocate

Congressional Visits

This is indeed a confusing and challenging time for the scientific community. With so many changes happening, AIMBE encourages you to visit with your lawmakers during the Annual Event to lend your voice on issues that matter. Congressional appointments will be held on Monday, April 13, 2026, between 2 and 5 p.m. Be sure to register for the Annual Event as early as possible, select the option for help arranging your congressional appointments, and plan your travel accordingly. Capacity for congressional visits fill quickly, reserve your spot today!

AIMBE will provide you with training, talking points, and everything you need to know to visit with your lawmakers in Washington – including bus transportation to Capitol Hill from the host hotel. First time meeting with your delegation? AIMBE will equip you to advocate for the issues that matter to you. We will connect with your institution’s government affairs representative to keep them in the loop about your participation.

AIMBE Executive Director Dr. Dawn Beraud will host an advocacy training breakfast on Monday morning, April 13, exclusively for AIMBE Fellows participating in Hill visits later that day in the host hotel. Your registration includes a ticket to the invitation-only event. If you wish to purchase a guest ticket for a spouse or partner to attend the advocacy training breakfast, please click here.

Fellows will be paired in groups by state to visit congressional offices. Your meeting itinerary may be provided as late as the week prior to the event, so plan to book your travel before you receive your congressional meeting schedule. If you have any questions, contact program@aimbe.org.

Capitol Hill Visits: What to Expect

Making time for meetings with your legislators is an important part of being a trusted advisor to your Members of Congress. Congressional visits are not meet-and greets; come prepared to take about the policy issues that matter. Further tips are provided below:

Arrive on time, never more than 5 minutes early. Most appointments are less than 30 minutes. Start on time, get to your point, and end on time.
Don’t be surprised to meet with staff – they are the eyes and ears of lawmakers.
Introduce yourself and exchange business cards.
Tell your personal story about why your research matters
Bring a show-and-tell item. Paint a picture they can remember by showing a small item like a pacemaker or guidewire (as an example).
Do not show or bring data, charts, paper abstracts, or PowerPoint slides.
Make your “ask” for your lawmaker to take action
Close by taking a photo and/or invite the lawmaker or staff to visit your lab.

Talking Points

Starting your Visit

Begin your meeting by acknowledging that you are representing AIMBE – an honorific society of the most accomplished medical and biological engineers responsible for the innovation and discovery that improves health, lowers costs, and/or expands access.

Introduce Yourself

Give a brief “elevator” introduction explaining your name, area of research focus, and less than 60 seconds summarizing your credentials as a biomedical researcher.
Make sure they know you are a constituent and live in their district.
Explain your research focus by telling which agency funds your work and why your research wouldn’t happen without those funds. Keep it simple.

Tell a Personal Story

Tell your lawmaker: a) why basic research is critical to discovery, b) why discovery takes time and federal financial investment, c) relate your research to a discovery/cure.
Tell why your research is important. How will your research improve health, provide a cure, or address a problem.
Share an interesting story. Make it personal. Research should be more than discovery but about finding a cure, giving hope, addressing an illness or disease.