John Richardson, NSGC Senior Director of Policy and Government Relations
The year 2021 began with a history-making, tumultuous political environment in the United States. The resulting toxicity of Capitol Hill politics have paused much of the legislative work that would normally be ramping up early in the 117th Congress. The environment is expected to improve (relatively) over the coming weeks, as Congress will need to get back to work to address the business of the people of the United States.
While these political events and the divisive climate are out of our collective control, NSGC is working hard on our Medicare legislation, the “Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act,” in preparation for when Congress gets back to legislating. First, we have a new Democrat champion, Representative Brian Higgins, who represents the Buffalo, NY region. He will reintroduce our House bill as soon as the impact of recent events permits. Because there is a new Congress (the 117th), our legislation will have a new bill number that we will share once it is available. No significant changes in the legislation are expected. We will also introduce a Senate companion bill this year and are finalizing both a Democrat and a Republican champion in that body.
NSGC is ramping up three exciting initiatives to empower our community to significantly influence Congress once the bills are introduced.
- NSGC is forming an Advocacy Coordinating Committee (ACC). The ACC will lead regional grassroots efforts and its members will be responsible for 20-30 Congressional districts. They will directly communicate with NSGC members within their assigned regions to ensure members have the right tools and resources to be successful advocates for our Medicare legislation. Committee members will have significant past advocacy experience and their ultimate goal is to work with NSGC members within their regions to build cosponsors for the House and Senate bills.
- NSGC is also forming a Coalition Steering Committee. Collectively we have done a tremendous job of bringing together more than 250 organizations that represent a broad coalition in support of our Medicare initiative. This Steering Committee will consist of government relations professionals representing stakeholders that support our bill. The Committee will focus on sharing information and Capitol Hill intelligence, as well as identifying opportunities to move the legislation forward. The Steering Committee will also hold quarterly calls open to all supporting organizations that are interested in the most recent information on our bill strategy and status.
- NSGC will be hosting a Capitol Hill Virtual Zoom-In for NSGC members. Rather than a traditional Capitol Hill fly-in, NSGC will host a Zoom-In so our members can meet with their Congressional offices virtually. We are targeting the second quarter of 2021. NSGC will host a virtual briefing prior to the Congressional meetings. Expect to hear from a Congressional champion, learn the latest updates on the bill, and review talking points to prepare for your meetings. We will also have time for NSGC members to participate in a mock Congressional meeting during the briefing, providing you with the opportunity to learn what to expect during a virtual Congressional meeting, rehearse and feel confident for your actual meeting with your member of Congress or their staff. NSGC will then schedule all your Congressional meetings for you, over a 3-5 day period. Look for more details about registering for the Capitol Hill Zoom-In in the coming months.
The new Congress may have started tumultuously, but we expect significant opportunity to advance the “Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act” during the 117th Congress. While none of us can control the Congressional calendar, NSGC is hard at work preparing our advocacy so we will make a significant impact when timing permits. We will need you, as NSGC members, to answer the call to action when the time comes. Contact the NSGC Advocacy Team with questions or for more information: advocacy@nsgc.org.
This article was published in the January 2021 Advocate Newsletter.
John Richardson, NSGC Senior Director of Policy and Government Relations