Recently, the Future Leaders and Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) participants gathered in Washington, DC for the AHCA/NCAL Future Leaders Symposium. They also visited the Hill to lobby for their long term care (LTC) communities. Future leaders and DELP participants had more than 50 meetings with members of Congress, including the offices of Sen. Dick Durban (D-IL), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), and many more. Prior to their Hill visits, participants were given a course on Advocacy 101 and lobbying on LTC issues.
During these meetings, Future Leaders and DELP participants shared their stories, the impact of the pandemic, and the workforce crisis with the members of Congress. They lobbied specifically for their member of Congress to cosponsor the
TNA Workforce Bill (
H.R. 7744), the
CNA Lockout Bill (
S. 4381/
H.R. 8805), and to join the newly created
21st Century Long Term Care Caucus. Timing couldn’t have been better as H.R. 8805 was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) the night before Hill visits began.
The Future Leaders and DELP participants came back from their meetings energized and with a passion for advocacy and are looking forward to doing so again during Congressional Briefing next spring.