The Foreign Service Journal, April 2014

52 APRIL 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS AFSA ON THE HILL Beyond the AFSAAdvocacy Day BY JAVIER CUEBAS, DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY On Feb. 26, AFSA sent 25 Governing Board and profes- sional staff members to Congress as part of its first annual Advocacy Day. Building on the success of our November congressional networking reception, par- ticipants visited 17 congres- sional offices from both sides of the aisle to discuss our priority issues with legislative staff. We centered our efforts on offices likely to be instru- mental in helping us move our agenda forward in such areas as career development and professional capacity, overseas security and over- seas comparability pay. Contrary to popular belief, the key to effective, issue-driven campaigns and congressional outreach is to speak with those who are in a position to help and are eager to do so, not to visit lots of offices or shake hands with big names. To help elected officials and staffers better under- stand how Foreign Service employees and their fami- lies carry-out diplomacy, enhance national security and create jobs at home, tar- geted outreach is essential. As the voice of the Foreign Service, AFSA repeatedly makes the case that we are a resilient and unified con- stituency capable of gaining national attention and mobi- lizing the American public in our favor. Although engaging policymakers at the congres- sional level can be intimidat- ing, we have learned that the majority, if not all of the 535 members of Congress are receptive to our overtures. What legislators need to see from any interest group is value—for their constitu- ents and their districts. For those interested in com- mercial issues, we need to spotlight our members’ role in facilitating trade and job creation, so that they’ll see a return on that investment. For those who care about for- eign assistance and human rights, we need to remind them about our members’ role in promoting develop- ment, democracy and better governance. For those who wonder how to ensure that our men and women in uniform don’t have to make the ultimate sacrifice, we need to help them understand that diplo- macy saves and protects lives. And that’s just a hand- ful of relevant examples that help us convey—as both a labor union and professional association—the most pow- erful story that we can share with a member of Congress: your story. At the end of the day, the most important thing you need to know when dealing with Congress is that your elected officials work for you. It is your taxpayer dollars that pay their salaries. It is also your vote, and the votes of your relatives and friends, that will either keep them in office or remove them. But if you want your member of Congress to better under- stand your position, and sup- port the Foreign Service, we must show them the value. If there is one thing that Advocacy Day and other AFSA initiatives have done successfully over the past few months—it is to help Capitol Hill better under- stand your story and your worth. We will continue those efforts in the months and years ahead. n AFSAHosts Hill Reception AFSA presents the FS Medallion to Rep. Adam Schiff, D. Calif., with Executive Director Ian Houston, AFSA President Bob Silverman, USAID Vice President Sharon Wayne and State Vice President Matthew Asada. AFSA’s reception on the Hill draws a large crowd to the Capitol Visitors Center on Feb. 26. Amb. Laura Kennedy addresses the guests, with Sharon Wayne, Ian Houston, Bob Silverman and Barbara Stephenson.