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Thank you for agreeing to attend the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) Legislative Fly-in Day. The purpose of this guide is to help you prepare for your visit to Washington, DC on Tuesday, June 26. The information contained on this page will range from planning your trip to Washington, DC to making your congressional visits once you arrive in our Nation’s Capitol.
NASBP has undertaken great efforts to increase its visibility on Capitol Hill to advocate its federal government relations agenda and to remind elected officials and their staff about the important role surety bonds play in our Nation’s economy.
To that end, NASBP will continue to build its momentum and presence on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, June 26, when it conducts the 2012 NASBP Legislative Fly-in Day. The event will include a morning briefing and orientation program with key policymakers including Rep. Steve King, R-IA, Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, and Rep. Brian Higgins, D-NY, and key congressional staff including Emily Murphy, senior counsel, House Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, who have been confirmed to speak at the Issue Orientation and Policy Briefing Program.
The day will culminate with an NASBP hosted reception on Capitol Hill in the Capitol Visitors Center, located on the lower level of the U.S. Capitol through the Visitors’ Entrance at the center of the building. The reception will feature cocktails and reception fare only.
Legislative Fly-in Day Morning Program—June 26
The morning of June 26 from 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. will consist of a policy briefing and orientation session held at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The Hyatt Regency is just a short walk to Senate and House Office Buildings. A continental breakfast will be served beginning at 7:30 a.m. NASBP members and staff will present on pressing legislative issues that impact the surety industry and will review materials members may choose to “leave behind” when meeting with their Congressional representatives later that afternoon.
The morning program also will include an update from the above confirmed federal policymakers who will discuss the current legislative environment and important and timely issues, such as the revitalization of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Surety Bond Guarantee Program, and legislative efforts to assist small businesses in preparing themselves for surety credit so they may compete for construction contracting opportunities.
The afternoon of June 26 is reserved for NASBP members and affiliates to visit with their congressional representatives to discuss issues that impact the surety industry.
Finally, the day concludes with an NASBP-hosted reception with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails only on Capitol Hill beginning at 5 p.m. at the Capitol Visitors Center, located on the lower level of the U.S. Capitol through the Visitors Entrance in the center of the building. Our invited list includes key members of Congress and their staff.
CLICK HERE for Hotel accommodation information
CLICK HERE to register
More information on 2012 WASHINGTON WEEK - CLICK HERE
Scheduling Your Visit
Below are helpful directions and pointers to schedule your congressional appointment(s):
- Call or email the congressional representative’s office. All offices may be reached by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. (The operator will answer the call saying, “Capitol Switchboard;” the caller requests, “Will you please connect me to Senator/Representative ______’s office.”) You should do this at least one month prior to your intended visit.
- Once connected to the congressional representative’s office, request to speak with the scheduler or appointments’ secretary.
- Identify yourself as a constituent of the congressional representative and let the scheduler know that you will be visiting Washington, DC on June 26 and that you are seeking an appointment with the legislator.
- When setting up an appointment, ask for an appointment with the member of Congress. If your congressional representative is unable to meet with you, ask for an appointment with the staff person that handles the issues you wish to address. This might be the chief of staff, the legislative director or a legislative assistant. If you receive an appointment with a staff person, be sure to confirm the name and title of the staff person before thanking the scheduler and ending the call.
- If you are not successful in securing a meeting, follow-up with a phone call a few days later, and continue to contact the office until you secure a meeting time with the office.
- If you are unsure who your members of Congress are, please visit the NASBP Grassroots Action Center by clicking here. This page includes tools to identify and contact your federal elected officials to make an appointment with them. With a few simple steps, you can send a letter to your elected officials by using the sample letter NASBP has drafted, titled "A Request to Meet In Person." Select this letter after you've selected "More information" about your elected official. The text of this sample letter is also below. See the "Sample Meeting Request Letter for Bond Producers" by clicking here.
- When making multiple appointments, it is important to keep in mind where offices are located. It is approximately a 20-25 minute walk from Senate office buildings to House office buildings.
- House office buildings are coded by a number; a meeting in a 3 digit room is in Cannon, a meeting in a 4 digit room beginning with a 1 is in Longworth; and a meeting in a 4 digit room beginning with a 2 is in Rayburn (for example, if you have a 2 p.m. meeting in Room 1233 and a 2:30 p.m. meeting in room 303, your first meeting is on the second floor of Longworth followed by a meeting on the third floor of Cannon. Click here to download a map of Capitol Hill including the Senate and House Office Buildings.
- If the office asks what issues you would like to discuss, tell them you would like to discuss issues relating to federal construction contracting and surety bonding, including preserving the Federal Miller Act and prohibiting the practice of contracting bundling so that small construction firms can compete on federal construction projects. NASBP will provide attendees with leave behind materials describing these issues succinctly.
- Call to confirm your meeting two or three days beforehand.
- Please plan on arriving at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointments, as you will be required to enter through security at each of the House/Senate Office buildings.
- Please remember to bring a government issued photo ID.
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Visit Dos and Don’ts
- Don't be disappointed. Even though your meeting is with the congressional representative, expect to meet with a member of his/her staff instead. Senators and Representatives rely heavily on the opinions of their staff when making decisions.
- Don’t expect to meet with the congressional representative or his/her staff for more than twenty to thirty minutes.
- Be flexible. Your meeting suddenly may take place in the hallway on the way to a vote or may be cancelled with no warning. Members' schedules are constantly changing, which may end up affecting your meeting.
- Be concise with your points. Refer to your one-page talking points as a reference.
- Do connect with your congressional members and their staff. Ask them to share their goals and the issues they care about. Try to find common ground between their priorities and yours.
- Don’t be argumentative. Do be polite and extend the courtesy you yourself would expect.
- Do thank your congressional representative. Thank them for supportive actions they have taken or simply for meeting with you.
- Be prepared to speak to opposing positions. Know opposing viewpoints, so that you can more effectively articulate and defend your points. If you don't know the answer to a question or how to respond to your Congressperson, tell him/her that you will get more information.
- Make specific, clear requests and ask for an answer. Your congressional representative ultimately works for you, and he/she needs to know specifically what you want, whether it is to sponsor a bill, vote a certain way, or speak with another Representative or Senator. In addition to your requests, don't be afraid to ask your congressional representative what he/she feels can be done for your issue.
- Do leave behind concise information, specifically the one-page talking points document. If you leave large amounts of reading material, your main message will get lost in the volume of paper. Put this information in a file folder with your organization's name on the label. Make sure that your website address and contact information are on every piece of correspondence that you leave or send to the office.
- Do follow-up after the meeting with a brief thank you note and any information that you agreed to furnish the congressional representative.
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The below letter is also available for automatic sending through NASBP's Advocacy site by clicking here.
The Honorable <Member’s Name>
c/o <Scheduler’s Name>
<Number><Office Building Name>
Washington, DC <Zip>
Dear <Member Title><Member’s Last Name>:
I am a surety bond producer who resides/works in your district and an active member of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP), a national trade association representing firms employing surety bond producers placing contract surety bonds throughout the U.S. I will be visiting Washington, DC on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 as part of NASBP's Legislative Fly-in Day, and I would like to schedule an appropriate time that afternoon to meet with you to discuss issues of importance to the surety bond community.
An important issue that NASBP members would like to discuss is the protection surety bonds provide to U.S. taxpayers, and small business owners who serve as subcontractors and suppliers on public construction projects. Specifically, the statutory bonding requirements set forth in the Federal Miller Act provides vital financial security to protect project owners by assuring that interested contractors are qualified to perform the construction contract, that a reputable and knowledgeable surety stands ready to complete contract performance in the event of contractor default, and ensures that project subcontractors and suppliers will be paid.
The U.S. Congress, the Administration and NASBP recognize the important role small businesses play in our nation's economy. During these difficult economic times, we must ensure that they have the proper training, opportunities, and access to resources and capital to enable them to grow and to prosper.
Based on these reasons, NASBP supports legislation that we believe provides financial protection to small and emerging contractors. H.R. 3534, the “Security in Bonding Act,” bolsters the integrity of the federal bonding process by making certain that the assets supporting non-corporate surety bonds are sufficient and in the care of knowledgeable authorities in order to protect small businesses and taxpayer funds.
NASBP also supports amending Title 41 USC to exclude the Federal Miller Act from periodic threshold increases every five years based on the rate of inflation. As a protective statute, the Miller Act should be exempted from periodic increases. Because each adjustment will increase the payment bond threshold, more small construction businesses acting as subcontractors and suppliers will not have payment bond protection on federal construction projects.
Additional issues supported by NASBP that provide greater opportunities for small and emerging businesses include prohibiting the practice of improper contract bundling and making enhancements to the SBA Surety Bond Guarantee Program.
These issues, among others, are of importance to the surety bond community that I would like to speak to you about, if your schedule permits. If you are unable to schedule a meeting, I would welcome a meeting with the staff person within your office who handles these matters.
Thank you for your continued leadership in Congress.
Sincerely,
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What is the closest airport to Capitol Hill?
The closest airport to Capitol Hill is Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. The two other DC-area airports are BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport (Baltimore, MD) and Dulles International Airport (Chantilly, VA). Reagan National Airport is less than five miles from Capitol Hill and is accessible by public transportation. BWI and Dulles are not accessible by DC public transportation, but do have shuttle service to DC.
How can I get to/from the airport to the hotel?
If you take the Washington, DC Metro system (DC's subway,) the hotel is near the Union Station stop, which is accessible by the Red line. Taxis and other transportation are available from Reagan National to the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill. For additional information concerning maps and directions to the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, click here.
Where is the event taking place?
The NASBP Fly-in legislative briefing and orientation program will be held on the morning of Tuesday, June 26 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.
What time does the event start?
The morning of June 26 from 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. will consist of a policy briefing and orientation session held at the The Hyatt Regency is just a short walk to Senate and House Office Buildings. A continental breakfast will be served beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Feel free to set up your hill visits any time after the meeting concludes at 11:30 a.m. The Hyatt is just a short walk to both the Senate and House Office Buildings on Capitol Hill.
How do I get from the Hyatt to Capitol Hill?
The Hyatt is a just short walk to the Senate and House Office Buildings on Capitol Hill. To download a map of Capitol Hill including the Senate and House Office Buildings, click here. Taxis are also available for a nominal charge to Capitol Hill.
Where is the NASBP Reception?
A reception will be held after your visits beginning at 5 p.m. in the Capitol Visitors Center located on the lower level of the Capitol. To download a map of the U.S. Capitol to locate the Visitor’s Center, click here.
What is the dress for the event?
The appropriate dress for visiting a Congressional office is business attire.
What do I need to bring with me for the event?
What will NASBP provide for me?
NASBP will provide briefing material/issue briefs on issues of concern, a name tag, and folders for your visits to your members of Congress that you may leave behind. Also, please bring plenty of business cards for networking and to leave behind on your Hill visits.
What restaurants are nearby the Hotel and Capitol Hill?
The Hotel has a restaurant called the Article One American Grill. Within close walking distance of the Hyatt Regency are, B. Smith’s at Union Station (American), Bistro Bis, (French) 15 E Street NE, Charlie Palmer’s Steak, 101 Constitution Ave, NW, the Monocle, (American) 107 D Street, NE and Johnny’s on the Half Shell, 400 North Capital Street, NW.
For more casual dining there is the Union Station Food Court, 2 Massachusetts Ave, and the Dubliner (Irish), 520 North Capital Street. If your meetings are on the House side of the Capitol, there is Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar, (American) 223 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, and the Thunder Grill, (Southwestern) 50 Massachusetts Ave, SE. Visit the Hotel’s website for additional choices.
If your meetings are on the Senate side of the Capitol, for more formal dining there is B. Smith’s at Union Station (American), Bistro Bis, (French) 15 E Street NE, Charlie Palmer’s Steak, 101 Constitution Ave, NW or the Monocle, (American) 107 D Street, NE. For more casual dining there is the Union Station Food Court, 2 Massachusetts Ave, and the Dubliner (Irish), 520 North Capital Street.
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Thank you for participating in NASBP’s Legislative Fly-in Day for 2012. The following are the steps you need to take after your participation in the event:
- Let NASBP know how your visits went. This is critical to NASBP’s advocacy efforts and allows us to ensure that any questions posed by Congressional staff can be answered in a timely manner.
- Please let NASBP know of any feedback you may have concerning the Fly-in event. What might you have changed about the program, reception, materials, etc.? Your feedback allows NASBP to make changes accordingly to next year's program.
- Keep up to date with NASBP advocacy efforts through our government relations web pages and communications, by clicking here.
- Stay engaged by volunteering to serve on NASBP committees, such as the Government Relations Committee.
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