AMSA Legislative Alert (LA04-2)

To:	Members & Affiliates
From:	National Office
Date:	April 16, 2004
Subject:	CAPITOL HILL RECEPTION & VISITS
Reference:	LA04-2
Action Now:	Schedule Visits with your Congressional Delegation

The Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies’ (AMSA’s) 2004 National Environmental Policy Forum (NEPF) & 34th Annual Meeting, Politics, Policy & POTWs, will be held May 22-26, 2004 at the Renaissance Washington Hotel in Washington, DC. The Forum provides AMSA members with an excellent opportunity to visit the offices of their Members of Congress. AMSA members can introduce themselves to new staff, discuss legislative issues, offer to brief staff and Members on issues of importance to their utility, and invite them to tour local wastewater facilities. This Legislative Alert provides information to help you prepare for your congressional visits.

Make Appointments Now to Visit the Offices of Your Members of Congress
Meeting with your Members of Congress and congressional staff is critical to educating and building a lasting relationship with your federal elected officials. For this reason, the afternoon of Tuesday, May 25 has been set aside for AMSA members to visit their congressional delegations. To make appointments with your Members’ staff, contact the Appointment Secretary or Scheduler for your Members and explain who you represent and the issues you plan to discuss. For congressional addresses, phone and fax numbers, please refer to AMSA’s website - Member Pipeline - Legislative - Useful Links and Congressional Contacts (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/usefullinks_leg.cfm). If you need assistance with scheduling your meetings, please call AMSA’s Lee Garrigan at 202/833-4655.

AMSA has prepared 2004 Legislative Briefing Packets for you to distribute during your office visits. These packets will be available at the AMSA registration desk. The 2004 packet highlights the wastewater utility sector’s top legislative issues for the year, including clean water funding needs and appropriations for the National Biosolids Partnership. Please review the packets prior to your meetings and discuss these topics in terms of your own utility. Congressional staff will be better prepared to assist you if you clearly describe the impact at the local level and what action your Senator or Representative can take to address your issues. Where appropriate, ask your member for a commitment on specific legislative initiatives and inform staff that you will follow up with them to provide any requested information.

Invite Your Legislators to the Capitol Hill Reception
AMSA will be hosting a Capitol Hill Reception at the Capitol Hill Center on the 9th Floor at 101 Constitution Ave. in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. AMSA’s National Office will extend invitations to the Members and staff of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on VA-HUD & Independent Agencies. We would be happy to invite specific congressional staff to the reception on your behalf, as well. Please forward the name(s) of the congressional office along with the name(s) of the person(s) you wish to invite to cstone@amsa-cleanwater.org. Please provide your congressional invitation list to Chynita by April 30, 2004.

Again, if you need additional information or assistance in scheduling your congressional visits, please contact AMSA’s Lee Garrigan at (202) 833-4655. Thank you and we look forward to your participation at NEPF in May.