• Frequently Asked Questions
• Examples of Sleep Advocacy Issues
• Examples of Sleep Advocates and their Activities
• Tips for Sleep Advocacy
• “Do’s and Don’ts” of
Sleep Advocacy
Why should I get involved in advocacy?
There are many ways to promote awareness of sleep issues
in America. While public education is important, often this
is not enough. Appealing directly to policy makers and providing
them with information will serve as an impetus to government
research, and education programs, as well as legislation that will address important
sleep issues.
How do I know who my Representatives and Senators are?
There are numerous Web sites that can help you search for your congressional
representatives; for example:
Contacting the Congress
Thomas
Project Vote Smart
What is the most effective method of communicating with my
elected officials?
Despite technological advances in communication and the ease of e-mail and
telephone calls, letter writing remains the most useful way to convey your
concerns and opinions to your representatives in Congress. However, due to
current security issues, e-mails may be more useful for time-sensitive matters.
How much material should I provide during a visit?
The material should be concise. Do not provide all the studies on the subject—quality
is much more important than quantity. Also, include any local media coverage
on the subject, but remember to be brief. If they need more information later,
the staff can always contact you.
What do I put in a letter?
Your letter should be well thought out, brief, to the point, and articulate.
State your reason for writing in the first paragraph, and be sure to refer
to any legislation by the number assigned to the bill or resolution. Point
out that you are a constituent. State your position on the subject clearly.
Briefly give your reasons for your opinion. Highlight any congressional district
or statewide circumstances that are connected to this issue. In closing,
re-state your position, offer your services as a source of information, and
thank the legislator for his or her time.
Federal
Issues:
- Advocate for funding to help support
several federal programs that are underway to expand research
and awareness on the impact of inadequate sleep. Agencies
such as the Federal Railroad Administration and the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health maintain programs
that address sleep education, awareness, and research activities
that can serve as models for other federal agencies to
adopt.
- Advocate for increased research at the National Center
on Sleep Disorders Research, Department of Defense, Department
of Transportation and other federal agencies regarding basic
sleep research and awareness campaigns that address the importance
of good sleep habits, sleep disorders, and the consequences
of sleep deprivation.
- Advocate for federal funding for educational programs aimed
at primary care practitioners to increase the likelihood
of proper diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.
State and Local Issues:
- Support the federal “Z’s to A’s
Act,” state legislation, and local actions to encourage
school districts to move the starting times for secondary
schools later in order to address the effects of sleep
deprivation on students’ health,
academic performance, and safety.
- Advocate for state-sponsored
educational programs for researchers, accident investigators
and law enforcement officials in order to identify sleep-related
transportation and workplace accidents properly.
- Advocate
for drowsy driving information to be added to drivers’ education
classes and sleep-related questions to be added to drivers’ licensing
manuals and tests.
- Advocate for statewide drowsy driving
and sleep public awareness campaigns.
- Advocate for work
hour regulations for doctors and nurses that will protect
them and their patients.
Changing the Bell Times:
Deb Hornstra, Massachusetts
With Michele Brett, a registered pharmacist and fellow mother
of two, Deb Hornstra conducted a campaign for later start times
for their children’s school.
They were shocked to discover that classes at the middle school started at
7:40 a.m., and the high school began at 7:34 a.m. That meant Deb’s daughter
had to be up by 6:00 a.m. in order to catch her bus at 6:50. In order to get
the amount of sleep recommended for a child of that age (9.25 hours), the children
needed to be asleep by 9:00 p.m., “which is a highly unrealistic expectation
for teenagers,” according to Ms. Hornstra. After working
vigorously for eight months, they succeeded in getting the school district
to delay the start of middle and high school classes by 10-15 minutes. Deb
maintains a Web site that offers information on the issue of later school start
times, located at http://homepages.wwptoday.com/
advocates/laterschool/, and
continues to strive for later times in her district and beyond.
One Woman’s Crusade:
Carole McDonnell, New Jersey
In July 1997 at 11:30 a.m., Margaret “Maggie” McDonnell, a 20-year
old college student from Washington Township, NJ, was killed when the car she
was driving was hit head-on by a van that had crossed three lanes of traffic.
The driver of the van, Michael E. Coleman, told police that he had not slept
in 30 hours, and also admitted to smoking crack cocaine hours before the accident.
During the first trial, the jury deadlocked over whether the
driver was criminally responsible for the accident. At the
second trial, the driver was acquitted after his attorney argued
repeatedly that in New Jersey, it was not a crime to fall asleep
at the wheel. In order to win a conviction under the current
vehicular homicide statute in New Jersey, the state must prove the accused
driver was reckless. Under the existing state law, people who drive while
knowingly fatigued and cause a fatal crash cannot be charged
with anything more than careless driving. The driver walked
away with a $200 ticket for reckless driving and a two-point
violation on his driving record because the jury was not allowed
to consider driver fatigue as a factor.
Stunned by the jury’s decision,
McDonnell’s mother, Carole, pleaded
with Assemblyman George Geist (R-Camden) to introduce a bill, eventually
nicknamed “Maggie’s
Law,” that would qualify “driving while fatigued” as recklessness
under the state’s vehicular homicide law. In June 2003, McDonnell enjoyed
a major victory when Maggie’s Law was overwhelmingly approved by the
New Jersey state legislature. The bill was signed into law by New Jersey
Governor James McGreevey on August 5, 2003. It is the first law in the nation
to specifically address drowsy driving.
Public officials at any level are elected to represent their constituents’ views
and concerns by acting on legislation or providing assistance with city, state
and/or federal agencies. It is important for constituents to convey their thoughts
and concerns to their representatives in order to encourage them to take action
and promote change.
There are several ways that you can communicate your views
to your representatives about sleep issues. These include letters, telephone
calls, e-mails, office visits, town hall meetings, or inviting them to tour
your facility. It is extremely important that the sleep community
convey its concerns to local and federal officials to let them
know how good sleep promotes the health, safety, and productivity
of Americans. Besides getting involved with the National Sleep
Foundation and its Sleep Advocacy Network, here are some additional
tips for becoming an effective sleep advocate:
Letter Writing
The letter is the most popular choice of communication with a lawmaker’s
office. The following suggestions will improve the effectiveness of your letter:
- Be sure to properly address your letter and use the appropriate
title for the official. It is customary to address an elected
official as The Honorable before their title and full name.
(See examples listed in Addressing Correspondence to Government
Officials in this section.)
- Personalize your letter. State
how sleep issues impact you, your family, and/or your patients
and friends.
- Letters can be typed or handwritten (using formal letterhead
where possible), or even e-mailed. They must be clear, polite,
and businesslike.
- State the purpose of the letter in the first paragraph.
- Address only one issue in each letter; if possible, keep
the letter to one page.
- If your letter pertains to a specific
piece of legislation, identify it accordingly, e.g., House
bill: H.R. ______, Senate bill: S. ________.
- Send a thank
you note to a lawmaker, no matter the outcome.
E-mailing Congress
Today, many congressional offices see e-mail as a legitimate and efficient
means of communication. Generally, the same guidelines apply as with writing
letters. Be sure to identify yourself as a constituent and include contact
information other than your e-mail address.
You may e-mail your federal representatives
directly from the following Web sites:
Contacting the Congress
Thomas
Project Vote Smart
Telephoning Your Representatives
To find your congressional representatives’ phone numbers, use the Web
sites listed above, or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121
and ask for your Senator’s and/or Representative’s
office.
Remember that a staff member, not the Member of Congress,
usually takes telephone calls. However, state and local officials
may be more inclined to answer their own phone. Ask to speak
with the aide who handles the issue (e.g., health or transportation)
on which you wish to comment. After identifying yourself, tell
the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as “Please tell Senator/ Representative (Name) that I support/oppose
bill (S.___/H.R.___).” You will also want to state reasons for your support
or opposition to the bill. Ask for your Representative’s position on
the bill. You may also request a written response to your telephone call.
Making Office Visits
Meeting with a Member of Congress or congressional staff is a very effective
way to convey a message about a specific legislative issue. Below are some
suggestions to consider when planning a visit to a congressional or local
official’s office.
- Plan your visit carefully — Be clear about what it
is you want to achieve.
- Make an appointment — When
contacting an office, speak with the appointment secretary
or administrative assistant. Explain your purpose and what
you would like the official to consider. You can also invite
the official to tour your facility to see first-hand what
happens in a sleep disorders center.
- Be prompt and patient
when visiting the office — It is not uncommon for
a member or official to be late or interrupted during the
meeting, but you should be on time.
- Be prepared — Whenever
possible, bring information and materials supporting your
position.
- Be political — Whenever possible, demonstrate the
connection between what you are requesting and the interests
of the member’s constituency. For example, “Good
sleep promotes the health, safety and productivity of all
Americans.” These are broad issues that any official
can support.
- Be a resource — Describe to officials
how you or your group can help them do their job. Offer
to become a resource for information and expertise about
health and safety issues related to sleep and fatigue.
- Be
responsive — Be prepared to answer questions or provide
additional information in the event the member expresses
interest or asks questions.
Guide to Addressing Correspondence to Government Officials
For local officials, check your local phone directory for government listings
(listed in the Blue Pages).
To a State Senator:
The Honorable <<Full name>>
<<Your state>> State Senate
<<Your state capital city,>>
<<State, zip code>>
Dear Senator <<last name>>:
To a State Representative or
Assembly<<man/woman>>:
The Honorable <<Full name>>
<<Your state>> House of Representatives
or <<Your state>> Assembly
<<Your state capital city,>>
<<State, zip code>>
Dear Representative or
Assembly<<man/woman>> <<Last name>>:
To a United States Senator:
The Honorable <<Full name>>
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator <<Last name>>:
To a United States Representative:
The Honorable <<Full name>>
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative <<Last name>>:
To the President of the United States:
The Honorable <<Full name>>
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Do:
- Remember that time is precious. All letters, phone calls,
office visits, etc., to your lawmaker should be “short
and sweet.”
- Remember that the lawmaker’s staff
is as important to you as the lawmaker.
- Take advantage of
strength in numbers. This is true for letters, faxes, e-mail,
phone calls, office visits, financial support, etc. Get friends
and family to support your efforts.
- Follow-up all actions
with letters, calls, etc. Make a commitment to your cause.
- Include
your lawmaker on your organization’s mailing list
for newsletters, magazines, etc.
- Be a good winner and a
good loser. Your adversary today might be your ally tomorrow.
- Invite
your lawmaker and staff to your sleep center, support meeting
or sleep awareness event to put a human face on sleep issues
and your efforts.
- Use the news media (op-eds, letters to the editor, etc.)
to help create public support for your positions.
Don’t:
- Underestimate the weight given to letters and phone calls.
- Use
clinical terms or acronyms your lawmaker may not know.
- Contact
a lawmaker and then drop the issue. Persistence pays off.
- Say
you are contacting your lawmaker because an organization
told you to do so; lawmakers respond to people (voters) not
organizations.
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