AORN grassroots lobbying - Health Policy Issues

AORN Journal,  Jan, 2003  by Burke Beu

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One of the charges of AORN's Legislative Committee is to identify active grassroots network members in each congressional district of the United States, so that these members can communicate regularly with their elected officials in the federal government concerning AORN's legislative priorities. In 2002, this was a challenging obligation to fulfill. Boundaries of all congressional districts were redrawn to accommodate the 2000 census figures, and each state completed its redistricting at different times during the year. Redistricting was an especially contentious legislative process in the 10 states that lost a seat or two in Congress, as well as the eight states that gained seats.

With the 108th US Congress commencing on Jan 7, 2003, there is an opportunity to renew the effort to accomplish this charge. Having each member of Congress linked with a key contact person from AORN carries added significance this year because of AORN's expanded legislative priorities and the reintroduction of the Medicare Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA) Direct Reimbursement Act by Rep Mac Collins (R-Ga).

GRASSROOTS LOBBYING

A theme has been selected by the committee to promote awareness of and focus attention on the effort to formally identify key contacts in each congressional district. The theme is "AORN Grassroots Lobbying--All Our Representatives Need Grassroots Lobbying." Currently, the work of the committee is directed by a chair and two cochairs, with the support of state coordinators in each state. Each state coordinator is asked to act as the contact person for the US senators from his or her state. The state coordinators also will recruit grassroots network members of AORN to link with each member of the state's delegation in the US House of Representatives. A summary list of assignments will be maintained at AORN Headquarters by the Department of Government Affairs.

For example, there are two state coordinators in Nevada. Each can be assigned the key contact duties for one senator, either Sen Harry Reid (D) or Sen John Ensign (R). Most states have only one state coordinator. This person can act as the contact for both senators or recruit someone to assist. Additionally, the coordinator will recruit grassroots network members to link with the state's elected officials in the House. In Nevada, there are two incumbent representatives, Rep Shelley Berkeley (D) from the first congressional district and Rep Jim Gibbons (R) from the second congressional district. In addition, because of the state's growing population, it now has a third congressional district represented by Rep Jon Porter (R). A new district with a freshman representative in Congress presents an ideal opportunity for AORN members to initiate their activity or become active again in legislative advocacy.

Legislative Committee leaders plan to report on the progress of this program to the AORN Board of Directors before AORN's 2003 Congress in Chicago. The committee eventually would like to post a comprehensive list of key contacts on AORN Online, http://www.aorn.org. Currently, the primary objective is to complete a list of AORN members interested in the grassroots network and eager to advocate for perioperative nursing. Members who have not been active in AORN's legislative functions are encouraged to use this program to get involved, especially as there are many new representatives to meet in the US Congress.

US SENATE

There are 10 new members in the 100-member US Senate. The previous balance of power in the Senate was 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans, and one independent. The new Senate will be controlled by the Republican party, with a make-up of 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and one independent. (1) This assumes a victory by Sen Mary Landrieu (D) of Louisiana in that state's Dec 7, 2002, run-off election, which was held after this article was written.

By state, the 10 new senators are Mark Pryor (D-Ark), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga), Norm Coleman (R-Minn), James Talent (R-Mo), John Sununu (R-NH), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn), and John Comyn (R-Tex). (2) Senators Sununu and Graham are former members of the House of Representatives, and they both cosponsored the federal CRNFA reimbursement bill (ie, HR 822) in the 107th Congress. Sen Chambliss, also a former House member, was supportive of HR 822 and AORN's other legislative priorities. (3)

After Rep Collins reintroduces the CRNFA reimbursement bill in the House, AORN will seek a sponsor for a companion bill in the Senate. Patient safety legislation and proposals to address the national nursing shortage will be additional areas of outreach. The Legislative Committee's state coordinators, as key contacts for senators, will need the assistance and backing of all AORN members to reinforce their efforts with letters, district office visits, telephone calls, and AORN Lobby Day 2003 participation.

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

There are 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 53 new members, which is more than 12%. Twenty-nine states have at least one new representative in the House. These are Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. Guam also has a new nonvoting delegate.