2012-13 ASN President Dr. Teresa A. Davis; Sarah Ohlhorst, Director of Government Relations; and Jennifer McCandless, 2013 ASN intern; conduct Congressional visits at Rayburn House Office Building .
The American Society for Nutrition represents more than 5,000 individuals dedicated to nutrition science and research. Each and every member can play a valuable role in advancing the Society’s public policy agenda, and ASN encourages your involvement! Every legislative session, policymakers make decisions that shape the nutrition landscape and may impact you, your research, your employer, and your community, region, or state. It’s critical that nutrition researchers get involved in public policy to ensure that policymakers understand how nutrition research influences global health and economies, and how legislative and regulatory policies affect the ability of nutrition researchers to sucessfully conduct research that will have a positive impact on public health. As a constituent and nutrition scientist, you can provide valuable input to help guide decision making and make a difference!
Resources
ASN offers a wealth of resources to help members become advocates for nutrition research, in addition to sharing the Society’s formal communications to Congress and various federal agencies to serve as talking points for members. Regular advocacy updates are communicated via the Society’s Public Policy Update, distributed semi-monthly.
Advocacy Tips and Primers
Quick Guide to Meeting with Your Legislator
The Legislative Process
The Federal Budget Process
Common Acronyms
FASEB Resources
The Legislative Action Center can help you quickly locate your Member of Congress and also learn more about his or her voting record on biomedical research-related issues.
Become an Advocate contains everything you need to plan and conduct a congressional visit: including templates for meeting requests and follow-up letters; printable, state-specific “leave behind” materials and customizable talking points on biomedical research.
NIH State and District Funding Information Fact Sheets
Useful Links
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Division of Nutrition Research Coordination
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
ASN Advocacy Workshop
Held during the 2011 ASN Scientific Sessions and Annual Meeting, this workshop provided for ASN members interested in conducting nutrition research advocacy featured up-to-date information on the current policy environment and best practices for outreach to policy makers from a panel of previous and current congressional staffers. See the presentation from FASEB’s legislative team for more information.
Nutrition Research Vignettes
ASN Fact Sheets, Statements and Position Papers
Educational Materials
ASN, through its membership in The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance, created pamphlets to assist individuals affected by excess weight who are experiencing joint pain.
Can My Weight Make My Joint Pain Worse?
Dietary Guidelines Alliance It’s All About You Toolkit
ASN’s Public Policy Committee wants to hear from you. If you have an issue that you believe the Society should consider within its advocacy program or any questions, please contact Sarah D. Ohlhorst, M.S., R.D., Senior Director of Advocacy and Science Policy at sohlhorst@nutrition.org.
9211 Corporate Blvd., Suite 300
Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA
P: (240) 428-3650
F: (240) 404-6797