Skip to content

Guidance for meeting with Members of Congress in their home state

  • Identify your Members of Congress (1 House and 2 Senate) using the address where
  • you register to vote [insert MAA website link]
  • At certain times of the year, such as the “August recess,” many Members of Congress are at home for extended periods of time and meet both individually and in groups (town halls) with their constituents
  • Identify your local office contact for each Member of Congress through their website information
  • Call the local contact and request an opportunity to meet directly with the Member of
  • Congress and/or attend a town hall if appropriate
  • Once the interaction is arranged, prepare tailored talking points working from MAA background materials
  • Research the background of the Members of Congress and their policy positions
  • Conduct the meeting
  • Report the results to MAA at [enter MAA contact info]
  • Consider also conducting a virtual meeting with congressional staff as described below

Guidance for virtual meeting with key staff of Members of Congress

  • Identify your Members of Congress (1 House and 2 Senate) using the address where you register to vote [insert MAA website link]
  • Call the Washington, DC office on the identified on the website of each Member of Congress and ask who on staff handles NSF appropriations and their email address
  • Compose email to staff members requesting an opportunity to discuss Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations for NSF and attach or include your earlier advocacy email on the subject [OPTION: include the staff meeting request in the initial email as well].
  • Once the virtual meeting is set, prepare tailored talking points working from MAA background materials
  • Research the background of the Members of Congress and their policy positions
  • Conduct the virtual meeting
  • Send a “thank you” note after the meeting including the core request
  • Report the results of this interaction to MAA at [enter MAA info contact]

Talking Points for meeting with Member of
Congress or Staff on NSF FY26 Funding

  • Introduce self, where you live, and your role in mathematics
  • Describe how you have seen mathematics impact people’s lives and the US economy
  • Share how the National Science Foundation has factored into your career and into the development of mathematics at your organization
  • The ask: Request support for no less than the $9 billion recommended by the Senate Appropriations Committee for NSF in Fiscal Year 2026
  • Also note the importance of maintaining a Division of Undergraduate Education or a similar component of NSF to advance mathematics
  • This level of funding and organizational structure will help ensure that American leadership in mathematics research, education, and workforce development will continue to foster economic and national security
  • Thank for their attention and offer to be a resource for answering any questions in the months ahead