Invite Your Member of Congress to Tour Your Lab During March Recess!

Most members of Congress have never been in a biomedical research laboratory. In these stressful times, inviting one of your Congressional representatives to tour your lab can be very important by providing them with a better understanding of the importance of the federally funded life science research done in their state by their constituents.

Most weeks, Senators and Members of Congress are in their home states Friday thru Monday. During this time, they visit organizations to learn what is happening in their states.  At various times each year, they also take week-long recesses so they can spend more time at home. The next Congressional recess will be the week of March 17, 2025.

Now is a good time to contact your representatives’ local offices and invite them to tour your laboratory to meet the scientists who work with you.

Step One: Arranging the Tour

• Contact your representative’s district office closest to you. You can easily find the district office through their website. To find their website, go to https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members and enter the address for your lab. The contact information for the district offices is often found at the bottom of the main webpage.
• When you call, introduce yourself and ask to speak with the scheduler. Explain to the scheduler that you would like to invite the Representative or Senator to come visit your research lab. You may want to suggest dates but be prepared for them to suggest dates and times that are convenient for them. Be as flexible as possible.
• You may want to check in with your institution’s public information office to let them know you plan to invite your Senator/Representative to visit.

Sample Call:

Hello, my name is [Dr. Johnson], I am a biomedical researcher at [State University] where I study [briefly describe your research]. This research is funded by the [NIH/ NSF] and is crucial because [in one sentence explain why your research is important to the public].

I am calling to invite [Senator name /Representative name] to come visit my research laboratory during the March Congressional recess, or even sooner, and see the important federally funded research we are doing. I would also like [him/her] to have the opportunity to meet the other members of my laboratory who are also constituents.

Step Two: Giving the Tour

1. On the tour:
   1. Provide a basic understanding of the work done in your lab in a nonscientific way. You can refer to the Two-Minute Speech Checklist to help explain your science
   2. Describe the potential economic and medical benefits of your research. What supplies and equipment do you buy? Are any locally based? Be sure to tell them about the federal funding you receive to do your research.
   3. If the current political situation is causing problems for your lab, be sure to mention it.
   4. If possible, include interesting and understandable visuals. Consider offering them the opportunity to participate in research-related activities.
   5. Be sure to be welcoming and polite. Be sure to take pictures and post on social media with the hashtags #ASCBAdvocacy and #StemAdvocacy!

2. Set aside time for the Senator/Representative to meet with people in the lab (administrative staff, lab techs, students, postdocs, senior researchers, and the PI). Give them the chance to briefly discuss their work and the role federal funding plays in supporting their research and training. You may also offer them the chance to make brief remarks.

Step Three: After the Tour

Be sure to send a letter to the office thanking the Senator/Representative for their visit. Include a very brief summary of the tour to serve as a reminder for them.

For an example of a lab tour, read the MBoC Perspective piece, Invite your representative to work. Change the world. Here’s how by ASCB member Denise Montell.