How to Attend a Town Hall Meeting

Be the chemist in the crowd!

 Find Your Policymaker's Name and Contact Information

• Members of Congress want to hear from their constituents and won't pay much attention to someone else's voters.

Learn when your legislator's next public event will take place.

• Visit your policymakers' websites to learn more about their upcoming schedule.
• Sign up for email alerts and check often, especially when Congress is in recess.
  
  • Home district events are sometimes announced last minute. Make sure to be in the loop!
    

Plan what you want to say at the meeting.

• Prepare a few concise questions about your priorities (e.g. funding for chemistry, STEM education, etc.) so you have one ready to go if you get picked.
• Be aware that town hall events usually attract local media attention, so you may end up on the nightly news!

Attend the meeting.

• Make sure to show up early as events can fill up fast.
• Bring along fellow ACS members or friends to increase your visibility and the chance that one of you gets a question in.
• Be polite and direct: avoid long preambles that distract from the heart of your question.