Dear Physical Therapy Advocates
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As we approach the 2018 legislative session, I wanted to update you on the advocacy strategy for this year.
This coming year is different for several reasons. First, I will be stepping into Amber Walters’ role as state legislative chair. Amber has graciously shown me the ropes over the past few years, and she will continue to assist. I will work hard to meet the high bar she has set for the position.
Secondly, VPTA will be unable to hold an official “lobby day” at the Capitol. As many of you know, the General Assembly building is currently under major renovation (and will be for several years). We have been advised by legislative staff that the current set-up is not conducive to hosting large groups; therefore we will not be able to organize as we have in the past. In lieu of the large group, we are in the process of organizing individual meetings between key legislative stakeholders and the VPTA leadership to convey the priorities of the Association.
At this time, we do not plan to submit any proactive legislation for the 2018 session. Similarly, we do not know of any bills that we plan to oppose. Of course, this is fluid and could quickly change in the weeks to come. We typically have a clearer picture of our comprehensive legislative strategy the week before session begins.
Despite the absence of a true “lobby day,” there are many other ways to get involved. We encourage VPTA members to call, email, or even visit their elected officials individually. (If you are unsure who your elected officials are, you can always find out at http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/. For physical therapy and assistant students, we encourage you to arrange a group visit for legislators in your area and will help you with logistics for your own advocacy day. In terms of resources, we will post our priorities and talking points on the Action App (http://www.apta.org/ActionApp/) as we have in the past. This is a great resource to utilize when sending individual messages to the legislature. The talking points are typically finalized by mid-January but can change at any point during the session; thus, we encourage members to check the App or website frequently for updates. VPTA members are vital in helping shape the democratic process, and we would like to equip all who are interested to be involved, despite the lack of a large organizational day this year.
Kind regards,
Geoff Gunther PT, DPT, CMP
State Legislative Chair
