Skip Navigation Links.  

Follow IowaPharmacy on Twitter View Iowa Pharmacy Association's Facebook account View Iowa Pharmacy Association's LinkedIn profile

Federal Legislature                                                                      http://www.firstgov.gov/Agencies/Federal/Legislative.shtml

  • The Federal Legislative Branch website is divided into the Senate and House of Representatives websites.  Similar information is provided by each website.  Under each heading directions for navigation in the Senate and House of Representatives sites will be given.

How to…

Use the Federal Legislative Branch website:

How to Find & Contact Federal Legislators

    • Search by State on pull down menu at top right hand corner of the page
      • Links to the Senator’s websites and their contact information will be provided
    • Senators are also listed alphabetically under the Senator tab at the top of the page
      • Charles Grassley and Tom Harkin are the current Federal Senators from Iowa
      • Links to their websites and contact information will be provided.
    • Contacting Your  Senators

a)      A link entitled How to… will take you to new page

                                                                                                                                                   i.            The link for How to Contact Senators will provide you with information on how to properly address a Senator or committee.

    • Committees – Assignments can be found under the Committees tab at the top of the home page 
      • The Assignments link on the left side of the page will list all Senators alphabetically by name and their corresponding committees.
  • House of Representatives Home Page
    • Find your Representative by entering your zip code at the top of the page.
      • Links to the representative’s website and their contact information will be provided.

o       If you know your representative, they are all listed alphabetically on the pull down menu at the top of the page.

§         A link the representative’s website will be provided.

o       Write your Representative –  this link is available on the left side bar of the page

§         Provide your state and zip code and the site will facilitate you in writing an email to your representative.

o       Committees – Can be accessed through the Committee Offices link on the left side bar of the page 

§         Links to the committee websites are available.

§         Near the bottom of the page committees can be searched for membership, schedules, hearings, and hot topics.      

 

How to Track Legislation

  • Thomas Home Page
    • Thomas is part of the Library of Congress’ Website and is named for Thomas Jefferson.  It is specific for legislative information.
    • Within the Thomas site bills can be search for by number or by word/phrase.
    • Both the Senate and the House of Representatives sites have links to Thomas.
  • Senate Home Page
    • Active Legislationlink available on the right side bar
      • Current bills that are active in the Senate are listed alphabetically by subject and popular name.
      • The Thomas link is available at the top of this page also.
  • House of Representatives Home Page
    • Find a Bill link on right side of page links directly to Thomas

How to Learn About the Process

  • Thomas Home Page
    • Under the Learn box on the right side bar a link entitled from a Bill to a Law
      • PDF documents are available for: How are Laws are Made and Enactment of a Law

       

How to Stay Up to Date

o       This Week on the House Floor  - link on the home page under the Schedule heading

§         Weekly schedule of legislation intended for consideration.

 

  • Thomas Home Page
    • Current Activity – heading on right side of page
      • Yesterday in Congress
      • Congressional Record Latest Daily Digest
      • On the House Floor Now
      • Schedule & Calendars

 

How to Get Involved

  • Sign up for the IPA Legislative Alert System
  • Vote and encourage others to signup and vote.

o       Link for voter registration

o       Link for Iowa Absentee Voting

  • Contact your legislators when key issues impacting pharmacy arise.  You can contact them via email, written letter, or by phone.

o        Lobbying 101

o       Face-to-Face meeting tips

o       Phone Call tips

o       Letter Writing Tipss

·     Volunteer for a campaign or with a committee.

o       Democratic Party

§         Volunteer information located under the Action tab in the middle at the top of the page.

o       Republican Party

§         Volunteer tab located at the top of the page in the middle.

 

 
 
 


© 2007 Iowa Pharmacy Association. All Rights Reserved.