The more informed you are, the more tools are available to you when you are advocating.
It is important to be aware, not only of the background of your issue, but also any current news and the background of the person you’re speaking with on that issue. Also, be aware of arguments that can be made for the other side and be ready to refute them in a positive and factual way.
If you are talking to a representative, know his/her voting record, and the values of his/her constituency. Look at our Science Advocacy Checklist to give yourself an idea of what background information you need on the legislator you plan to contact. Look over the rest of the Science Policy pages for talking points and background on the issues that affect biomedical research.
The FASEB Action Alert page can tell you about your legislators’ votes on key bioscience bills.