NARFE Reflects on Successful 2021 Grassroots Advocacy Engagement

NARFE GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY

LEARN MORE about how you can take action to protect your earned pay and benefits by reviewing NARFE Grassroots materials at www.narfe.org/advocacy.

NARFE’s advocacy team had a number of legislative accomplishments in 2021, all made possible by the tireless work of its lobbying team and by members who worked collaboratively, employing various strategies to influence decision makers. At headquarters, NARFE’s lobbying team held meetings with congressional and administration leaders, gave testimony at hearings, and collaborated with coalitions to ensure that pending legislation included Fed-friendly provisions. Our association turned to its membership for grassroots advocacy support, led by federation and chapter advocacy leaders who played an instrumental role in mobilizing members to communicate with their lawmakers through meetings, letter writing, phone calls and other grassroots activities.

Together, we welcomed newly elected lawmakers to Congress and introduced them to NARFE with a welcome packet, influenced the Senate to unanimously pass a resolution recognizing NARFE’s 100th anniversary, asked lawmakers to cosponsor bills to repeal or reform the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), secured equitable and accurate cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), and worked to ensure that postal reform legislation protected federal employee and retiree health benefits from potential premium increases.

In addition to sending 31,157 action letters through NARFE’s Legislative Action Center and making more than 27,000 phone calls through the advocacy call center, NARFE members engaged in LEGcon21’s lobby day, taking part in 248 virtual meetings with lawmakers. Members kept the momentum going in August for NARFE’s Grassroots Advocacy Month, engaging with lawmakers at 22 events, including in-person and video meetings, town halls and fundraisers. The campaign’s social media posts from NARFE headquarters reached more than 34,000 people across Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, generating nearly 4,000 engagements, including likes, comments, shares and clicks on NARFEprovided links.

Additionally, members sent more than 1,500 letters to local newspapers to raise public awareness of the WEP and GPO and call on Congress to support legislation for their repeal, resulting in more than a dozen published letters.

Why should NARFE members engage in grassroots advocacy? Each day, issues that affect federal employees and retirees are discussed in Congress, at the White House and in federal agencies. Without consideration of NARFE members’ views, those decisions may not reflect what is best for them and the federal community. Federal employees and retirees also bring their personal experiences to the discussion. They can best explain how a policy like the WEP affects their financial wellbeing, helping lawmakers make a connection between the issue and constituents back in their districts and states, influencing their decision making. NARFE leaders cannot do the work alone. NARFE’s lobbying would not have the same impact without the people it represents weighing in on policy discussions. NARFE cannot maximize its success without the voices that make up the federal community.

During the year, NARFE asks its members to meet, write letters to, make phone calls to or interact with lawmakers on social media. Members should advocate in whatever ways are most comfortable for them.

NARFE thanks you for all your efforts in 2021 and looks forward to partnering with you to advocate in 2022.

—BY MARSHA PADILLA-GOAD, DIRECTOR, GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY