Public Policy Workshop
Public Policy Workshop 2012
Leah Brandis, RD, CSG, LD
Oregon Academy Incoming Director of Legislative Issues
Four Oregon Dietitians convened in Washington D.C. April 15-17th ,2012 for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Public Policy Workshop. Three weeks later Senator Merkley called wanting to know what Registered Dietitians think!
Some of my take home messages were:
1. YOU are the expert in nutrition-You don’t have to be an expert on the bills!
2. Just showing up and making noise that Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians Registered are resources to legislators and care about policy is often the best thing we can do!
3. It is all about who you know!
Four Oregon Dietitians convened in Washington D.C. April 15-17th, 2012 for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Public Policy Workshop. As the incoming Director of Public Policy I, Leah Brandis, was pretty green to public policy and was thoroughly inspired by my mentors: Jessie Pavlinac MS, RD, CSR, LD (Academy President 2009-2010), Sonja Connor MS, RD, LD (ran for Academy President 2012 and current Academy Foundation Board of Directors), Nancy Becker MS, RD, LD (AND PAC Board of Directors).
Jessie gave the State Government Issues Update and Nancy and 
Susan Yake from Washington State gave a talk titled “Learning to be a Passionate Advocate” which was truly inspiring. The weekend culminated in meetings with 6 out of 7 Oregon legislator offices. The Academy provided material to present. Our message topics were: 1. The Farm Bill, 2. Older Americans Act, 3. Preventing Diabetes in Medicare Act, and 4. Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medication Act.
Some of my take home messages were:
1. I am the expert in nutrition-I don’t have to be an expert on the bills!
2. Just showing up and making noise that Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians Registered are resources to legislators and care about policy is often the best thing we can do!
3. It is all about who you know!
The people who work in these legislative offices are from Oregon. Nancy has volunteered on several of their election campaigns so she knew the staff. Sonja went to church with one of the aides since he was a boy. Nancy’s son went to high school with one of the aides. The point is that we want connections in these offices so that when a bill comes up that has a nutrition component that they call YOU!
Within 3 weeks of our trip Nancy Becker had Senator Merkley call her to discuss the federal labeling law, Congressman Blumenauer emailed her to discuss restricting food stamps to not allow sugary drinks, and Oregon’s Secretary of State called her discuss the Commission for the Blind's vending program! Now she personally doesn’t have to be an expert on all these nutrition topics but she knows other RDs or DTRs and can get the information they are looking for and she certainly knows more than the legislators! Isn’t that empowering?!!! Legislators want to know what RDs and DTRs think! YOU have an opportunity to influence legislation!
Moving forward, in addition to exciting projects at the state and federal level, I’m excited to gear up for our state RD/DTR Day in Salem this coming March. If you are interested in helping the Policy Committee please contact Leah Brandis.
