1. We fill the communication gap for policymakers.

Many politicians and policymakers simply aren’t good at communicating about abortion. That is where pro-life storytellers become essential. Our testimony can be the deciding factor in getting bills passed or laws changed because we provide the human reality that abstract policy discussions often lack.

2. Professionalism is non-negotiable in the legislative space.

When you are meeting with legislators or their staff, be direct, concise, and prepared. Do your research beforehand, dress appropriately for the office, and bring a one-pager or other resources to leave behind. Whether you are submitting written testimony backed by peer-reviewed studies or giving a three-minute in-person statement, your attire and behavior should reflect the seriousness of the mission.

3. Strategy must come before ego.

Successful policy work requires flexibility. You should have several versions of your story ready, including a 15-minute version, a 3- to 5-minute version, a 1-minute version, and a one-liner. Understand that every voice should be heard, but not every story is the best fit for every bill. Don’t be offended if a lobbyist tells you your testimony is a lower priority for a specific piece of legislation. It’s about the strategy, not the spotlight.

Finding information on abortion laws in your state

It used to be more difficult to identify the abortion laws in your state. Now, in post-Dobbs America, it’s easier to just Google “abortion laws in [state X].”

Other resources include pro-life policy groups based in your state (you can sign up for alerts or view “News” and “Legislative Resources” on policy group websites), state legislative websites, and national organizations like Americans United for Life.

Contacting pro-life groups in your state

After you have identified pro-life advocacy groups in your state, you can sign up for alerts, send a cold email introducing yourself, connect with the group on social media, and attend local pro-life events sponsored by the organization.

Arranging meetings with legislators and staff

You can contact your state senator and representative via email and ask to set up a meeting. During the meeting, be polite and professional in speech and dress. Wear season-appropriate clothing. Your attire and behavior should be appropriate for the office, business, or church.

Be prepared. Research the legislator beforehand, and bring one-pagers or other resources to leave behind.

When speaking with the legislator or staff member, be direct, concise, and appreciative. Thank them for their time and effort. Offer to submit testimony on an upcoming bill of concern.

Preparing effective testimony

For state-level testimony, there’s generally no screening of witnesses. Anyone from the public can testify; you don’t need to be invited. For federal testimony, you have to be invited to speak, but anyone can submit testimony in writing.

Some states require that you be a citizen of that state in order to testify. In other states, there is no residency requirement.

In some states, virtual testimony is an option.

Written vs in-person testimony

You can submit written testimony online, either through legislative websites or via email to the committee chair. For written testimony, remember to cite trusted sources for your arguments, such as peer-reviewed studies.

Sign-up instructions for in-person testimony are available on legislative websites. In addition, some highly pro-life legislators provide instructions on giving in-person testimony. Generally, you will have 1 to 3 minutes to speak, depending on committee rules. If you anticipate that a lot of people will want to testify, arrive at the hearing early to ensure that you get a turn. If there are many witnesses, you might only be able to state your name and whether you support or oppose the bill.

Addressing the committee chair

For written testimony, begin by addressing the committee chair and members. For in-person testimony, you can skip this part, since you’ll be time-limited.

Building credibility

Briefly introduce yourself. State your name and your job, volunteer position, or a brief reason why you’re testifying. Sometimes, you can add a bit of information that ties into the subject of a bill (eg, “I’m an abortion survivor” for a born-alive infant protection bill).

Sharing your story

Identify persons or groups affected by the bill. For in-person testimony, choose just one story. For written testimony, you can share multiple stories.

For in-person testimony, get right to the point. You might need to shorten your story on the spot, if required by the committee chair. Make sure you’re speaking into the mic.

Stay on topic with your story; don’t veer off onto unrelated issues or cite facts or statistics. (For written testimony, data can be included in an appendix.)

Applying the story to the bill at issue

Be specific about why you support or oppose the bill. If you’re opposed, what specific sections of the bill are problematic, unconstitutional, or subject to abuse? How would the bill have affected your experience if it had been passed?

Choose one point to make about the consequences of the bill. How would this bill have affected you or your family? How will this bill affect vulnerable groups?

Concluding

Finish by clearly stating what you are asking the committee to do. Say, “For these reasons, I urge your opposition to…” or “Because of this, I ask you to vote yes on…”

Being prepared for questions

After you testify, a committee member may ask you questions. To answer, you may want to reiterate a point you have already made. Reference your written testimony and studies cited in there. You can provide copies of your written testimony to committee members.

Other considerations

Given the time constraints of in-person testimony, it’s a good idea to have several versions of your story: 15 minutes, 3 to 5 minutes, 1 minute, and a one-liner. This will enable you to tell your story to different audiences in different circumstances.

Remember that strategy is key for policy. Although every voice should be heard, it’s important that the stories told are the best fit for a particular bill. Don’t feel offended if lobbyists tell you that your testimony is lower priority.

Finally, part of policy work is understanding that many things are outside your control. Show up and be flexible.