Educating Congress One Office At a Time

The EDC is an organization that’s primary purposes is to influence federal policy. We do that through a variety of ways, we draft and advocate for legislation such as the FREED Act, work with the Administration such as submitting comments of proposed rules, and we work with Congress on relevant pending legislation. However, at the most basic level, our work consists of meeting with Members of Congress and/or their staff and educating them on eating disorders. We brief them on the seriousness of eating disorders, we discuss current eating disorders policy, relevant legislation, and current problems with eating disorders coverage. 

Some Members of Congress we frequently work with are great champions for our cause. We developed a relationship with them and they rely on our expertise and advice. However, we need more Members to care about this important cause. We need to develop these relationships with more Members, we need eating disorders to be an issue that every Member of Congress cares about. Because of this we meet with every office every year. 

There are 435 Representatives, 100 Senators, and 6 delegates (these non-voting members represent District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands). The EDC meets with every office every year. That is 541 offices every year. We meet with Members and/or their staff and we educate them on eating disorder, we discuss the FREED Act, Parity concerns, and ask for their support. Every year. Every office. 

Join us on September 18 for Lobby Day, and meet with a few of these offices yourself and help get your Members of Congress to champion this great cause with us.