Capitol Hill Day 2005 Wednesday June 22, 2005 Washington, DC Event Summaries: 2002 | 2003

Future Student Capitol Hill Day events are not planned for 2007 or 2008, but will be announced.

About the 2005 Event:

The 2005 AACOM Capitol Hill Day was held on Wednesday, June 22, 2005. This was an opportunity for the osteopathic medical education community to come to Washington, DC to lobby their Members of Congress on issues related to medical education. The day will consist of a breakfast briefing on the issue you will be advocating, meetings with your Senators, Members of Congress and their staff, and an opportunity to work with other students and educators to lobby Congress on behalf of osteopathic medical education

This year the issue will most likely be reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, which expired on September 30, 2002. Title IV of the HEA provides three of the most widely used financial assistance packages by osteopathic medical students: William D. Ford Direct Loan, the Federal Stafford Loan and Federal Perkins Loan programs. More than 86% of osteopathic students have subsidized loans under the Direct or Federal Stafford Loan programs and approximately 83% have borrowed funds through the unsubsidized program.

The 2005 AACOM Capitol Hill Day will be open to the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents in addition to all Annual Meeting participants.

Registration

The deadline to register was Friday, May 27, 2005

Information for Attendees:

This day will provide osteopathic physicians and osteopathic medical students with the opportunity to speak with their Members of Congress on issues related to medical education and the osteopathic medical profession.

Once you are registered, you will be assigned to a Hill team based on the state in which you are registered to vote.  These state teams may be further divided based on Congressional districts in which you are registered to vote.  Appointments will be made for you based on these team assignments, therefore it is critical that you contact us immediately if you need to cancel your participant in this event. You will receive your team assignment and appointment schedule during the mandatory breakfast briefing on Hill Day.

The mandatory breakfast briefing is important for several reasons.  (1) You will receive your team assignment, appointment schedule and Hill packets (resource information to be left after your visit); (2) You will receive more information on the logistics of the day; (3) You will learn how to communicate with Members of Congress and their staff; and (4) You will receive more information on the lobbying issue for the day as well as having an opportunity to ask questions.

AACOM contact:

Kari Vunk <kvunk@aacom.org>
AACOM Government Relations
5550 Friendship Blvd. Suite 310
Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Phone: 301-968-4153
Fax: 301-968-4185

If you have any questions, please contact Kari Vunk. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your registration. If you do not receive your confirmation, please contact Ms. Vunk at the above e-mail or phone number.

"Mountains and Clouds"
by Alexander Calder
Widely known as the most
monumental modern sculpture in
the United States Capitol Complex