In 2023, APTA’s Federal Affairs Liaisons (FALs) played a significant role in advancing the Association’s policy priorities. We began the118th Congress with fresh ideas and look forward to your appointment (or reappointment) of a Federal Affairs Liaison as the critical first step. FALs have stepped up and led their grassroots members in their state to take important advocacy action.

FALs and their delegation participated in over 64 virtual and in-person meetings in 2023, along with 338 meetings during APTA Capitol Hill Day. They have helped advance APTA’s public policy agenda in the 118th Congress including introduction of APTA legislation aimed at addressing Medicare payment, PT workforce, administrative burden, promoting the economic value of physical therapy, and more. Thanks to the work of FALs, we are getting results.

For more than 20 years, APTA has relied on network of contacts at the Component level to enhance APTA’s federal public policy agenda. Essential to this effort is each Chapter’s Federal Affairs Liaison.

Federal Affairs Liaison Key Tasks

• Regularly disseminate information on APTA legislative, regulatory, and advocacy updates to the chapter’s Board and membership, including the information provided to FALs via the monthly briefing.
• Participate in any FAL orientation and training webinars 
• Foster a relationship with U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives from your state to include scheduling visits to bring Members of Congress to an array of practice settings and attending political events with the assistance of PTPAC in your state.
• Participate in FAL monthly meetings via Zoom, the last Wednesday of each month, with exceptions at the end of the year to accommodate holidays.
• Provide input from the grassroots membership to APTA’s government affairs staff.
• Assist in the identification and recruitment of potential APTA Key Contacts from your chapter and ensure existing Key Contacts are meeting position requirements.
• Attend chapter member meetings to relay legislative and regulatory information and submit updates for our newsletter.
• Coordination with the state legislative chairperson on component grassroots networks, policy development, and identification of emerging issues.