Make Your Voice Heard During Capitol Hill Day
NATA is bringing back Capitol Hill Day, which will take place with the accompanying Policy Summit March 30-31 in Washington, D.C. Registration is open through March 6.
A popular event among members, Capitol Hill Day is an opportunity for NATA to bring together athletic trainers from around the country to meet with congressional staff and advocate on behalf of the profession.
“It puts a face to the name ‘athletic trainer,’” said NATA Director of Government Affairs Deanna Kuykendall.
Because access to the U.S. Capitol has been restricted the past few years, NATA has focused on sending small groups of staff and members to meet with legislators, such as the 2025 leadership fly-in event.
“While we at the national office are frequently on Capitol Hill, it's always great for legislators to hear from members directly,” Kuykendall said. “Health care is at the forefront, and as health care providers, we have to be engaged in the conversation. … Members of congress need to hear from experts in order to make informed decisions.”
The inaugural Policy Summit will kick off activities March 30. The summit will be held in the office of NATA’s lobby firm, Venable. During the event, experts will provide insight into health care policies, the future of health care and the future of athletic training. Attendees will also get an inside look at what’s happening in Washington, D.C., and how they – along with NATA – fit in.
“Our lobbyists will be there, and there’s going to be time for folks to ask them questions,” Kuykendall said.
At the end of the summit, NATA staff will lead a Capitol Hill Day training to prepare attendees for the following day.
From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. that evening, the NATA Political Action Committee will hold a ticketed fundraising event. NATA Government Affairs & Political Engagement Manager Madison Sequenzia said the event will include a guided, nighttime trolley tour of the monuments. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased when attendees register for Capitol Hill Day. Seats are limited.
The morning of March 31, attendees will meet in front of the Longworth House Office Building and head to the Capitol for a group photo. They then will be split into groups by district and attend meetings, scheduled in advance by NATA, with congressional offices to discuss athletic training workforce initiatives and patient/athlete safety.
“Legislators want to hear from constituents,” Sequenzia said. “It, by far, has the biggest impact when a constituent goes in and has a sit-down discussion about things that are important to the profession. So, if you really want to move the needle on something, this is the way to get it done.”
“[Capitol Hill Day] literally puts athletic trainers in front of decision-makers,” Kuykendall said. “It also gives [legislators] someone in their district that they can rely on and talk to when issues come up. … So, this is [attendees] time to build that connection with their legislators because, again, all politics is local.”
The Policy Summit and Capitol Hill Day are free to attend – registrants just need to pay for their travel and stay for the event. Registration is limited to 100 attendees, so register today.
“Anybody who is interested and wants to advocate [should attend],” Kuykendall said. “This is your opportunity to literally walk the halls of Congress and advocate for your profession. We expect to have students, we expect to have retirees, and everyone in between.”
Whether they can attend Capitol Hill Day or not, all members are encouraged to reach out to their legislators in advance to let them know NATA members will be there to speak to them. Members can also participate in NATA’s advocacy campaign – available in the Legislative Alert Center – to help educate legislators on the athletic training profession.
Members who can’t attend Capitol Hill Day are also encouraged to follow along and reshare the day’s activities through MyNATABeat on X (formerly Twitter), as well as consider making a one-time contribution to NATAPAC.
