Legislative Step	Legislative Strategy
Step 1. You have an idea for legislation to advance and protect the interests of the regional airline industry.	Share your idea by phoning or writing elected officials from the district or state you serve. Contact committee and subcommittee members for support.
Step 2. A bill is prepared by a member of Congress but has not yet been introduced.	If you support the bill… Contact the bill’s sponsor as well as the leadership of the committee to which it has been referred. Meet with interested members to suggest provisions to be included. If you oppose all or part of the bill… Contact the sponsor as well as elected officials in areas you serve and tell them about potential adverse results or byproducts of the bill in question. Arrange for meetings where possible. Negotiate the removal of particularly burdensome measures if other parts of the bill are acceptable.
Step 3. Members of Congress introduce the bill in one or both chambers.	If you support the bill… Help line up other members to cosponsor the bill by making phone calls and writing letters. Encourage companion language in the opposite chamber. If you oppose all or part of the bill… Line up other opponents of the bill, in Congress as well as other private sector interests. Write position letters, addressing each issue covered by the bill separately.
Step 4. Hearings are held to discuss the bill.	Testify, or help arrange for witnesses.
Step 5. The bill is voted on at the subcommittee and full committee level.	Strengthen support or garner opposition to the bill by writing, phoning, and visiting members of that committee.
Step 6. The bill is reported to the floor and a vote is scheduled.	Generate letters to entire legislative body urging support or opposition. Copy leadership of the sponsoring committee on correspondence. Meet with the leadership to explain affects of the legislation.
Step 7. The bill passes, is reported to the other chamber, and is referred to a committee. The committee may already be considering identical or similar legislation.	Follow the procedure under Step 1 and: If you support the bill… Line up co-sponsors for the bill. If you oppose all or part of the bill… Line up members to oppose the bill.
Step 8. The other body reviews the bill at the subcommittee and committee levels.	If you support the bill… Work with members and staff to strengthen support for the bill. Letters and personal visits are especially effective at this time. If you oppose all or part of the bill… Follow the same process, registering opposition.
Step 9. Hearings are held to discuss the bill.	Testify, or help arrange for witnesses.
Step 10. The subcommittee and full committee votes on the bill.	Educate committee members by writing, phoning, and visiting.
Step 11. The bill is reported to the floor for a vote.	Meet with the leadership. Educate members who are swing votes.
Step 12. The bill passes, conferees are appointed, and a conference is held to work out difference between House and Senate versions of the bill.	If you support the bill… Educate members of the conference committee to protect the bill from weakening amendments. If you oppose all or part of the bill… Write letters of opposition to conferees. Emphasize and explain any preferences for one version over another.
Step 13. The conference report (the final version of the bill) passes and is sent to the White House.	Publicize the bill’s passage and generate support for the President to sign it.
Step 14. The bill is signed into law.	Whether you supported the bill or did not, thank all individuals (again) who assisted you during the process. If you oppose the law, document its negative impacts for future use.