SHRM Advocacy Campaign: How You Can Elevate HR’s Voice on Critical Workplace Issues

SHRM is encouraging its members to meet with elected officials and their staffs during SHRM’s fourth annual August In-District Advocacy Campaign. This is an opportunity for HR professionals to address crucial workplace issues such as workplace development and immigration with state and federal lawmakers and their staffs.

“Policymakers rely on the voice of SHRM members to inform legislation from its inception and shape enduring policy to best address the needs of employees and employers,” SHRM noted on its website. It is calling for the modernization of the U.S. immigration system by: 

• Investing in all aspects of the immigration infrastructure.  
• Enabling permanent electronic submissions of immigration petitions and forms.  
• Implementing a known/trusted employer program.  
• Eliminating country caps for employment-based immigrant visas . 
• Streamlining the issuance and adjudication of employment authorization documents.  
• Authorizing automatic renewals of previously adjudicated applications . 
• Allowing year-round eligibility of seasonal employment visas and releasing additional visas.  
• Creating one reliable, entirely electronic, employment verification system.  
• Increasing access to employment-based visas. 
• Ensuring all employment-based visas are utilized through the recapturing of previously unused visas.  
• Providing more legal and regulatory consistency regarding the status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. 

SHRM also calls on Congress to reach a bipartisan agreement and consensus on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and short-term Pell Grants before the end of the 118th Congress. SHRM and its members see firsthand the challenge of filling jobs in today’s labor market, and HR professionals want to build robust talent pipelines by creating opportunities for nontraditional talent pools and individuals facing barriers to employment. 

This year, the August Congressional District Work Period is from Aug. 3-Sept. 8, when lawmakers are in their home districts to connect with constituents and hear about local community concerns. SHRM encourages members to use this time to influence legislation around workforce development and immigration through respectful dialogue—a pillar of civility—and to practice “policy, not politics.” 

HR professionals are encouraged to participate in the advocacy campaign. Engaging with policymakers in their local offices provides a valuable opportunity to share personalized expertise and local perspectives. This fosters a deeper understanding of local needs and amplifies SHRM’s advocacy efforts. 

How to Participate

Participants should complete SHRM’s 2024 August In-District Advocacy Campaign registration form by July 31. 

After completing the form: 

• Call your lawmakers’ offices to ask their preference for arranging an in-person or virtual meeting. Use the Congress.gov directory to find your lawmakers’ contact information. If you are unsure who your representative is, use the “Find Your Representative” feature on the U.S. House of Representatives website. Find district office information on your lawmakers’ pages at house.gov or senate.gov. 
• Download SHRM’s meeting request template, and contact your lawmakers’ offices to schedule a meeting.   
• After meeting with policymakers and/or their staff, please complete SHRM’s 2024 August In-District Advocacy Campaign meeting tracker.  

Participants in SHRM’s 2024 August In-District Advocacy Campaign are eligible to receive one professional development credit toward their SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. Email Sean McIntosh, SHRM senior advisor of state government relations, or Mike Rose, SHRM senior advisor of government relations, with any questions about the campaign.