Council members of the American Sociological Association (ASA) traveled to Capitol Hill in early March to meet with members of Congress and senior congressional staff. The visit underscored the strong alignment between federal legislative priorities and the types of social questions sociologists research every day, while reinforcing the importance of sustained engagement between the discipline and policymakers.
“Policymakers need to know that sociological research can inform the policies and initiatives they’re working on, and that sociologists are available as a resource to help them get the information they need,” said Council member Wendy Roth (University of Pennsylvania).
During the meetings, Council members engaged with congressional staff from California, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The conversations spanned a wide range of policy issues, including environmental justice, health disparities, urban renewal, artificial intelligence, data privacy, public safety, and economic inequality.
“Based on our conversations with congressional staff, it was apparent that personal stories were important for the representatives’ and senators’ ability to communicate the importance of their policy agendas and to point out the harm in policies they believe are not working,” remarked Council member Jessica Hardie (Hunter College-CUNY). “It also helps to flag issues the offices may be unaware of. That doesn’t mean we can’t offer research evidence, but it might mean working with staff attached to particular areas of interest. It also became clear that repeated contact with congressional staff is important to build trust and momentum for policy priorities.”
Council member Rashawn Ray (University of Maryland-College Park) reflected on how closely these policy discussions mirrored core sociological concerns. During his meetings with staff from the offices of Maryland Congressman Kwesi Mfume, Congressman Glenn Ivey, Senator Angela Alsobrooks, and Senator Chris Van Hollen, topics ranged from environmental justice and asthma disparities in West Baltimore to urban renewal and reparations legislation in Prince George’s County, to the role of AI in reshaping labor markets and data privacy.
Regardless of party affiliation, Council members noted there was broad recognition of the value of federally funded social science research across congressional offices. The visit reinforced for Council members the importance of translating sociological evidence into accessible, policy-relevant formats.
“I think they need to know how our work connects to their legislative priorities,” said Adia Harvey Wingfield (Washington University in St Louis). “Many staffers indicated that their bosses like research and data. But I suspect many of them are unfamiliar with the wealth of sociological research out there. So, in my view, policymakers need to know more about what sociological research shows and then to know how it connects to the priorities they want to advance.”
Aside from experiences like the Council Hill Day visit, ASA offers members opportunities to engage further with policymakers.
“Either to apply to the Policy Outreach Program Fellowship (of course!) or, if engaging with lawmakers independently, be prepared to show them how some area of your work ties into something they care about,” Wingfield added.
“Sociologists cannot afford to stay on the sidelines of the policy process,” Ray emphasized, noting the need for policy briefs, op-eds, congressional testimony, and direct engagement with congressional staff. “Evidence without advocacy rarely moves policy. Let’s use our research to make a difference in policy decisions that directly impact the people we study!”
Joining the Council were ASA’s Executive Director Heather Washington, Deputy Director Liska Radachi, and staff members Margaret Gough Courtney, Mark Fernando, Aisha Kishta, Hedy Ross, Carolyn Vasques Scalera, Catherine Yim, and Heather Young. Staff from the Consortium of Social Science Associations helped facilitate the meetings.