March 13, 2025

Toolkit: In-State Recess Meetings – Planning and Action

Purpose

Educate members of Congress about why transit is essential and what investments are needed.
Find out what money has been frozen from the ILJA and IRA in your home states and what projects are at risk.
Find out where your member of Congress stands on the cuts. Ask them to oppose them and share the impacts that they will have on your community.
Share information about the need for operations support and to test their interests.

Timeline

Congress is in recess from March 13 to Friday, March 21, and from Thursday, April 12, to April 25th, and will work from their home districts.

Process

Scheduling: Contact in-district congressional staff to schedule a meeting. Be clear about what you plan to discuss, and ask how much time you will have to speak with the MoC or their staff.

Find your Congress member’s in-district director’s name and email here
Find your Congress member’s links to websites where you can access in-district office addresses here
If you need additional help identifying in-district staff or offices, please let us know, and we will help you.

If you are unable to get a meeting scheduled, or if your meeting request is refused, we highly recommend that you show up in person to the MoC’s office and leave your materials at the front desk with instructions to deliver them to the MoC.

Sample Scheduling Email:

Dear [staffer name]:

I am with [insert organization] and I am [writing/calling] to schedule a meeting when [MoC name] is back in state for the April Recess.

We would like to understand the status of funding freezes in relation to the IIJA and IRA. How much money is being withdrawn from [insert state], and what the [Representative/Senator] thinks the impact of this will be on state and local projects.

I am wondering if your office has analyzed the impact these cuts will have on [insert state] jobs and the economy. Please let us know when the [Representative/Senator] is able to meet with us to discuss these issues.

Thank you,

XXX

Gather your meeting team: Identify key community members and allies/partners to attend the meeting and help drive the narrative around transit funding.
Review the goals of the meeting and decide on talking points

What is your ask for the MoC? Is it to protect funding for key projects that you have outlined?
If they are supportive, is your goal to arm them with stories and information to convince their colleagues?
Talking point ideas can be found here.

Leverage funding freeze data resources:

Link to state factsheets via Transportation for America

Note: Please look to see if your state factsheet is available. If it is not in the folder and you are committing to a meeting, please let the NCTJ team know ASAP and we will create one for you.

Disbursements at risk from USDOT “Woke Rescission” Memo, by congressional districts – Transportation for America
IIJA Vulnerable Programs – Transportation for America
Rural States have more to lose freezing National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Have a prep call: Meet with your speakers beforehand to assign roles and run through your talking points.

Who will introduce your organization and its focus?
Who will provide background information on the transit projects at risk?
Who will make the ask to the member of congress?

Meet with the MoC. In person is better, but meeting virtually is fine if needed.

Draft Agenda

Welcome and Introductions: Those present share their name, affiliation, and why transit is essential (1 min)

Purpose of the meeting:

To understand what money has been frozen from the ILJA and IRA in (your state) and what projects are at risk because of it.
What information does [member of Congress] have about how these cuts will impact [your state] jobs and the local economy?
Where does [member of Congress] stand on these cuts?
[Your organization] will share information about the need for this funding

Adjourn

Follow up with a thank you email and attach your fact sheet (even if you left them an in-person copy)

Sample Email:

[Name of the Congress Person – or staff representative],

Thank you for taking the time to meet with us. We want to reiterate how concerned we are about the lack of transparency and chaos surrounding the cuts to federal spending. As taxpayers, we are worried about how our money is being managed. We want to see continued funding for critical programs in our state.

As we shared, transit is a driver of economic growth and opportunity. That is good for our community and our businesses. Investing in public transportation gets people to work, school, church and the voting booth. But it is not just about moving people from point A to point B; it’s about ensuring that our community remains competitive, accessible, and sustainable in an ever-evolving economy.

Please keep us informed about what is being funded or cut and your support or opposition to cuts.

Thank you,

[Names and organizations]