August Recess Recap: Building Relationships, Advancing Advocacy

Published in VGM Government Relations on September 23, 2026

As Congress worked through the August recess, the VGM Government Relations team remained actively engaged in securing meetings and building relationships with legislators, candidates, and key congressional staff across the country. This summer, the team made a strategic decision to focus getting a strong balance between Republican and Democratic offices, recognizing the importance of broadening support for DMEPOS priorities and ensuring policymakers from both parties understand the challenges facing providers and the patients they serve.

While gaining access to elected officials often requires persistence and multiple follow-up efforts, these interactions are essential to advancing advocacy priorities and building relationships that support future legislative initiatives.

Summer and Fall Meetings and Engagements

Rep. Steven Horsford (NV)
Rep. Brad Schneider (IL), scheduled for October
Rep. Carol Miller (WV), scheduled for October
Virtual meeting with MAMES and State Rep Josh Turek, running for U.S. Senate, Iowa
Rob Sand, Iowa State Auditor and candidate for Governor
Joe Mitchell, candidate for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District
Lindsay James, candidate for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District
Dave Muhlbauer, candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa

Congressional Staff Meetings

Sen. John Fetterman's office (PA)
Rep. Yvette Clarke's office (NY)
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto's office (NV)
Rep. Susie Lee's office (NV)

Provider Engagement Through State Associations

We're also seeing increased interest from congressional offices in connecting directly with providers through state association meetings and conferences. Several offices have agreed to participate in upcoming events, creating additional opportunities to discuss legislative priorities and hear firsthand about the challenges facing providers and patients.

Upcoming participation includes:

Staff from Sen. Maria Cantwell's office (WA) attending the PAMES Conference
Staff from Sen. Armstrong and Sen. Lankford’s office (OK) attending the OMEPA Conference

A Model for Effective Grassroots Advocacy

Among this summer's advocacy successes, NAMPS organized an outstanding engagement opportunity with Rep. Steven Horsford at Silver State Pediatric Hospital in Las Vegas. During a two-hour discussion, patient advocates shared firsthand experiences regarding the barriers and accessibility challenges surrounding DME.

These personal stories helped illustrate the real impact of policy decisions on patients and families, demonstrating why grassroots engagement remains one of the most powerful tools in advancing DMEPOS advocacy. The event served as an excellent example of how providers and patients working together can educate lawmakers and build lasting relationships with key decision-makers.

We also want to acknowledge the many providers who took the initiative to conduct meetings with legislators in their own communities throughout the recess. We've heard many success stories of meaningful conversations, facility tours, and relationships that were strengthened through direct engagement. These grassroots efforts are invaluable to our advocacy work.

If you met with a legislator or staff member this summer, thank you. If you haven't yet, it's never too late to start. Continue sharing your story, educating policymakers about the value of DMEPOS, and helping them better understand the impact their decisions have on patients and providers alike.

Looking Ahead

While the progress made during the August recess has been encouraging, our outreach efforts are far from over. Building meaningful relationships with policymakers requires persistence, consistency, and multiple touchpoints over time. Many offices continue to evaluate scheduling opportunities for the fall, and we remain focused on creating new opportunities for engagement.

Our goal remains clear: expand awareness of DMEPOS issues, strengthen bipartisan support for key legislative priorities, and connect providers directly with the policymakers shaping health care policy at both the federal and state levels.

Every conversation helps lay the groundwork for future advocacy success. As we move beyond the August recess and into the fall legislative season, VGM Government Relations will continue working to secure additional meetings, facilitate provider engagement opportunities, and ensure the voices of DMEPOS providers and the patients they serve remain front and center in policy discussions.

Chris Zampino of NAMPS hosted an event with Rep. Horsford in Las Vegas, NV at the Silver State Pediatric Hospital.