This Guide and website are provided for informational purposes only. Note that certain restrictions apply to the use of CDC funds for impermissible lobbying. Other restrictions may also apply to your organization. For more information concerning CDC restrictions for awardees see the CDC Anti-Lobbying Guidelines. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions pertaining to your specific organization or governmental entity. Local Health Departments (LHDs) and other organizations should consult with local legal counsel for clarification about what is and is not an allowable activity under state and local law. If you are a current CDC grantee, please refer to “Understanding Restrictions on Policy Activities” and Anti-lobbying Restrictions for CDC Grantees for a comprehensive description of allowable activities

For policy solutions to be effective and comprehensive, they should be guided by the common visions, goals, and strategies of the organization and its partners (See Useful Tools and Resources for resources on collective impact and community-based participatory research). Although informing policy development, implementation, and evaluation can be challenging and long-term work, policy interventions have the potential for sustained impact over time at a population level and are often an effective use of community resources. The policy process affords many opportunities to expand reach, to engage partners and other stakeholders to help raise awareness of TDV, and to guide the articulation of broad, science-informed, mutual understanding of solutions throughout the community.

Federal funds may not be used directly or indirectly “to support or defeat the enactment of legislation before the congress of any State or local legislature or legislative body… or designed to support or defeat any proposed or pending regulation, administrative action, or order issued by the executive branch of any State or local government.”^[25]

Education— Gives factual information (e.g., data, program description, scientific evidence of effectiveness of prevention measures, goals, current budget, people served, and accomplishments) without conveying a value judgment or linking to legislative action (e.g., pending legislation, appropriation, regulation, or other policy decision).

Advocacy—Conveys general support for a cause, promotes best practice, supports a national recommendation, but does not seek a specific policy outcome or decision. Advocacy can imply support for a generalized policy such as “clean air” without a recommendation for a particular standard in law or regulation.

Lobbying— Asks a legislative body to increase a budget or support/oppose a bill, amendment, regulation, or policy. This refers to a specific piece of legislation and reflects a specific view on that legislation. Another form of lobbying is grassroots lobbying, which refers to the many types of indirect attempts to communicate with and influence legislators, such as communication aimed at legislators' constituents.

At the federal level, the law defines a lobbying contact as any oral or written communication to a “covered legislative or executive branch official” regarding the following matters: (1) formulating, modifying, or adopting federal legislation including legislative proposals or executive branch policies, including rules, regulations, and executive orders; and (2) administering or executing a federal program or policy. “Covered officials” include members of Congress, their legislative staff, and senior and political executive branch officials.^[26]

To learn more about which activities are allowed in your agency, contact your legal counsel or legislative liaison/government relations staff.