Hill Day is the centerpiece of Soft Power Summer. Advocates will join coordinated meetings across Capitol Hill in small groups, engaging with congressional offices about why America's investment in global development matters and how Congress can support effective international assistance. You don't need to be a policy expert. A member of our staff will be in every meeting to lead the discussion. 

You just need to show up, wear your A4AL shirt, and share why you care about international assistance.

Questions? Interested in getting more involved? Contact outreach@A4AL.org 

Note: June 25th is our main Hill Day. If you can only join one day, try to come on June 25th. 

Note: DC residents are welcome and encouraged to attend! You will have the opportunity to join meetings with constituents from across the country. 

SCHEDULE DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24TH 

• 8:00–10:00 am — Morning Briefing. Dirksen Senate Office Building (50 Constitution Ave NE Washington, D.C.) Please enter through the Visitor Entrance at the corner of 1st Street NE and C Street NE, and meet inside. We will go over talking points, distribute materials for your meetings, and connect you with your A4AL staff lead for the day! We will have a staff member at the corner of 1st and C directing you to the entrance.
• 10:00 am–4:00 pm — Meetings with Members and Staff. You'll be in groups of 3–4 with an experienced A4AL staffer leading each meeting. Most meetings run 15–20 minutes. You will have about 6 meetings throughout the day.
• No preparation is required. We'll review everything together in the morning briefing.

SCHEDULE DAY TWO: THURSDAY, JUNE 25TH 

• 8:00 am –10:00 am — Morning Briefing. Dirksen Senate Office Building (50 Constitution Ave NE Washington, D.C.) Please enter through the Visitor Entrance at the corner of 1st Street NE and C Street NE, and meet inside. There, we will go through talking points, distribute materials for your meetings, and connect you with your A4AL staff lead for the day! 
• 10:00 am–4:00 pm — Meetings with Members and Staff. You'll be in groups of 3–4 with an experienced A4AL staffer leading each meeting. Most meetings run 15–20 minutes. You will have 4-6 meetings throughout the day. 
• 4:30 pm - Group photo in front of the Capitol.
• 5:30–7:30 pm — A4AL Reception Featuring Congresswoman Delia Ramírez (D-IL). Wet Dog Tavern - 2100 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Dress Code

Business casual. Everyone will receive an A4AL t-shirt, to wear in Hill meetings. You may choose to pair your t-shirt with a suit jacket or other professional attire. Jackets are not required. 

Our Talking Points - The American Case for International Assistance

1. Tell your story. Your personal perspective is the most powerful part of any meeting with Congress. Are you a former USAID employee? Explain the work you did and what stopped. Do you have family or friends abroad that benefited from American assistance? Share their experience. Are you a student who believes America should continue helping vulnerable communities facing hunger, disease, and humanitarian crises? Are you a person of faith who believes in helping others? Share something personal. When you show real passion, you demonstrate that this is an issue that impacts your vote. That matters. 

Congressional offices remember authentic stories far more than statistics. When you speak personally about why this issue matters to you, you demonstrate that it matters to voters. 

Note: You do not need to cover all the talking points below; you are welcome to share additional points. While A4AL advocates broadly for humanitarian aid and global development, feel free to focus your meeting on the programs you know best or care most about.

2. International assistance boosts America's economy. Most foreign aid is spent on American-grown food, American-made products, and U.S. based industry. USAID was historically the largest single buyer of U.S. agricultural commodities, purchasing roughly $2 billion per year through Food for Peace. See how foreign assistance helps your state at: https://www.usaidstopwork.com/usaid-state-by-state

3. International assistance keeps America safe. Foreign aid prevents wars by reducing instability, lowering conflict risk, and strengthening societies vulnerable to extremism and state failure. As former Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis put it, "If you don't fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition."  

4. International assistance counters adversaries. Aid counters our adversaries by giving partner countries an American alternative to Chinese influence and coercive financing. As China expands efforts such as the Belt and Road initiative, American engagement remains a critical tool of strategic competition on the global stage.  

5. International assistance saves lives. Over the last 20 years, USAID saved an estimated 90 million lives through famine relief, public health, and other lifesaving programs. Foreign assistance embodies American values and helps make our country respected on the world stage. 

6. International assistance is accountable. International assistance accounts for less than 1% of the federal budget and is subject to extensive oversight and auditing requirements. USAID  consistently passed all independent audits, and all foreign assistance contracts and spending are publicly accessible at https://foreignassistance.gov/ 

Additional resources:

Interested in learning more about foreign assistance? Check out the following resources:

https://www.aidonthehill.org/resources 

https://www.usglc.org/rapid-response-hub/ 

https://A4AL.org/ 

Our Asks

These are the key actions we are asking Members of Congress to support. 

1. Spend the funds Congress already appropriated. The administration is withholding $19 billion in foreign aid that Congress has already approved. Ask the office to pressure the administration to release the funds.

2. Increase funding for international assistance. International assistance is less than 1% of the federal budget. We're asking Congress to strengthen that investment.

3. Restore expertise and an independent development agency. USAID developed decades of specialized expertise in humanitarian assistance and global development. Folding it into the State Department hollowed out all of that expertise. Ask the member to support legislation reestablishing an independent agency.

About the Alliance for American Leadership

We are a coalition of 70,000 Americans across all 50 states advocating for strong U.S. global leadership, humanitarian engagement, and international assistance. Our network includes former Congressman Tim Mahoney, former USAID officials like AFGE Local President Mike Henning, and students across 100 college campuses. Learn more at https://A4AL.org/leadership