What is HR Voice?
As a new SHRM membership benefit, you are automatically enrolled in HR Voice. As a HR professional, there is a responsibility to know what is happening on a state and national level. HR Voice assists you in taking proactive steps in shaping public policy affecting the HR profession. SHRM members, through the HR Voice program, can play an instrumental part in influencing legislation on the national and state levels.

What Effect Will My Involvement Have?
As HR professionals, your voice provides a unique perspective that your Member of Congress may not have considered. By joining forces with other HR professionals, you directly affect the outcome of pending legislation and regulations that affect the HR profession. Your actions will ultimately benefit employers and employees all across the nation.

Do I Have To Be a Political Expert?
No. HR Voice is for political novices and seasoned professionals alike and is nonpartisan. HR professionals with an interest in the continued viability of the profession are the best representatives of the field to Congress. To help you educate Members of Congress, SHRM Fact Sheets detailing the legislative issues the Society's Governmental Affairs department is currently actively advocating, quarterly newsletters featuring lobbying tips and legislative updates and a HR Voice toolkit are available for your use at http://www.shrm.org/government.

How Does It Work?
Members of HR Voice will receive monthly legislative updates through the Washington and State Insider, a publication written by SHRM governmental affairs staff. You will also periodically receive legislative alerts on bills introduced in Congress that will affect the workplace and require your professional input through phone calls, letters, faxes or meetings. What you decide to do with this information is up to you. Most communication will be done via e-mail and through SHRM's web site at http://www.shrm.org/government. Talking points and/or sample letters included in the alerts from SHRM will serve as a guide for communicating with Congress. Other activities available to you include political media events, giving legislative updates at chapter meetings and state conferences and even testifying before Congress.

Because most communications between SHRM and you take place via e-mail, it is critical that we have your correct and current e-mail address. Please go to http://www.shrm.org, click on member services and follow the prompts to update your membership information.

How Can I Help?
Visit our web site at http://www.shrm.org/government and send an e-mail or letter to your representatives on any or all of the sample letters that are listed. If you do not know who your Member of Congress is, just enter your zip code to find out. It is that easy. For specific instructions on how to write a letter using the SHRM web site, click here. Additionally, take a moment to review the legislative fact sheets that are also on the SHRM web site. Then, be ready to respond to legislative alerts that you will receive from SHRM. It is that easy and if everyone contacts his or her Member of Congress, we WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. But, we can only do it with your help.

If you have any questions, please visit our web site. If you have further questions, please contact the SHRM Governmental Affairs Department at (703) 535-6029.