Our close working relationships with lawmakers focus on introducing bills that address top issues affecting urology. The AUA Legislative & Political Affairs team meets with members of Congress and their staff to support our position on bills that impact practice. They also provide essential feedback on legislation as part of an ongoing dialog.

We’re strong advocates for regulations that are fair to the practice of urology. Our critical work begins once a bill becomes law. Before a law is put into practice, our Physician Payment & Reimbursement team works with agencies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, among others to shape important regulations.

Lobbying is time intensive. It involves engaging lawmakers to take action on specific pieces of legislation. Therefore, we maintain a full-time presence in Washington, DC. Our urology advocates volunteer their time to support and promote policies that have a positive impact for urologists and the patients they treat.

About the House of Representatives

• Represents the people
• Number of seats proportional to a state's population
• Often referred to as "the House" or the "lower" chamber of Congress
• Maximum number of seats in the House is 435
• All re-elected every two years
• Tax and spending bills must start in the House

About the Senate

• Represents the states
• Two senators per state, no matter the population
• Exactly 100 seats
• One third re–elected every two years
• Senate approves/amends treaties and Presidential appointments
• Can block legislation with a filibuster (requires a two–thirds vote to end a debate)
• Typically referred to as "the Senate" or the "upper" house of Congress

House Ways & Means
Chair: Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO-8)
Ranking Member: Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA-1)
The Committee on Ways and Means is the "chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives." Revenue-related aspects of Medicare, Social Security and other programs are within the jurisdiction of this important body of lawmakers.

House Energy & Commerce
Chair: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5)
Ranking Member: Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6)
As its name suggests, the focus of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce is the primary committee focused on promotion of commerce, including the public’s health and marketplace interests. Its Subcommittee on Health has jurisdiction over bills and resolutions relative to public health, hospitals, health insurance (including Medicare and Medicaid as well as private plans), health information technology, drug abuse, medical malpractice insurance and more.

House Veterans' & Affairs
Chair: Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL-12)
Ranking Member: Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA-41)
The House Committee on Veterans Affairs is the authorizing committee for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and holds within its jurisdiction veterans’ benefits, including medical care, treatment of veterans and veterans’ hospitals.

Senate Finance
Chair: Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Ranking Member: Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID)
The Senate Committee on Finance is very similar to the House Committee on Ways and Means, with a wide jurisdiction covering matters relative to taxation and revenue, among them health programs under the Social Security Act (namely Medicare and Medicaid) and health programs financed by a specific tax or trust.

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP)
Chair: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Ranking Member: Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA)
The Senate Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) and its subcommittees focus on issues relating to health care, education, employment and retirement.

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Chair: Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT)
Ranking Member: Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS)
The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs oversees veterans’ issues, including benefits such as health care services.