Rare Kidneys on the Hill Day
Washington, DC
See you at NephCure Hill Day 2025!
Rare Kidneys on the Hill Day is an opportunity for advocates to raise awareness about rare kidney disease (RKD) and to make their voices heard by their members of Congress on issues that impact their lives. Anyone impacted by RKD is invited to join us – patients, caregivers, physicians, and researchers are welcome!
NephCure takes care of scheduling your meetings with your members of Congress and will help prepare you for these meetings in advance. All you have to do is bring your personal story.
Thank You for Participating in NephCure’s Rare Kidneys on the Hill Day 2024
We are truly inspired by your unwavering advocacy for rare kidney disease (RKD). This year’s event was our most successful Hill Day to date, thanks to your dedication:
68 advocates from 22 states actively participated on the Hill-68 advocates from 22 states actively participated on the Hill.
Over 85 congressional offices engaged in our advocacy efforts.
We secured 8 new cosponsors for the New Era Act, bringing the total to 14—one more than the last Congress!
NephCure Hill Day 2024 Recap
Please watch our recap video and share it with your friends and family to showcase the power of your collective voices for RKD advocacy.
We look forward to your continued support and hope you will join us again next year to make an even greater impact on RKD research and healthcare. See you in 2025!
Visit our Youtube pageSample Agenda
See below an example of Rare Kidneys on the Hill Day schedule.
Wednesday, July 24th
Arrival in Washington, D.C. and Hill Day Rally Dinner (Attendance at the Hill Day Rally Dinner is MANDATORY)
6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Rare Kidneys on the Hill Rally Dinner: Meet with advocates from your state or region, practice for your meetings, and fuel up with a kidney-friendly dinner.
Location: Hilton Washington, D.C. Capitol Hill
525 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., 20001
Thursday, July 25th
Meetings on Capitol Hill and Congressional Reception
8:30 a.m. Group photo on the U.S. Capitol steps (northeast corner)
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Meetings with your members of Congress.
12:15 – 1:15 p.m. Lunch break. Food is available for purchase on the House side, Senate side, or in the Capitol Building.
1:30 – 5:00 p.m. Meetings with your members of Congress.
5:30 p.m. Congressional Reception (location TBD)
Frequently Asked Questions
Advocates are responsible for their own transportation. Uber, Lyft or taxis are available. Advocates have varied schedules based on their appointments. Most offices are walking distance from each other. The hotel where we have a room block (the Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill) is located about a half mile from where meetings will begin on Capitol Hill.
Don’t worry! Each group will have a Team Leader who is well-versed in Rare Kidneys on the Hill Day and they will guide you each step of the way. You will be walking from one office to another for up to 8 meetings.
The dress code for Rare Kidneys on the Hill Day is business or business casual. The weather in July in DC can be very hot and humid, but indoors is air conditioned. We will also be doing a lot of walking so be sure to wear comfortable shoes!
Most likely you will be meeting with congressional staffers. These staffers are important because the actions that they recommend are usually adopted by the members of Congress for whom they work. It is also possible that you may meet directly with your congressional representative, but this will be based on his or her availability that day.
NephCure will be providing a low-sodium dinner at the Rally Dinner at 6:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday and low-sodium appetizers and beverages during the Congressional Reception at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. All other meals will be your responsibility.
Hill Day is an opportunity for you to build relationships with your Members of Congress. They work for you and want to know about the issues that matter to you. This Hill Day, we hope to gain support for H.R. 6790 the New Era of Preventing End-Stage Kidney Disease Act (the New Era Act). The New Era Act has the potential to bring about significant positive changes in how we understand, treat, and study RKD. This legislation aims to help people with RKD by finding and treating diseases earlier, enhancing education of doctors and patients, and conducting more research. This could lessen the impact of RKD on people’s lives and reduce costs for patients and the health care system in the long run. We may also ask for congressional support on other bills.
Advocacy is most effective when you build and maintain relationships over time. That is why it is important that you stay in contact with your members throughout the year. To help you stay in touch, join NephCure’s Action Network, or NCAN, if you haven’t already. That way, you will receive real-time action alerts, advocacy campaign updates, and educational information throughout the year.
Sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors for supporting Rare Kidneys on the Hill Day 2024!
Volunteer
Discover the power of volunteering with NephCure through our Volunteer Hub, your ultimate destination for all things volunteering. Whether your passion lies in fundraising, advocacy, patient support, event planning, or outreach, there’s a meaningful role waiting for you. Check out our volunteer opportunities and be a part of making a difference.
Advocate
NephCure is committed to advocating for policies that improve the lives of rare kidney disease patients and their families. Learn more about our advocacy efforts and policy priorities, including our support for the New Era Bill and other legislative initiatives aimed at advancing research and access to care. Join the NephCure Action Network and be a voice for change.