As an IEEE Senior Member from Delaware, participating in IEEE-USA’s Congressional Visits Day (CVD) in March was a great experience for me. I came away with a much better understanding of how the federal policymaking process works — something I had only seen from a distance before. It also gave me the chance to build confidence in advocating for my profession, and to speak up about issues that matter to the engineering and tech community. One of the great highlights was connecting with fellow IEEE members from across the U.S., which made the experience even more meaningful.
Meeting with Delaware’s Congressional Staff
On Day 2 of CVD, our Delaware group, dressed professionally, as suggested, began a series of meetings with congressional staff. Of course, we wished to meet with our Senators and Representatives in-person, but their extremely busy schedules meant that we mostly talked to their policy advisors, which still proved very valuable.
One such fruitful discussion took place with the legislative assistant handling tech policy for Senator Coons’ office. We shared examples from Delaware’s growing tech scene about how federal R&D investments lead to local jobs and innovation, and the staffer showed genuine interest in our perspective as engineers.
Addressing Delaware’s Specific Needs
In our meetings, we stressed how national tech policies impact Delaware:
- Small Business Support: We talked about how the SBIR/STTR programs have helped Delaware startups turn research from schools like the University of Delaware into real businesses.
- Workforce Development: We highlighted collaborations between IEEE Delaware sections and local schools to build STEM talent pipelines.
- Energy Technology: Given Delaware’s coastal challenges, we pressed for DOE funding aimed at resilient energy systems.
The staff asked great questions about how legislation might influence engineering fields, such as automotive tech, which is relevant to our manufacturing scene, as well as renewable energy.
Bipartisan Engagement
One noteworthy part of our visits was the bipartisan support for our messages. Whether meeting with Democratic or Republican staffers, we found common ground on the need for strong American tech leadership. As IEEE-USA President Tim Lee pointed out, this year’s CVD had strong cross-party engagement.
Personal Reflections
As someone who’s usually focused on technical projects, the CVD experience opened my eyes to the importance of engineers getting involved in policy work. As Varsha Shukla from Dartmouth noted, it was encouraging to see thoughtful leadership and curiosity from government officials about emerging tech and innovation.
I also developed a deeper appreciation for the important role that congressional staff play. Behind every meeting and every piece of legislation, there are staffers doing the research, asking the right questions, and keeping everything on track. Talking with them helped me see just how much thought and effort goes into even the earliest stages of shaping policy.
While real change doesn’t happen overnight, we definitely saw signs of progress. Several staffers we spoke with wanted more information on the CREATE AI Act, and one office even set up a follow-up meeting with tech entrepreneurs from Delaware. It was encouraging to hear that the data we shared about STEM workforce needs was passed along to the education policy team. That alone made the trip feel worthwhile — knowing that our voices were heard, and that we might have helped move the needle just a little.
Conclusion: Why Every Engineer Should Consider CVD
My experience at the 2025 IEEE-USA CVD showed that engineers have valuable knowledge and can meaningfully influence technology policy. The congressional staff we spoke with appreciated hearing from practitioners, not just professional lobbyists. As IEEE President Kathleen Kramer and President-Elect Mary Ellen Randall showed by being there, our community plays a crucial role in shaping public policies that support innovation.
So, if you’re an IEEE member thinking about attending a future CVD, I highly recommend it. Whether you’re meeting with Senators, Representatives, or their staff, your voice as an engineer matters. The record turnout this year shows that more of us are realizing that engaging with policymakers is not just worthwhile — it’s part of our responsibility as professionals.
I look forward to staying involved with IEEE-USA’s policy committees and hope to see even more Delaware members at next year’s CVD!
