Press Center

ACOEM Partners with Van Scoyoc Associates for Advocacy Efforts

10/02/2025
Van Scoyoc Associates is a leading bipartisan government relations firm with more than 50 policy experts and over 30 years of successful advocacy. The firm is consistently ranked among Washington, D.C.’s top 10 independent lobbying firms and has been recognized by:
  • Bloomberg Government for the highest client retention rate among top lobbying firms.
  • The Hill for having three of the Top 100 Lobbyists in the nation.
  • Extensive relationships across every House and Senate personal office, House and Senate Committee office, and all Cabinet-level independent federal agencies.
 
Specifically, Katie Vanlandingham, Associate Vice President, will be ACOEM’s lead point of contact. With more than 20 years of experience in federal funding and healthcare policy, Katie brings extensive expertise and a proven record of success. 
 
Katie has long championed increased funding for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and its Education and Research Centers (ERCs) – efforts that have helped secure a $28 million funding increase for NIOSH, including more than $5 million for ERCs over the past decade. She currently represents the Association of University Programs in Occupational Health and Safety (AUPOHS) and has previously represented the National Safety Council.
 
Her background includes service as a Congressional staffer and as a government affairs consultant, giving her a strong understanding of both policy development and federal appropriations. Katie has extensive experience working with non-profit organizations and has a notable track record in helping clients secure federal funding and achieve their federal objectives. She has also successfully planned and executed numerous annual Washington advocacy trips for clients, including one that has led to the creation of a national coalition and consistent increase in Federal research funding.
 
Van Scoyoc Associates and Katie will support ACOEM in implementing our legislative agenda through activities including:
  • Identifying and securing Congressional champions for ACOEM priorities.
  • Scheduling and staffing meetings with Congressional champions, their staff, and key Appropriations and authorizing committees, as well as Executive Branch officials, ensuring ACOEM members attending meetings are well prepared, and conducting any necessary follow up.
  • Drafting and submitting any legislative and report language to Congressional champions and appropriate committee and subcommittee members and their staff to correspond with ACOEM’s legislative and policy objectives, including submitting annual appropriations forms to Congressional offices.
  • Developing position papers, talking points, and other materials for use to discuss requests with members of Congress, their staff, the relevant committee and subcommittee staff, and agency personnel.
  • Drafting correspondence, including the annual Dear Colleague letter supporting NIOSH funding.
  • Attending Congressional briefings and hearings and reporting on issues relevant to ACOEM priorities.
  • Creating opportunities for ACOEM to participate in the legislative and regulatory process, including providing testimony at legislative hearings and identifying opportunities for ACOEM members to serve on federal advisory committees.
  • Drafting responses to proposed regulations, administrative rules and requests for comments by various Federal agencies.
  • Tracking legislation, monitoring progress of relevant appropriations and authorizing legislation and ensure ACOEM priorities are included in those vehicles.
  • Collaborating with existing organizations and efforts to leverage relationships and influence legislative outcomes that would impact ACOEM’s policy agenda and professional interests. This includes engaging with like-minded organizations to develop unified messaging and collaborate on shared goals (i.e., AIHA, the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) and the Association of University Programs in Occupational Health and Safety (AUPOHS)). 
While Katie will serve as our primary liaison, ACOEM will also benefit from the full expertise and network of Van Scoyoc Associates. We look forward to this partnership and are confident it will strengthen our advocacy efforts and enhance ACOEM’s impact on federal policies supporting occupational and environmental medicine.