I headed to Washington DC this week for my first experience in lobbying congress. I was selected by NAEVR as one of 22 “Emerging Vision Scientists” from around the country to represent early-career researchers to present our research on Capitol Hill and promote funding for the NIH. I had forgotten how much farther IAD was than DCA, so I didn’t get to my hotel until past midnight, after a $50 Uber ride. On Thursday, I took advantage of free time in the morning to do my Global Entry interview at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The 5-minute interview was a breeze, and I had enough time to join some friends for the overpriced hotel breakfast buffet. In the afternoon, we attended a presentation as part of AMD awareness week, then joined the organizers of the event for a preparatory luncheon. In the evening, we presented our research posters at a congressional reception, where we interfaced with representatives from congress, the NEI, and RPB. I stayed up late catching up with an old lab-mate over takeout at his house, which made for a rough early morning on Thursday. I was first scheduled with Doris Matsui herself, but only got to meet with her aide when the Congresswoman was stuck on the house floor. In between my House and Senate visits, I navigated the underground tunnels, checked out the cafeteria, and got a souvenir coin from the Capitol gift shop. I also passed the Supreme Court, and checked my email at the Library of Congress. I joined the UCSD delegation to meet staffers from Senator Boxer’s office, but had to leave to catch my flight before Senator Feinstein’s office meetings. Although visiting these three offices was like preaching to the choir, I was nevertheless deeply inspired by the democratic process and the ability as a constituent to visit our representatives’ offices to voice our opinion.