There are numerous issues pending before Congress: reauthorization of the farm bill and water resources development act, possible repeat attempts to legislate changes to the Endangered Species Act and potential policies to encourage greater energy efficiency. In the Executive Branch, opportunities to provide public comment abound, including regulatory initiatives outlining federal protection objectives for oceans and public lands and federal agency scientific integrity guidelines. This hands-on session will provide participants with an overview of national-level opportunities to participate in public policy, from weighing in on congressional legislation to providing input during public comment periods on federal regulations. It will provide the ‘who’, ‘what’, and ‘when’ of participating in public policy. Several mini-lectures will be capped by mock congressional meetings to give workshop participants an opportunity to test their communication skills. Organizers will provide session participants with a copy of ESA’s policy handbook, An Ecologist’s Guidebook to Policy Engagement.