This handbook offers suggestions for action to protect the interests of vocational-technical education. Part 1, Advocacy, has four parts: why vocational-technical education professionals should get involved in the legislative process; guidelines for communicating with one's legislator through personal visits, letters/e-mail/faxes, telephone calls, fact sheets, and site visits; guidelines for presenting testimony; and suggestions for political action committees, coalitions, public information campaigns, and individual activities. Part 2, the Legislative Process, provides information about the makeup and workings of Congress. Topics include branches of government, membership, leadership, path of legislation, congressional players, and congressional staff. A glossary of legislative terms is provided. Part 3 discusses participation in the American Vocational Association's (AVA) public policy efforts and congressional resources. It presents information about the benefits of vocational-technical education for use in making one's case and typical questions about school-to-work and vocational education with answers. Appendixes contain the following: federal administration addresses; congressional leadership; committee rosters; state level decision makers; and telephone numbers and addresses of members of Congress. A supplement has the following contents: AVA 1997 legislative award recipients; status reports of relevant legislation; and three position papers: "Fiscal Year 1998 Funding Request"; "Connecting Education and Careers to Prepare America's Students for Success in the Global Workforce:" and "AVA Recommendations for the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act." (YLB)