Write letters & emails & call

Email Campaigns.   All members of Congress maintain email addresses and websites to communicate with their constituents. Most congressional offices will respond to email from constituents better than they respond to snail mail. 

When writing to your legislator, it is essential to include your name, street address, city, state and ZIP (very important). Also include your email address, and phone number, preferably at the top of the message.  The email should still be in professional letter format.  Your representative will first verify that you live within his or her Congressional district to determine whether it is appropriate to respond. If you fail to include your contact information, your representative will not respond.

Many not-for-profit groups allow you to send a form email to your senators and congressional representatives. While most offices read every message they receive whether a standard form or customized, know that personalized, individualized messages receive the most attention.

Write Letters!  Letter campaigns are effective depending on your timing.   Write Letters to the their respective committee.  But do not expect a quick response.  Letters must be logged, and have to go through a security protocol.  It could be 6 weeks before they even get your letter and by then, the vote may have already happened. 

The letter should be in professional letter format.  When writing to your legislator, it is essential to include your name, street address, city, state and ZIP (very important); while the envelope should have been kept with the letter, that isn't necessarily true. Also include your email address, and phone number, preferably at the top of the message.   

Congress listens when enough people speak. Make your voice heard persistently. Demand accountability, transparency, and policy change.

See a sample letter, and follow these helpful suggestions to improve the effectiveness of letters to policymakers:

(1) Identify the purpose upfront – The purpose for writing the letter should be in the first paragraph. If the letter pertains to a specific bill, identify it accordingly, i.e. House Bill H.R. ________, Senate Bill S. ___(name of bill)____.

(2) Be polite and specific – Be courteous, to the point, and include key information, using examples to support the stated position.

(3) Be concise – Address only one issue in each letter, and if possible, keep the letter to one page. A short letter addressing a single issue allows the staff to process the letter and respond effectively. This also eases their job of tracking the numbers of constituents writing in on specific issues.

(4) Contact the appropriate policymaker – Write to your state representatives about the state issues, and to your federal representatives about federal issues. USING 5 CALLS CAN HELP WITH THIS. 

Address Correspondence

In all correspondence, avoid the words “congressman” or congresswoman.” “Representative,” “Senator,” and “Member of Congress” are the preferred titles because they are gender neutral.

Make Phone Calls. Call Everyday.  

Don't let up.  Tell them how you feel about these topics, and let them know you will vote them out, or, if what they are doing constitutes an official complaint, let them know you are filing Ethics Complaints if they don't start following the will of the people.  When you call, in order for it to be logged they will ask for your contact information.  If you aren't fully comfortable giving all your information, at least leave them your City, State and Zip Code.  The Zip Code is probably the most important part. 

Congress listens when enough people speak. Make your voice heard persistently. Demand accountability, transparency, and policy change.  Why do think MJT is not running for Senate.  She's been hearing from people, and she knows she will not win.