Take Action: Influencing Legislatrion

Action Tools - Influencing Legislation

Lobbying Tips

Find Your Member of Congress
Make an Appointment to Visit Your Elected Officials
Write Letters
Send Letters
Critical Committees

1. Find Your Member of Congress

To find your Member of Congress, call the congessional switchboard or visit the following websites to locate contact information. You can also find local district contact information in the government pages of your phone book.

> Congressional Switchboard is 202-225-3121

You can find a representative's email address by visiting the locations below.

> Governors: Senators:http://www.firstgov.gov/Contact/Governors.shtml

> Representatives: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html

> Senators: http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm

2. Make an Appointment to Visit Your Elected Officials

You may wish to visit Representatives at her or his local district office while congress is not in session

To make an appointment with your local district office, look up the number in the government pages of your local phone book. Some Members of Congress have more than one district office. In this case, choose the office that is most convenient for you to visit.

When you call to make an appointment, ask for the appointment scheduler. If your Member of Congress is unavailable, ask to meet with the legislative aide who works on foreign affairs. If the office asks for a request in writing, you may wish to send a fax.

Visiting your representative in Washington, D.C.

If you are in the Capitol area, you may also wish to make an appointment to visit with your Member of Congress in their Washington, D.C. office. When you call the Washington, D.C. office to make an appointment, ask for the appointment scheduler. If your Member of Congress is unavailable, ask to meet with the legislative aide who works on foreign affairs. If the office asks for a request in writing, you may wish to send a fax.

3. Writing Letters

Letters to elected officials are always best written by hand and sent by regular mail. It is best to begin your letter on a positive note, for example thanking your elected official for past support or something they have done. A short letter is much more effective than a long letter. No more than one page is the most effective. Mention specifically what you want your Member of Congress to do and tell them why this is important to YOU. If your letter concerns a bill, tell them which bill by number and name and how you want them to vote.

Many of the action alerts on this site contain sample letters with talking points for you to personalize and send. Letters to politicians and officials are most effectively written in plain language reflecting that a particular issue represents a lot of votes. Be sure to write a follow-up letter expressing congratulations when your elected official has responded as you wanted. You should also write a follow-up letter expressing alert or concern when your elected official does not respond or act as you wanted.

4. Sending Letters

You may send a letter to a Member of Congress at:

The Honorable (Your Senator's full name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable (Your Representative's full name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510

5. Critical Committees

> House Armed Services Committee
2120 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Tel: (202) 225-4151
http://armedservices.house.gov/

> House International Relations Committee
2170 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 USA
Tel: (202) 225-5021
http://wwwa.house.gov/international_relations/
Email: HIRC@mail.house.gov

> Senate Armed Services Committee
228 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Tel: (202) 224-3871
http://armed-services.senate.gov/index.htm

> Senate Foreign Relations Committee
439 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
Majority Phone: (202) 224-4651
Minority Phone: (202) 224-3953
Fax: (202) 224-3612
http://foreign.senate.gov/
Email: senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov

Take Action

Action Tools - Influencing Legislation