Writing Congress

By alex marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm> Posted on 17.12.2009 Link to this action item: [0070]

Thanks also to Bennie Walton, lostjustice@comcast.net, the RSOL Colorado organizer, for sending this. ————————— COMMUNICATING WITH CONGRESS TIPS FOR WRITING CONGRESS Heightened security measures have dramatically increased the time it takes for a letter sent by post to reach a congressional office. More and more, citizens are using emails and faxes to communicate their concerns and increasingly elected officials’ offices prefer electronic communications for constituent contact. As a general rule, Members of c/Congress are far more likely to heed your message if you are one of their constituents. Purpose of Your Letter: State our purpose for writing in the first sentence of the letter. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it. And make sure that you are referencing the correct legislation to the correct body of Congress. House bills are H.R. ____: Senate bills are designated as S. ____. Be courteous. If appropriate, include personal information about why the issue matters to you. Address only one issue in each letter or e-mail. Addressing your Correspondence: To a Senator The Honorable (Full Name) United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator (Last Name): To a Representative The Honorable (Full Name) United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20510 Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. (Last Name): Note: When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper to address him/her as: Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman: Or Dear Madam Speaker: TIPS FOR PHONING CONGRESS Telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member. Ask to speak with the aid who handles the issue about which you wish to comment. After indentifying yourself as a constituent, tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as: “Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I support/oppose (S. ___/H.R. ___.”