Contacting Your SenatorWrite your representative:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Contact your senator:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfmYou do not simply have the right to contact your U.S. senators and representatives, you have the responsibility. They need to hear from you to know what is important to the people of the states they represent. This is especially important since their work requires them to spend much time away from the homes that they represent. Let them know what is important to you and your community. There are a few different ways in which you can contact your senators and representatives.
Visit in Person
It is possible to meet with a Congressman or his/her staff in person. If you feel that the point you must make would be more effective if you meet with your senator or representative in person, follow these tips:
• Plan ahead – your senators and representatives spend a great deal of time divided between home and Washington D.C. Be sure to make an appointment with his or secretary (and if you are planning a trip to Washington D.C., it can be fun to include a trip to the capitol!). Say what your purpose is, whom you represent, and how the issue you want to discuss relates to you.
• Power in numbers – if you have a group, be sure to choose just one person to be your spokesperson. Keep it simple.
• Be courteous – this means that you should be on time, be patient, and be courteous, even if you disagree with your senator or representative. Realize that Congressmen are busy, and there may be interruptions.
• Always be prepared – be sure to plan exactly what you want to say. Do not be afraid to rehearse your point. Bring along with you any materials that support your position or issue. Show the Congressman why this issue is important to not just you buy your state and the United States.
• Follow-up – bring with you to the meeting a letter that addresses all of your key points and leave it with the Congressman.Telephone
More likely than not, you will end up speaking with a staff member rather than the actual member of Congress. This is all right – Congressmen do not have time to personally address every single person who wishes to talk to them. When you call, ask to speak with the aide who handles environmental policy (or whatever it is you have called to comment upon).
If you do not know the exact number to call, call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask for the office of the senator or representative you would like to speak with.
Before calling, prepare a brief message – feel free to write it down and read it when on the phone, just to make sure you say exactly what you wish to. Tell the staff member with whom you speak to (for example) “Please tell Senator ________ that I oppose¬¬¬ ________ because ________."
To be sure that your important message has been heard, feel free to ask for a written response to your telephone call.
Letter
Letters are popular forms of contacting members of Congress. They are just as effective as calling, but less intimidating. To ensure that your letter is effective as possible, follow these suggestions:
• Be courteous, even if you disagree with the Congressman.
• Be sure to include your reason for the letter within the first paragraph. Also be sure to include the name of any legislation you may be writing in reference to.
• Keep your letter short and to the point (preferably one page or less), while making sure to include all the key information you can.
• Include only one issue per letter.
• Support your position with examples.
• Address your Congressmen properly, using the proper title and his or her full name. In the address, refer to him or her as “The Honorable ¬¬_______." In the body of the letter, you can include a simple salutation of "Dear Senator" or "Dear Representative."While letters are still the more excepted (and sometimes preferred) form of contacting Congressmen, e-mails are becoming more popular. You want to continue the same level of courteousness and brevity in an e-mail as you would have in a letter. For the most part, they are the same.
If you are writing to your Congressmen about an environmental issue that has to deal with waste, etc. using the Internet to send an electronic letter may be more effective than sending a paper letter.
Be sure to include in your e-mail:
• your name
• your address (including city, state, and zip code)
• your phone number* * *
It does not matter how it is that you contact your representatives or senators, just do it. And do not be afraid to tell them when they are doing a good job, as well. For instance, if you find that your representative pushed for better tax incentives for using solar power in businesses and homes, be sure to let him or her know how such an action can really benefit the people of your state and the United States.
Also, it is not just your representatives and senators that you can and should contact. Contact other state and local leaders, as well. Let them know what you and your neighbor’s think. Let them know about pressing environmental issues – sometimes the best and most effective actions are taken on a local level.
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