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Contact Congress

Make your voice heard. Posting to your congressperson’s social media account is an easy way to make your voice heard. They are identified below.

It just takes a few minutes to let your Congressperson know how you feel.

Not sure who represents you in Congress?

Look them up here. https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/addr/

Can one person’s voice make a difference?

Absolutely YES

Be sure to contact the person representing you and your state. There are easy-to-use tools to help identify that person (see below).

When you call, your message is logged and relayed to your senator and the staffers in their office crafting policy. Every single call helps your senator know how much of a priority this issue is for their constituents. It’s all about building pressure, and calls are one of the most efficient ways to do so.

https://act.represent.us/sign/does-calling-congress-really-work

“Every House member, every Senate senator is waking up every morning thinking, ‘How am I going to get reelected?’” Levin said. “And that gives constituents, particularly organized groups of constituents, a fair amount of power.”

https://www.kqed.org/news/11967439/how-can-i-call-my-representative-a-step-by-step-guide-to-the-process

Keep in mind the congressional staff collects voter feedback and summarizes it for the member so your communication can be brief.

How to Influence Congress

Learn the Best Way to Communicate
Reach out to staffers or to a member of Congress to find out the best way to communicate with them. Different congressional offices weigh messages differently. (202) 224-3121 is the Capital switchboard and they can direct the call straight to your representative’s office.
Send Effective Messages
When reaching out to a member of Congress, make sure to identify yourself, state the issue you are advocating and explain how it relates to the community. The Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University polled 3,000 congressional staffers about which activities have the biggest influence on members of Congress. They considered “providing consistently reliable information” and “presenting a concise argument” to be the two most effective actions when lobbying or advocating for an issue.
Use Social Media
The Congressional Management Foundation, an organization dedicated to figuring out the inner workings of Congress, says “social media is often the most effective way to reach members of Congress online.” Twitter was found to be the most used social media platform of congressional offices, but the usage of and the impact varies from member to member. Here is an older study on the effectiveness of Social media on Congress. https://www.congressfoundation.org/projects/communicating-with-congress/social-congress-2011
Respect Congressional Staffers
It is important to treat congressional staffers with respect. They hold a great amount of leverage and often act as gatekeepers to certain members of Congress. Staffers can be the greatest ally a constituent can have in Washington and can help mold certain inquiries.
Show Up in Person
Calling, messaging, and tweeting are certainly impactful and convenient ways on how to influence Congress, but showing up in person at town halls and public events is the most powerful way to reach members of Congress. Make sure to bring talking points and questions. Bring friends if possible; large numbers have large voices. Get there early and connect with staffers, as most town halls are staffed by senior-level state staffers. Many constituents assume that only D.C. staffers can influence policy-making decisions, but getting to know the state players is a key part of advocacy.

How to Write a Letter or Email

Stand out among the hundreds of letters and emails that flood the mailboxes of congresspeople each day.

Handwritten letters always receive more attention than preprinted materials. So if you are writing about a general inquiry or topic, taking the extra time to send a physical letter may be worth it.

That said, consider the urgency of the matter. If you are writing concerning a pending vote, email is your best option as security screenings may delay receipt of a physical letter by up to three weeks.

What happens to emails and letters once they arrive? A legislative correspondent reads the messages and verifies if the sender is a constituent. Messages are then routed or tallied:

Important or compelling correspondence is given to a legislative assistant.
Unique and moving messages are shared with the member of Congress.
A summary of emails and letters received is given at an issue briefing before a vote.