Write Your Legislator
Be an advocate for children by writing your legislator, contacting an agency or department, submitting a letter to the editor of a publication, or researching an upcoming election with these tools:
Elected officials guide
Find elected officials, including the president, members of Congress, governors, state legislators, local officials, and more.
Tips for communicating with elected officials
Telephoning your elected representatives
Find your senators' and representative's phone numbers through the online congressional directory or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your senators' and/or representative's office.
- Remember that telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member, not the member of Congress. Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment.
- Identify yourself and where you're from.
- 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.___)."
- State reasons for your support or opposition to the bill. Ask for your senators' or representative's position on the bill. You may also request a written response to your telephone call.
- Thank the aide for his/her time and attention.
Writing Congress
The letter is the most popular choice of communication with a congressional office. The following suggestions will improve the effectiveness of the letter:
- State your purpose for writing the letter in the first paragraph. If your letter addresses a specific bill, identify it accordingly, e.g., : H. R. ____, or : S.____.
- Be courteous, to the point, and include key information, using examples to support your position.
- Address only one issue in each letter and, if possible, keep the letter to one page.
Addressing correspondence to a Senator
The Honorable John Doe
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
Addressing correspondence to a Representative
The Honorable Jane Doe
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
Note: When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper to address them as:
- Dear Chairman Doe or Chairwoman Doe:
- Dear Speaker Doe:
E-mailing Congress
Generally, the same guidelines that apply to writing letters to Congress also apply to e-mail. You may identify and e-mail your senators and representative directly from this web site.
Agency/department search
For contact information for a department or agency, select the department and click “GO.” Any agencies that are within that department will be listed on the following page.
Current legislation and public policy issues
Media contact information
Find national and local media and submit letters to the editor.
|
