Tips On Telephoning Your Elected Representatives
To find your senators' and
representative's phone numbers, you may use our
searchable
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.
After identifying
yourself, 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.___)."
You will also want to
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.
Tips On Writing
Congress
The letter is the most
popular choice of communication with a
congressional office. If you decide to write a
letter, this list of helpful suggestions will
improve the effectiveness of the
letter:
-
Your purpose for
writing should be stated in the first
paragraph of the letter. If your letter
pertains to a specific piece of legislation,
identify it accordingly, e.g., House bill: H.
R. ____, Senate bill: 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 (full
name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of)Senate Office
Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
To a
Representative:
The Honorable (full
name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of)House Office Building
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 Mr. Chairman or
Madam Chairwoman:
or Dear Mr.
Speaker:
Tips On E-mailing
Congress
Generally, the same
guidelines apply as with writing letters to
Congress. You may find and e-mail your senators and
representative directly from this Web
site.
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