Tips for Contacting Congress Help your legislator help you
Exercise your constituent rights! Let your elected officials
in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate know that you want them
to prioritize
fruits and vegetables in federal programs. Here’s how.
How a bill becomes federal law
See a simple
description or a
detailed
description of how a bill becomes law. It helps to understand where in
the lawmaking process your bill is before you communicate with your elected
officials.
How to identify your legislators
You are represented in the U.S. Congress by one representative and two senators.
To find out who your legislators are, visit the House
of Representatives and the Senate. Or, call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to
be transferred.
How to contact them
You have several options for contacting your legislators. If you are contacting
them on an urgent or time-sensitive matter – for example, a bill is
coming up for a vote – then choose a contact option from the top of
the list. If you are looking to build a long-term relationship, choose from
the bottom of the list.
Call: You will find office telephone numbers on their websites. Staff members
usually handle calls; ask to speak with the staff person who handles nutrition
issues. Request to leave a brief message for the legislator that states the
purpose of your call, and why the issue is important to you.
Email: You can email your legislators via contact forms found on their websites.
Write a letter: Be advised, mail to the U.S. Capitol
is delayed considerably due to security checks – so mail is not
a good method for contacting your officials about urgent matters.
Visit Washington, D.C.: If you’ll be traveling to the nation’s
capitol, be sure to take the opportunity to pay your legislators a call while
you are in town. It is best to make an appointment.
Visit your district office: Find out when your legislators will be visiting
your district, and schedule an appointment to meet at their district office.
Communications tips
However you choose to contact your officials, here are some general guidelines
to follow:
Be brief, to the point and courteous.
Address only one issue in each communication.
State your purpose immediately; tell them specifically
what you want, and why it is important to you personally. For example: “Please tell the
Senator/Representative that I would like his/her support for the USDA school
Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program, because it will help children in our state
eat more healthfully, and to help expand markets for my company’s healthy
foods at the same time.”
Ask your legislator’s position on the issue,
and the courtesy of a written reply.
Thank your legislator for supporting your request.
Include your full contact information, including mailing address, phone number
and email address. This is especially important when contacting your legislator
via email, so they can confirm you are in fact a constituent.
For government workers, a note of caution
If you work for federal, state or local government, you may be restricted from
advocacy and/or lobbying. Contact your agency ombudsman to find out what
the rules are where you work.
Adapted in part from materials first developed by United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable
Association
