Contacting Congress – Sending an Email

Basics of Sending an Email to Congress

• If possible, try to secure an email address of a particular staff member (the Health Legislative Aide or the District Office Director) and email him/her directly. The more targeted you can be, the better.
• All legislators have a website with comments/ communication form. While this is an easy way to communicate, it is less effective unless you are mobilizing a large number of people. Remember, legislators receive thousands of emails a week, so one individual email can get lost.

State Key Information in the Subject Line

• It is easy to delete emails, so you want to communicate the top points in your subject line.
• State that you are a constituent and reiterate the issue in the subject line (i.e., “Your constituent writing about _______ legislation”).

Keep Your Message Brief and to the Point

• Do not forget to include your name and address.
• Embed your message in the text. Attachments should be for background information, fact sheets or endorsements.

Finding Your Legislator’s Website and Email

• You can find your legislator’s email address by visiting either the House or Senate websites (www.house.gov or www.senate.gov) and searching for or selecting your legislator’s name.

Other Methods for Contacting Congress

• In Person – in person meetings are the most effective.
• Telephone Calls – Phone calls are very effective because they provide an opportunity to talk directly to the staff, which reinforces your relationship with the office.
• Letter Writing – Use letters primarily to accompany information packets, articles, etc. because postal mail arrives slowly to Capitol Hill offices.
• Fax – While an old school method, faxed letters can be effective as they are likely to be given to the legislative staff immediately.