Tips for contacting members of Congress
Another friend’s recommendations about contacting members of Congress. (Copied and pasted with permission.)
Pro-tips for calling your MoCs, for those just now thinking of getting started:
- Have your MoCs' numbers in your phone. I have a DC & district office # for each, in case I have trouble getting through on one.
- As much as possible, call with an ask that's specific, immediate, & actionable, e.g. vote yes/no on this bill/nominee. It’s also worthwhile to call after an action to express thanks or disappointment.
- If you hate talking to strangers on the phone, call before 9 am & leave a voicemail.
- Or send a postcard, especially for thanks/disappointment, or when the time horizon is more like a week than RIGHT NOW. All the tips below apply to both media.
- Start by saying your name, that you're a constituent, & giving your town & ZIP, ± email or mailing address if you want a reply.
- Then state your ask clearly & succinctly ("I'm asking the senator to vote yes/no on _"; "I'm concerned about __"; "I want to thank the senator for... "). That's all you really need to say; if you're talking to a staffer, that may be all they let you say.
- If you want to say more, don't stress out about trying to find the perfect words. No matter how eloquent or bumbling your explanation of your position, a staffer is going to reduce it to a couple of words or a tally mark.
- YES, you should call Democratic MoCs. Don't assume that they'll do (what you consider) the right thing without support/pressure from their constituents! Since the 2024 election, many Democratic lawmakers are afraid & in appeasement mode, esp. when it comes to issues related to immigration, trans rights, & DEI.
- This doesn't have to be a big production! I make calls while making breakfast; I usually budget about 90 seconds for each voicemail.