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Write to your Congressman
Most people write to their Congressman to express their opinion
about a political issue or an upcoming vote in Congress, or to ask
for help in dealing with a federal government problem. You can also
write and invite your Congressman to attend an event in your
community, to request a flag that's flown over the Capitol, to get
congratulatory greetings for a friend or relative, or to get help
with an appointment to one of the service academies.
If you're writing to express your opinion on an issue, it's
helpful to keep your letter short and to the point. It is best to
limit yourself to writing about one issue at a time. Letters that
cover four or five issues tend to wander and can be hard to read,
and are less likely to catch the attention of your Congressman or
his staff. And because your Congressman receives hundreds of letters
a day -- sometimes thousands of letters a day -- a short letter is
much likelier to be read than a long letter.
Use your own words in writing a letter. Using your own words is
much more effective than echoing an argument you've read somewhere
else. Use common, conversational language, like you'd use in talking
to a friend. And don't engage in insults or partisan name-calling,
because there's enough of that in Washington to go around as it is.
Don't feel as though you have to understand all of the
legislative process before you write. There's no need to include,
for example, the number of a specific bill that you're writing about
if you don't know what it is. However, if you're writing to ask your
Congressman to take a specific legislative action -- like voting a
bill out of committee or co-sponsoring a new bill -- you might want
to check and see whether or not he's already done what you've asked
him to. The Library
of Congress has a service called THOMAS that allows you to check
on the status of any bill, or to see how your Congressman voted on a
past bill.
If you're writing for help with an issue, it's important that you
explain your situation in detail. Your Congressman will more than
likely copy your letter and send it to the agency with which you're
experiencing difficulty, so it's important that you mention all the
facts. If you have previous letters from the agency, or other
important paperwork, like military or medical records, it's
important to send copies with your letter. However, don't send
originals of such important documents.
If you're writing about a Social Security problem, a military
problem, Medicare or Medicaid benefits, include your Social Security
number. If you're writing about a tax problem, include either your
Social Security number or your tax identification number, if it's a
business tax issue. If you're writing about an immigration problem,
include your alien registration number. If you're having trouble
with the Veterans Administration, include your VA number, and if you
need old Army or Navy records, include your old service number.
Including these important pieces of information helps speed your
inquiry.
In the first paragraph of your letter, be sure to state what you
want to have happen. Your Congressman will be more than happy to
help you solve your problem with a federal agency, but in order to
proceed, it's important that your request be clearly stated. No
matter what kind of help you want -- a transfer to another military
post, a visa for a relative overseas, a correction of an IRS mistake
on your income tax -- be sure to spell out exactly what it is you
are asking your Congressman to do.
The Privacy Act of 1974 requires that your Congressman get your
written permission before contacting a federal agency on your
behalf. Therefore, it's important that you sign your letter. This
gives your Congressman the permission to help you. If you're writing
to help a friend or relative, they must also provide their
signature, as well. This applies even if they're overseas, or ill,
or elderly. You can ask your Congressman for a "privacy
form" which the person you're writing about can sign.
If you have concerns about an issue before your state
legislature, or are having difficulties with an independent state
agency, write your state representative or your state senator. Your
Congressman likely will not be able to help you with an issue
involving your state government. Also, your Congressman cannot
represent you in court and cannot intervene in a legal matter on
your behalf. If you need legal assistance, you must contact a
lawyer.
Here are some general do's and don'ts when writing your
Congressman:
DON'T send mail to a Congressman who doesn't represent your
district or your home state. The exception to this would be sending
mail to a Congressman who's a member of a key legislative committee
that's considering a bill you're interested in.
DON'T write your letters in longhand if at all possible. Typed
letters are much easier to read.
DO put your name and address on both the envelope and the letter.
If the envelope gets lost, and your address doesn't appear in the
letter, you probably won't get a response. Also, include your
telephone number in case a staff member needs to contact you.
DON'T use paper other than standard white paper, 8 ½" by
11". Also, don't put lots of clips and staples in your letter.
If you must send a lot of documents, use a binder clip and remove
any staples. Everything you send -- especially if you're asking for
assistance -- may go through a copier. Colored paper doesn't copy
well, and non-standard paper or paper with lots of staples may get
mangled.
DO be positive in presenting your ideas or in asking for
assistance. You're much more likely to be heard if you use positive,
friendly language rather than rancor or abuse.
DON'T be afraid to speak out on important issues. Your
Congressman values your opinion! Also, if you run into trouble with
a government agency, don't be afraid to contact your Congressman.
Congressmen help thousands of people each year with problems just
like yours.
DO visit your Congressman's web page if you'd rather send e-mail.
Offices handle e-mail differently; some have a standard address,
others will have you use a form, and others don't even have e-mail.
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