HOW TO TALK TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES Page 1: How to speak to your representatives Page 2: Contact info sheet Page 3: Additional reading / resources
Step 1: Find their phone numbers and add them to your phone’s contacts. This has the benefit of encouraging you to actually call often, and calling by phone is the best way to actually get a message to them personally. Emails get auto-filtered and tweets are not checked very often except to delete offensive ones. A separate page is included to write this information down on. Find the numbers for: The President The Vice President Federal Senators: (202+22+extension listed) https://www.senate.gov/general/resources/pdf/senators_phone_list.pdf Federal House Representatives: http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/mcapdir.aspx State Governor: (names may be outdated, #’s should still be good) https://people.smu.edu/rhalperi/governors.html State Senators and House Representatives: https://www.congress.gov/statelegislature-websites Step 2: Plan out what you want to say. It is recommended to call about one issue at a time. Make each call somewhat unique to the person you are calling – don’t use the exact same call script every single time. First, tell them your name, and whether you live in their district. (If you don’t it is less likely your call will be paid attention to). They may ask for your zip code to confirm it. Second, tell them what issue you are calling about and whether or not they should support it. Be as specific as possible (“I’m calling about Senate Bill 304” for example.) Third, elaborate on your opinions. This is your chance to speak your mind. o DON’T go crazy here. The last thing you want is for your opinion to be discounted because you don’t understand soft skills. The person answering the phone is likely some underpaid worker anyway, they do not deserve to be screamed at. o DO NOT USE PROFANITY OR INSULTS. This shouldn’t have to be said. o Research your opinions first so you appear to be well-informed. o And don’t get off on tangents. Stick to the reason you called. o It’s okay to tell stories about how you are personally affected by the issue, but don’t ramble. Fourth, ask what the representative’s position is on this issue. If they say the person hasn’t made a decision yet, ask for a call when they do (so you can put the pressure back on before it’s time to vote on it). Fifth, thank them for their time and consideration. You can call back in a week or two, but give them time to forget who you are first.
Name
Phone
Email/Other
Committees/Etc.
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES Donald Trump
202-456-1111
@RealDonaldTrump @POTUS @WhiteHouse
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES Mike Pence
202-224-2424
@mike_pence
President of US Senate
YOUR FEDERAL SENATORS
YOUR FEDERAL HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE
YOUR STATE GOVERNOR
YOUR STATE SENATORS
YOUR STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, READINGS, CALL SCRIPTS, ETC. How to call your Representatives, and what happens on their end when you do (including a PDF of an actual call report they receive from their staffers): http://borgenproject.org/call-congress/ How to call your Reps when you have social anxiety: http://echothroughthefog.cordeliadillon.com/post/153393286626/how-to-call-your-repswhen-you-have-social-anxiety How to effectively talk to your member of Congress (from a former Congressional staffer): https://storify.com/editoremilye/i-worked-for-congress-for-six-years What to say (or write) to your Senator & Representative: https://txpce.com/please-do-these-lessons-learn-how-to-pass-school-choice/grassrootslesson-2/ What you need to know if you want to call your Representative about Trump: https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/what-you-need-to-know-if-you-want-to-call-yourrepresentative-about-trump What to write or say on the phone to your Representatives: http://www.nss.org/legislative/congress.htm Here’s why you should call, not email, your legislators: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/22/us/politics/heres-why-you-should-call-not-emailyour-legislators.html?_r=0 What Really Happens When You Call? http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/10/91524/Tips for Contacting Your Legislators to Support or Oppose a Bill: http://thearcca.org/policy/support_oppose.pdf Tips for Communicating with Legislators: http://www.civilwar.org/take-action/speak-out/activist-toolbox/tips-for-communicatingwith-legislators.html What to say to your legislators: http://ilsinglepayer.org/what-say-your-legislators How to know what’s happening in Congress: https://www.govtrack.us/ (Formerly OpenCongress) https://www.govtrack.us/events/coming-up <-- Track what’s going to be voted on Learning how to stay informed on bills in Congress: https://lib.law.washington.edu/content/guides/FedBillTrack (further links inside)