How to Call Your Congressperson's Office

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Find out your local Congresspeople.

   If you need to, check at a site like http://www.whoismyrepresentative.com/.
   
   Find out who your 2 Senators are, as well as your Representative in the House of Representatives.
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   Step 2: Call during business hours.

   This is usually between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, local time. , A simple hello and greeting sets the stage for a productive, meaningful conversation. , Say "I know you are busy taking calls, but I would like to have my concern/messaged passed along to Representative X/Senator X." Introduce yourself.
   
   Give your full name, say you are a constituent of Representative X or Senator X.
   
   Tell them where you live and give your zip code. , For example: "I was delighted to hear that Senator X co-sponsored legislation for research for Type 1 Diabetes." "I am pleased to see Representative X voted in favor of House Bill X on X"
   
   Don't focus on too many issues at once; just shoot for 1-2.
   
   Provide your own personal experience on how the issue effects you, your family, your friends, your community, etc.
   
   For example, "Because of the Affordable Care Act, when I was diagnosed with cancer at age 25, I was able to get the best treatment possible and afford it because I was still under my parents plan."
   
   For example, don't say, "The Representative/Senator is an a** h*le." Instead, say "I was really displeased and surprised in their vote on issue X."
   
   Sometimes the person on the other line might have a rebuttal or want to clarify a position that the Representative/Senator has said or done.
   
   Let them speak and thank them for that. , Say a polite goodbye and hang up.
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   Step 3: Greet them with a friendly hello and ask how they are doing.

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   Step 4: Thank them for taking your call.

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   Step 5: Find something positive to say about what the Senator or Representative has done recently.

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   Step 6: Bring up your issues for the reason your are calling.

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   Step 7: Stay calm and use respectful language.

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   Step 8: Listen to the response

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   Step 9: and be polite about it.

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    Step 10: Tell them respectfully you will be continuing to watch how the Senator/Congressperson acts/votes/etc in the upcoming weeks.

Detailed Guide

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