- Know what is happening, be aware, stay up-to-date
- Contact your Representative or Senator for action
| Stay Up to Date |
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| Ways to Contact Your Legislator |
- Email or call your legislators. (See guidelines to the right)
- Make an appointment to visit your legislators in Washington DC or call their local offices for information on local townhall meetings.
- Utilize the services of the Legislative Action Center (a service of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance). This Action Center provides information and resources to support you. It is easy to join OCAN (Ovarian Cancer Action Network). This way you will automatically receive alerts, policy priorities, and advocacy tips when action is needed.
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| Guidelines For Contacting Your Member of Congress |
- Start with a letter addressed to your member of the U. S. House of Representatives or your
Senator. Fax or email the letter to your representative's Washington D.C. office. Snail
Mail is generally too slow. Legislators' websites can be found at www.house.gov or
www.senate.gov. If this information is not listed, you can call the main
Congressional switchboard at: 202-225-3121 or 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representative's
office to obtain the information. If you don't know who your member of Congress is, enter your zip code in the
space provided at www.house.gov, and your Representative's name will be
provided.
- Whether you fax or email your letter, be sure to follow up with a telephone call within 1-3 days. When
you call, ask to speak with the Legislative Assistant (L.A.) who is handling the legislation you are supporting. It is not important to address a formal letter or fax to the L.A.. Your letter should always be addressed to your member of Congress, unless you have a personal relationship with a staffer in the office. The letter will be flagged off to the appropriate staffer once received, and it can always be re-faxed or emailed once telephone contact is established with the L.A.
- If you know your member of Congress well, mention that when you speak to his/her staffer. Remember, even if this is the first time you have contacted your member of Congress, your comments are valued. You are a constituent who votes!!! Please keep in mind: Although your member of Congress will make the final decision about whether or not to take action, he/she will receive comments about the legislation from the L.A. you speak with---and will give consideration to that L.A.'s assessment.
- If you are told your member of Congress has already signed on to the bill you are calling about, thank the staff person and the member for their support and send a follow-up thank you note. Let them know their support was appreciated.
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