Look through the list of links to posts on individual bills and issues before Congress. In each post, I’ll give you (1) the background information on the issue and (2) a script — when appropriate and necessary — to follow when calling.
After the list, you’ll find the usual sections that went with the posts:
- Tips for calling: Exactly what it sounds like, a list of things that you might not have thought or knew about, but you would wish you had after you called.
- In addition to calling: A list of other things you can do to influence your MoC and the public about the issues in the list.
- Contacting your MoC: A list of links that will lead you to everything you need to know to contact your MoC, phone numbers, addresses, email addresses, and social media accounts. There are a few other things in the list, too, like a link to Five Calls and the phone numbers to Nancy Pelosi’s and Mitch McConnell’s offices as well as the phone number for the White House and Congressional switchboards.
- A link to Indivisible: Indivisible doesn’t really fit anywhere on this list, but they have information about (a) groups to join, (b) actions to take, (c) ways of influencing your MoC, and (d) information about bills and issues before Congress, so I thought I’d throw it in too. Kinda like a bonus.
Call Your MoC About
- Sorting Out the #COVID19 Relief Bill Mess (posted on 20 December 2020)
- Tweet Mitch McConnell about the Bipartisan #COVID19 Relief Bill — UPDATED (Posted on 10 December 2020 — UPDATED on 19 December 2020)
- Call Your MoC about a #COVID19 Relief Bill (posted on 2 December 2020)
- Protect Our Democracy: Contact the Michigan State Legislative Leaders (posted on 20 November 2020)
- Contact the Administrator of GSA and Tell Her to Begin the Transition (posted on 11 November 2020)
- #RBG’s SCOTUS Replacement (posted on 22 September 2020)
- The Post Office Monkey Shines of the Trump Regime (posted on 15 August 2020)
- The Coronavirus Relief Package (posted on 20 July 2020)
- Stopping the Federal Police Agencies in Portland (posted on 19 July 2020)
- The HEROES Act (posted on 10 July 2020)
Tips for Calling
When you call your representative’s office, please remember the following:
- Only contact YOUR MoC! They only listen to their constituents and dismiss requests from non-constituents.Ask for the aide working on the policy-related issues.
- Be polite! No matter whose office you’re calling. No matter what their positions are. No matter how inflamed you are about the issue — and you should be very passionate — be polite.
- Remember that the people you are talking to are people! So, be nice.
- Call during business hours of the area code their office is in. Typically, that is 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Have a script or notes to follow so you don’t forget anything.
- Maybe call with friends. You know like a party.
In Addition to Calling
I’ve heard back from readers that some MoC’s voice mail boxes are always full! It’s as if they don’t want to hear from their constituents. Kinda like those MoC’s who don’t hold town halls or other open forum meetings. Here are some other ways to contact your MoC:
- Send a postcard to their office. Nothing says I care like kicking it old school and using snail mail.
- Email their office. Lay out your concerns in a brief email and send it in. We all know how easy it is to email. Make sure you include the issue you are addressing in the subject line.
- Use the contact page on their website. This is the surest way of getting a message to them. Each MoC has an official government website and each has a contact page that comes with it automatically.
- Contact them using social media. It’s hard to break through all the noise on social media, but it can’t hurt to try given all the time we all spend using it. Be sure to tag your MoC’s when social mediaing about about a specific issue. Be clear and respectful, though, when addressing an issue that you want your MoC to act upon. Make sure you let them know you are a constituent.
Contacting Your MoC
Find out how to contact your MoC using these links!
- Common Cause will give you the names, party affiliation, direct phone number, website link, and social media platforms of all of your federal, state, and local elected officials.
- GovTrack is a comprehensive site of federal and state legislation.
- USA.gov is the official guide to information and services of the US government. This page explains clearly how to contact everyone from the Ol’ Pussy Grabber to your representative to specific government agencies. Through it you can find the following information about your MoC’s:
- Their phone numbers: DC and state offices
- Their mailing addresses both in DC and their state offices
- Official website with their contact page including email, request a meeting, town hall schedules, and social media
- And, the committees they sit on
- 5 Calls: Sign-up for 5 Calls because they help you contact your member of Congress and keep you abreast of on going issues that are important to you! Now, that is a good deal.
- The Capital Hill Switch Board: (202) 224-3121.
- MassacreMitch and #MoscowMitch: His DC office, (202) 224-2541.
- Nancy Pelosi: Her DC office, (202) 225-4965; her California office, (415) 556-4862
- The Ol’ Pussy Grabber: The WH switchboard, (202) 456-1414 or the comments line at (202) 456-1111 during business hours
Join Indivisible
Follow the link to Indivisible to find a group near you, their campaigns, events in your neighborhood, and download their handy-dandy booklet!
