SWE - Spring 2009 - (Page 64)

CAREER TOOLBOX Communicating with Congress General information on how you, as a private citizen, can effectively convey your views to members of Congress. BY MELISSA CARL, SWE WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVE P rivate citizens often do not know how to best communicate with their senators or congressional representatives, and the various congressional staff roles are even less understood. With this in mind, some useful information follows. Please note that this is general information for private citizens. If expressly authorized by the president or executive director, a SWE member may represent the Society, presenting or explaining approved SWE statements or positions. Without this authorization, any statement by a member must be identified as providing a personal viewpoint. Of course, any partisan political activity by any member must be done as an individual, private citizen, and must not involve SWE directly or indirectly. basis, and it is very important to send your e-mail in such a way that it doesn’t get lost in the masses. Use the same guidelines as if you were writing a letter. The following list of suggestions will help improve the effectiveness of your e-mail: M Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the e-mail. If your e-mail pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly, e.g., House bill: H.R. , Senate bill: S M Be courteous, to the point, and include key information, using examples to support your position. M Address only one issue per e-mail, and keep your message concise. M As a security measure, attachments are not allowed on Write Your Representative messages. Tips on telephoning your representatives To find your representative’s phone number, visit the Web sites of the House and Senate, respectively (http:// www.house.gov and http://www.senate.gov), or you can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your senator’s and/or representative’s office. Remember that a staff member, not the member of Congress, often takes telephone calls. Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue you wish to comment upon. After identifying yourself as a constituent, tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as: “Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I support/ oppose (S /H.R ).” You will also want to state reasons for your support or opposition to the bill. Ask for your senator’s or representative’s position on the bill. You may also request a written response to your telephone call. Tips on writing Congress The letter is still a popular choice of communication with a congressional office. Due to the increased security screening of congressional mail implemented after Sept. 11, 2001, however, regular mail delivery to your congressional representative’s office can take several weeks. If you decide to write a letter, the best delivery method is via fax with a cover letter to the staff person who handles the particular issue. Addressing correspondence The protocol for addressing letters is: TO A SENATOR: The Honorable (full name) __(Rm.#)__(name of) Senate Office Building United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 The salutation is Dear Senator: TO A REPRESENTATIVE: The Honorable (full name) __(Rm.#)__(name of) House Office Building United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 The proper salutation is Dear Representative: Please note that when writing to the chair of a committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper to address them as: Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman: or Dear Madam Speaker. I Tips on e-mailing Congress All members of Congress have now accepted e-mail as a communication tool. It is quickly becoming the preferred way for constituents to communicate with their representatives in Congress. You may find and e-mail your representatives directly from the Write Your Representative page on the House of Representatives Web site, which can be found at: http://www.house.gov/writerep/ Most members of Congress will not accept e-mail messages from constituents outside their congressional districts. Congressional courtesy dictates that representatives be given the opportunity to assist their own constituents. The offices receive thousands of e-mails on a daily 64 SWE SPRING 2009 http://www.house.gov http://www.house.gov http://www.senate.gov http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SWE - Spring 2009

SWE - Spring 2009 Heritage Club Contents President's Note View from the Executive Suite Editor’s Page Honoring Women’s History Public Policy Update First Lady: The “Second-Hardest Job in America” Bringing Science and Engineering into Public Policy At the Intersection of Engineering and Public Policy From Research to Reality Coffee Table Dialogues Membership Information & Calendar A&B Winning Essays from the Lava Lounge Engineering World: Issues • Events • Technology • People Point of View: Your Role in Public Policy Career Toolbox: Communicating with Congress; Finding Your Voice Corporate Partnership Council Media Shelf: Women’s History Opportunity Index SWE Scrapbook: Dressed for Success

SWE - Spring 2009

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