How to contact your elected official

Find your Legislators

In Federal Government

Each state has a delegation to the federal Congress with two senators who serve in the Senate and representatives to the House of Representatives (the number varies for each state based on population). There are additional members of congress representing the various territories and districts. Click here to find your state’s Senators and click here to find your state's (including District or territory) Representatives in the House.

In State Government

Each state has a state legislature, general assembly, legislative assembly, or general court that usually consists of an upper and lower house.  These houses may be called a senate and house of representatives, mirroring the Federal system or have a different name.  Federal district and territories also have a legislative body. The easiest way to find your legislator in state government is to go to the state’s website, usually https://www.congress.gov/state-legislature-websites, and then search for the legislature webpage where you will be able to find your representatives.  

Contact your Legislators by Email

You can write to your representative by email to request their support for legislation and request a meeting. Below is some suggested text to request a meeting about a Bill under consideration and to talk with them about an issue.

Draft meeting request for Senate office to fully fund the Kay Hagan Tick Act and meet to discuss it:

My name is [insert name here]. I am a member of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and an entomologist at [insert professional affiliation here]. I’m writing to request a meeting during the week of August 17 with [insert name of Senator/Member of Congress] or a member of the staff to ask them to support fully funding the Kay Hagan Tick Act and explain why addressing vector-borne disease is important for the health and well-being of the citizens of [insert state]. Thank you for your attention, I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

[insert name here]

Draft meeting request for Senate/House office to support legislation and meet to discuss:

My name is [insert name here]. I am a member of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and an entomologist at [insert professional affiliation here]. I’m writing to request a meeting during the week of [insert date] with [insert name of Senator/Member of Congress] or a member of the staff to ask them to support [number and title of legislation] and explain why addressing [this issue] is important for the well-being of the citizens of [insert state]. Thank you for your attention, I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

[insert name here]

 

Contact your representative by telephone and leave a recorded message

Draft script to call Senate offices to fully fund the Kay Hagan Tick Act:

Hello, my name is [insert name here]. I am a member of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and an entomologist at [insert professional affiliation here]. I’m calling to ask [insert name of Senator] to support fully funding the Kay Hagan Tick Act. This bill would sustain critical investments already made in public health infrastructure and help improve our nation’s efforts to respond to vector-borne diseases is important for the health and well-being of the citizens of [insert state]. Thank you for your attention, I look forward to hearing from you. [Leave return phone number if you wish].

Draft script to call Senate/House representatives offices to support legislation:

 

Hello, my name is [insert name here]. I am a member of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and an entomologist at [insert professional affiliation here]. I’m calling to ask [insert name of Senator/Member of Congress] to support [insert number and title of legislation]. This bill would help improve our nation’s efforts to respond to [name issue] and is important for the health and well-being of the citizens of [insert state]. Thank you for your attention, I look forward to hearing from you. [Leave return phone number if you wish].