By Barbara Head
Now is a good time to delve into Congressional contact—our most powerful tool for influencing the work of Congress.
Is Congressional contact really effective?
You might be surprised to know just how much of a difference making a phone call or writing an email can be. Take the example of HR 9495 in the last session of Congress. In a first House vote, a stunning 52 Democrats voted yes in support of the bill, which would have given the Treasury Secretary the authority to revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofits. For the second House vote (a simple majority vote), only 15 Democrats voted yes. The difference? Many Democratic representatives switched their Yea votes to Nay in response to constituent pushback against the bill. Contacting our Congressional members is one of our most powerful tools for influencing legislation.
Does your congressperson really pay attention when you contact them?
Yes they do! Your opinions are valuable to them and are treated with care. Contacts from constituents are first received and catalogued by congressional staffers—even those messages left on answering machines. Calls also may be answered live by staffers who may engage you in discussion. Your message content is then relayed to your lawmaker to help guide them in setting legislative priorities and agendas.
Why is calling or writing so powerfully important?
1. Re-election: Calls or emails to your House Reps or Senators effectively signal how likely you might be to vote for them in the next election. So of course, they’re all ears! Support or criticism is equally important, they’re both useful feedback.
2. Numbers matter: High numbers of calls or emails build pressure and urgency for upcoming votes. You can also be your lawmaker’s ally on issues you both agree on. Being able to cite large numbers of calls or emails on a given issue helps your congressperson defend their position on it.
3. Continual participation in the electoral process: Constituents can help shape issues as they develop into legislation. In non-election years, you may not have an opportunity to vote on items that are really important to you, but you can still influence current votes being taken in Congress. Active constituency ideally should be year-round.
Congressional contact is a quick, easy, and important form of activism.
Even your 1-minute phone call or email has a positive impact, and it’s simple to do. Organizers’ requests for you to contact Congress on a subject usually include clear instructions and a sample script that you can copy directly or personalize as you wish. And if you feel inspired by a cause or issue, definitely consider contacting your congressperson independently with your own message. Your views may end up directly influencing legislation!
Here’s how to find your Members of Congress: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
Reprinted from Turn Purple 2 Blue.
Barbara Head is on the Steering Committee of Indivisible Acton Area (IAA). She is also a co-editor of Turn Purple 2 Blue, an IAA-affiliated election website; and a postcarding campaign organizer.
