Sending Mail to Congress
Many in academe rarely use any form of correspondence beyond email. Given the fact that all paper mail going into Congress is delayed significantly (my Representative says 2-6 weeks) by the procedures that scan and irradiate mail, email looks like a good alternative. But popular wisdom has always said that sending email to attempt to influence a member of Congress may just be a waste of time. According to a 2001 New York Times article (Dec 13, 2001 sect.G p. 11, col. 1) many Congressional offices try to limit the amount of incoming email and often pay scant attention to the email they do get. My experience has confirmed that email does not generate a prompt or thoughtful response, but of course I have no way of knowing how the email was actually handled. Knowledgeable lobbyists have told me that FAX is the way to go. So please consider sending your letters by FAX whenever possible.
Many sources of advice on corresponding with Congress urge that despite the difficulty of reading them, handwritten letters often carry the most weight because they show a unique viewpoint and are obviously not form letters. Also they are often rather short. Making a point forcefully but succinctly is a definite plus. While most of us won't want to send a handwritten note, correspondence to Congress should include personal insights that make each letter unique. The proper way to address a letter to a member of Congress:
On the envelope and/or in the address header:
| The Honorable (Senator name) Washington, DC 20510 |
The Honorable (Representative name) Washington, DC 20515 |
Salutation:
| Dear Senator _(last name of Senate Member) ____ | Dear Representative __(last name of House Member) ____ |
be sure to include your full postal mailing address somewhere on the letter, even if you chose to use email.
Calling Congress Members
Many in academe have an ongoing relationship with their Congressional representatives. The American Library Association and its affiliates, like other professional organizations, repeatedly urge us to call our Congress members to ask them to support or sponsor a particular bill. Usually this is a very immediate issue regarding pending legislation. If you have such a quick point to make a call might be the best choice. It is not realistic to expect a Congress member's office to stay on the phone for a lengthy period while you give the details of a complex position.
Most Congress members do list a phone number on their Web pages, and many also have local phone numbers for their district offices.