How to Write to Members of the U.S. Senate
Members of the United States Congress may seem unapproachable, but in reality, senators and members of the House of Representatives welcome comments from their constituents. Many citizens concerned about a particular political issue write to their senator by email or snail mail. Other constituents write to their senator seeking help in resolving a problem, such as delays in processing a visa application.
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Instructions
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Determine who your senator is by visiting the U.S. Senate's website. The legislative lookup tool allows you to pick your state, and then displays the U.S. senators from the state you select, including contact information.
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Decide whether you wish to contact your senator by email or snail mail. It's a good idea to keep a copy of your correspondence, so if you email, you may want to blind copy yourself. If you use snail mail, you should keep a copy of the letter you mail.
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Use proper business letter form for hard copy letters. Center your name and address at the top of the page. Place the date at the left margin, followed by two blank lines, the senator's mailing address and a proper salutation, all aligned to the left margin. Write the body of the letter, and follow with a polite closing and signature either centered or aligned to the left margin.
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Include your contact information in email correspondence following your signature. Make sure you include your address. You do not need to include your telephone number unless you request that the senator contact you by telephone to discuss the issues you raise in your email.
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Address the senator using the proper salutation. "Dear Senator Jones," is fine. If you prefer to go more formal, address your correspondence to, "The Honorable Senator Jones."
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Identify the legislation or issue about which you are writing clearly and early on in the body of the letter, and express your thoughts in your own words. It will be far more effective than using language from a form letter or email campaign.
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Wait for a response to your correspondence. Whether you choose to write to your senator by email or snail mail, it will likely take as long as four to eight weeks to receive a response, and most are form letters.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are writing to your senator asking for help resolving a problem of some sort, you may be better off following up your letter or email with a phone call to ensure it receives the proper, timely attention it requires. Senators receive vast quantities of correspondence, and you do not want your request to be lost in the shuffle.
