How to Contact a Representative in Congress
You can write or phone your representative in Congress to express your opinion on federal legislation. Your representative may also be able to help you deal with a problem with a federal agency. Congressional courtesy requires you to work through the office of the member who represents your district. Congressional districts have an average population of 710,767, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. Congressional offices deal with a high volume of communication. Your call or letter will stand out in a positive way if you clearly state what you want in as few words as possible.
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Instructions
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Find Your Representative by ZIP Code
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Visit the United States Postal Service ZIP Code Lookup Web page if you do not know the ZIP+4 number for your address. Enter your street address, city and state. Press "Submit." The form will return the ZIP+4 code for the address.
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Navigate to the "Write Your Representative" Web page on the website for the U.S. House of Representatives. Select your state or territory from the drop-down menu.
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Enter your five-digit ZIP Code and the four-digit extension. Click on the button that says "Contact My Representative." A page will open that includes the address and phone number of the representative's office and a link to the member's website. The link to the website is in large type above the contact information and includes the name of the representative.
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Click on the representative's name. The website for the member will open. Call or write your representative at the address or phone number he lists. The representative's website may have specific instructions for requests, like getting a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol. Look for categories with titles like "Serving You," "Services" or "How Can I Help" to find this information.
Find Your Representative By State
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Visit the "U.S. House of Representatives, Representatives Offices" Web page. Click on your state on the map, or select the text link with the name of the state.
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Select the name of your representative in Congress from the state list. Click on the name of the representative to view her website.
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Contact your representative at the address or phone number on her website. Check your representative's website for navigation links that say "How Can I Help," "Serving You" or "Constituent Services." These links lead to guidance on how to contact her office for help with specific requests like appointments to military academies and congressional commendations.
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Tips & Warnings
Congressional staff members deal with the most calls and letters from the public. They are often experts on specific legislation and knowledgeable about who to contact to help you with your problem.
Think about what you want to say before you call. That will help the person who answers the phone to connect you with the staffer who can assist you.
Representatives have offices in their districts, as well as at the U.S. Capitol. The district office is a good place to start if you need information or help with a federal agency.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Capitol Building image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com
