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How to contact your elected officials

A step-by-step guide

Contacting your elected officials is a vital way to advocate for policies, issues, and legislation that affect your community. Below is a collaborative guide to help you effectively reach out to your Senator at the federal level.

Target all three levels of government (federal, State, and Local)

1. Visit the U.S. Government Website:
To find your state and local government officials, go to:

2. Find and Contact Elected Officials:
Click on “Find and contact elected officials” and input your street address. You can see your elected officials at all three levels (Federal, State, and Local).

3. Select Your Senator, Governor, Attorney General, and more:
Once you locate your U.S. Senators, click the plus sign to the right of their name to view their contact options.

1. Visit the U.S. Senate Contact Page:
Go to the Senate Contact Page to identify and contact your U.S. Senators.

2. See the 119th Congress Suite and Telephone List

3. Search by State:
You can search for your Senators by selecting your state. Once you find your state’s Senators, you can access their contact information and communication options.

Choose Your Method of Contact

  • Most officials have a web form on their official website where you can send a message directly, or compose a direct email using your YPR email address.
  • Tip: Use the template email provided for ease. Copy and paste the template into the Web Contact Form MAKE SURE TO EDIT CHAPTER INFO, unhighlight, and take off parenthesized.

For letters sent through the postal system utilize this postal letter template.  Make a copy of the template, edit the highlighted fields, unhighlight, and delete the parentheses.    

  • Each official has a phone number listed on their website. You can also contact the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and request to speak to a specific office/official.
  • Tip: Refer to the provided phone script for guidance on structuring your call.
  • You can leave a message for your state official by dialing the House switchboard operator at 202-224-3121. A live person will assist you in directing your message to your state official.
  • Tip: Refer to the provided Voicemail script for guidance on how to structure your message.

Additional Tips for success

Whether in an email or a phone call, keep your message clear and to the point.

If you don’t hear back after a week or two, follow up with a polite reminder and utilize the team portal to find the next template.  If you are outside of CA, CO, and KY, use the National Advocacy templates, or feel free to create your own and run it through your program manager before sending it.

Always keep your tone respectful, even if you are frustrated or passionate about an issue.

By following these steps and using the provided templates, you can effectively reach out to your U.S. Senator and elected officials to make your voice heard on important recovery and community health issues.

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