How To Tell Congress You Want Climate Action
Telling them is the simplest and most direct way to be heard by Congress; just send them a letter or email, or give them a call. Handwritten letters sent by US mail are the most effective, but emails and phone calls are not far behind. Signing petitions is not usually effective. If you do sign a petition, be sure to add your own comments. Make it personal!
On the importance to Congress of direct constituent feedback
CCL has heard directly from Congress that hearing from as few as six or eight constituents on a single issue in a day is considered significant. This is a pure signal of political will. Ask your friends, family and people you talk with to do the same, and this voice will be magnified further.
If you use the CCL web form to submit your comments to Congress, you are done. But if you contact them any other way, please let the person in your chapter responsible for submitting field reports so that our work can be adequately documented. Please include your district and the names of the representatives you contacted.
To send your representative an email via their individual web form, click on their names below. Representatives only want to hear from their constituents, so you need to know your district:
To send your senators an email via their individual web form, click on their names below. Senators represent the entire state, so contact them both:
You can reach your senators and representatives by phone by calling the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 and asking to be connected to your member of congress.
The CCL way of talking with members of Congress is to first show gratitude for their service, appreciation for something they have done, and to always show respect. It is important to be clear about what you want and why you want it. One way to do that is to take a quick look at the Congress person's senate.gov or house.gov website and review their accomplishments and areas of focus (see above for links).
Basic letter outline:
On the importance to Congress of direct constituent feedback
CCL has heard directly from Congress that hearing from as few as six or eight constituents on a single issue in a day is considered significant. This is a pure signal of political will. Ask your friends, family and people you talk with to do the same, and this voice will be magnified further.
If you use the CCL web form to submit your comments to Congress, you are done. But if you contact them any other way, please let the person in your chapter responsible for submitting field reports so that our work can be adequately documented. Please include your district and the names of the representatives you contacted.
To send your representative an email via their individual web form, click on their names below. Representatives only want to hear from their constituents, so you need to know your district:
To send your senators an email via their individual web form, click on their names below. Senators represent the entire state, so contact them both:
You can reach your senators and representatives by phone by calling the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 and asking to be connected to your member of congress.
The CCL way of talking with members of Congress is to first show gratitude for their service, appreciation for something they have done, and to always show respect. It is important to be clear about what you want and why you want it. One way to do that is to take a quick look at the Congress person's senate.gov or house.gov website and review their accomplishments and areas of focus (see above for links).
Basic letter outline:
- Make your letter personal by telling a little about yourself – occupation, whether you have children or grandchildren, which church you might attend, etc.
- Acknowledge your member of Congress for something they did or said recently or for their response to a previous letter.
- Tell them why climate change is a big concern to you. Include something current that’s newsworthy or that you’re involved with or concerned with.
- Ask them to do what they can to support a carbon tax that gives revenue back to households, preferably by equal, direct payments.
- Ask for a reply.
- Suggested length is 1-2 handwritten pages.
- Include talking points on climate change and carbon fee and dividend. Use your own words.
