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Lobbying Tips
An Effective Letter


A well written letter is an effective way to capture the attention of your legislators, letting them know of your concerns.

Helpful Information

writing An effective letter

When it is not possible to personally meet with your members of Congress (either in their district or Washington D.C. offices), letter writing is the next most effective way to lobby. While legislators’ offices use many different methods of handling congressional mail, they have on thing in common: constituent mail is read, considered and answered.

6 simple steps:

1
Address it properly

"The Honorable ___________  " or,
"Honorable _____________"
United States House of Representatives
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20515

The salutation should read,
"Dear Representative (last name)"
or "Dear Senator (last name)"

2
Identify yourself

Be sure to mention the congressional district in which you are a voter. Mention your affiliation (if any). Remember to make sure your return address is on your letter, not just on the envelope.

3
Be specific

When writing about legislation, use the bill number (H.R. ____  or S. ____) or the title, if you know them. If not, briefly describe the issue that concerns you.

4
Be timely

Write when the issue is current, not after a key vote has been taken unless you are writing to thank a Congress member for her/his vote.

5
Explain your position

Say in your own words how the bill will affect you and be sure to give personal examples. Don’t forget that a bill can change as it moves through the legislative process, so urge your legislator to oppose crippling amendments (or support strengthening ones) if a vote is pending.

6
Ask for a response

Don't be afraid to ask for action. There are many effective ways to ask a legislator to support a bill. These  include co-sponsoring the bill, requesting hearings on the bill, urging the committee to report the bill to the floor, speaking to other Congress members and (of course), asking your member to vote on the bill.

Other Tips to Consider

Be brief and concise
  • Write about one bill or issue at a time.

  • Don't drag on or write a laundry list of legislative problems.

  • The letter should be one page or less.

Be legible and
grammatically correct
  • Make it easy to read, whether handwritten or typed.

  • Make sure your letter is free of spelling and grammatical errors and typos.

Be Polite
  • Don't be threatening, demanding or abusive.

Don't be a pen pal
  • Write on selected important issues.

  • Quality, not quantity, is what counts.

  • Don't wear out your welcome.

Final Thoughts

Don't forget that letter writing can also be used to congratulate and praise your legislator if he/she supported key legislation, or as a means to politely express disapproval. A short note of thanks will be remembered and appreciated.

You have the "right to write." Legislators speak on your behalf. You elected them, so you should tell them what you think. A concise, personal and well-reasoned letter explaining who you are, who UFCW is, and our position on certain issues can attract a legislator's attentions and be an important tool in letting your representative and senators know your concerns. Send them a message. The next time they vote, they cant' say they didn't hear from their constituents!