National Write To Congress Day Is Jan. 3: How And Why To Weigh In

Politics & Government National Write To Congress Day Is Jan. 3: How And Why To Weigh In Among the most basic tenets of U.S. democracy is citizen participation in government, both the right and duty of American citizens. Reply
There are ways to frame National Write to Congress Day correspondence to command your elected representatives’ attention. Emails are preferred because U.S. mail may be delayed in security screenings. (Shutterstock)
ACROSS AMERICA — An important holiday you may not know much about is approaching Tuesday, Jan. 3: It’s National Write to Congress Day, a chance for all Americans to tell their elected officials what’s on their minds.
As made-up holidays go, this one has more merit than many. Among the most basic tenets of U.S. democracy is citizen participation in government, seen not only as a right, but a duty. There are no shortage of issues — health care, monetary policy and Federal Reserve hikes, the labor market, immigration, tax policy, U.S. support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, you name it — to discuss with your congressional delegation.
Emails and phone calls are best, because mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service is often delayed in the screening process. Find your congressional representatives and their contact information. One note: first-time lawmakers who won their races in the midterm elections may not yet be in the congressional database. Here are six tips from the American Civil Liberties Union on writing to members of your congressional delegation:
1. Keep the letter or email brief and limit it to a single issue. Legislative aides read multiple pieces of mail on multiple issues every day, so keep your letter concise and to-the-point. 2. Make it known in the opening paragraph that you’re a constituent and what issue you’re concerned about. It helps to identify the bill number if you’re writing about a specific issue.
3. Limit your talking points to the three most persuasive arguments. 4. Make it personal. Tell your legislator why it’s personally important to you and your family, your community or your state. Personal stories can help legislators form their own positions on an issue.