Contact your Elected Officials

Okay, I know who my elected officials are...now what do I say?

U.C. Berkley has 11 tips on contacting your elected officials: 

1. Be original

2. Stay brief

3. State Who You Are and What You are Writing About

4. Personalize Your Message

5. Personalize Your Relationship

6. Pick your 3 strongest points 

7. Be respectful

8. Include your address in your signature, even in an email

9. Properly address your messages ("Dear Senator (name)")

10. Follow-up

11. When contacting by phone, be brief and respectful

Example template:

Hello [insert elected official name, e.g. "Representative Miller-Meeks"],

My name is [your name], and I am a [insert position in the community that you serve], living in your district. I am very concerned about the proposed budget cuts to NIH-funded research. [insert blurb about why!—have you or a loved one benefited from NIH funded research? Are you conducting research that could lay the foundation for treatment of diseases? Are you a parent worried about attacks on science and how that will impact your kids’ education?]. I urge you to speak out against the attacks on science and proposed budget cuts for research. The US has long been world leaders in research and medicine, and it is more important now than ever that we continue this work.