COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR
LEGISLATOR
face-to-face meeting is the most effec-
tify it accordingly, e.g., House bill: H. R. #,
tive way of communicating with your
Senate bill: S. #.
Alegislators. However, such meetings
tend to be the exception and not the rule.
` Address only one issue in each letter; and,
What then are the other ways of communicat-
if possible, keep the letter to one page.
ing and what is the preferred method? One
rule that applies no matter which method you
` Be courteous and include key information,
choose --- make sure you use a communica-
using examples to support your position.
tion means that will get your opinion to your
Explain how the legislation would affect
legislator BEFORE a vote on an issue you
you, others with myeloma, and the cancer
care about is taken .
research community.
` Ask for a reply from your elected officials
TIPS ON PREPARING AND SENDING LET-
explaining their position on the issue you
TERS
care about. This should prevent the typical
The letter is the most popular choice of com-
form-letter response, and help them keep
munication with a congressional office. How-
your views in mind should this legislation
ever, because of several incidents on Capitol
come up for a vote. Reminder: as a consti-
Hill, you are advised to fax your letters to
tuent, you are entitled to know the posi-
your Members of Congress unless time is not
tions of your Members of Congress.
a factor.
` Thank your elected officials if they vote in
If you decide to fax a letter, this list of helpful
a way favorable to myeloma or other can-
suggestions will improve the impact of the
cer related issues. They appreciate compli-
letter:
ments and will remember positive feed-
back.
` Write on personal stationary.
` Do not hesitate to state your displeasure,
` Be sure your return address is on your let-
but always be polite. Even if they oppose
ter, as well as the envelope. Envelopes
your position, you will want their help on
normally get detached, discarded, or mis-
another issue on another day.
placed before the answer is written.
` Be accurate. Spell names correctly and veri-
Addressing Correspondence:
fy information. You can check names, ad-
dresses, and fax numbers by going to the
To a Senator:
IMF Advocacy Action Center at
The Honorable (full name)
www.advocacy.myeloma.org.
(Room #), (name of) Senate Office Building
United States Senate
` State your purpose for writing in the first
Washington, DC 20510
paragraph of the letter. If your letter per-
tains to a specific piece of legislation, iden-
Dear Senator (last name):
6

---

To a Representative:
the aide who handles the issue on which
The Honorable (full name)
you wish to comment.
(Room #), (name of) House Office Building
U.S. House of Representatives
` After identifying yourself, tell the aide you
Washington, DC 20515
would like to leave a brief message, such as:
"Please tell Senator/Representative (Name)
Dear Representative (last name):
that I support/ oppose (S. #/H.R. #) ."
` State the reasons you support or oppose
Note: When writing to the Chair of a Com-
the bill. Ask for your Senator's or Repre-
mittee or the Speaker of the House, it is prop-
sentative's position on the bill. You may al-
er to address them as:
so request a written response to your tele-
phone call.
Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman:
or
TIPS FOR DECIDING WHICH OFFICE
TO CALL
Dear Mr. Speaker or Madam Speaker:
Call the Washington D.C. office when you
want to discuss the technical aspects of the
bill in question.
TIPS ON TELEPHONING
If there is not time to fax your letter stating
Call the district office when you want to make
your concerns/support, make a phone call
a political statement by contacting your legis-
instead. To find your legislator's phone num-
lator's top political person in the district. That
ber, go to the IMF website's searchable on-
person will make sure your message gets to
line congressional directory which is con-
the elected official.
tained in the IMF Advocacy Action Center
at www.advocacy.myeloma.org
or call the
U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121
TIPS ON E-MAILING CONGRESS
and ask for your Senator's and/or Representa-
If you cannot fax your letter or call, then e-
tive's office.
mail. Generally, the same guidelines apply as
with writing letters to your Members of Con-
` Remember that telephone calls are most
gress. You can e-mail your legislators directly
often taken by a staff member, not the
from IMF's Advocacy Action Center at
Member of Congress. Ask to speak with
www.advocacy.myeloma.org.
2/6/2011
7

---