Community Advocates

Whether you're a dedicated volunteer or an elected official, make sure that the health of your family, friends and neighbors is a priority as you serve your community.

Communicating with State or Federal Elected Officials

As a private citizen, you may be a little intimidated at the thought of writing to or calling your elected representatives. Don't be! They work for you and they need to know that you care about physical activity and healthy eating as public health issues that affect our kids. Use the tips below to craft an effective message, and then click on the links to let your representatives know that you want them to work for better health for all Kansans.

Tips for Writing to Members of Congress

State your purpose for writing in the first sentence of the letter or email. For example:

As your constituent, I am writing to urge your support for increased funding for health promotion.

  • If your letter or email pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it. And make sure that you are referencing the correct legislation to the correct body of Congress. House bills are H.R.____; Senate bills are designated as SB.____. It is also important to know the status of the bill.
  • Be courteous.
  • If appropriate, include personal information about why the issue matters to you to make your point.
  • Address only one issue in each letter or email.
  • Close your letter or email with a restatement of your purpose and indicate the response that you expect.

Addressing Your Correspondence to a Senator:

The Honorable (Sam Brownback)
__(room number)__(name of) Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator (Brownback)

Addressing Your Correspondence to a Representative:

The Honorable [Jerry Moran]
__(room number)__(name of) House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515 (Moran):

For more information, visit Kansas Action for Children's Letters to Legislators (Adobe Acrobat) and Emails to Legislators (Adobe Acrobat)

Tips For Phoning Members of Congress

  • Telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member, not the member of Congress.
  • Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment.
  • After identifying yourself as a constituent, tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as:
    • "Please tell Senator/Representative [Name] that I support/oppose [SB.___/H.R.___]."
  • State your reasons for your support or opposition to the bill.
  • Ask for your senator's or representative's position on the bill.
  • You may also request a written response to your telephone call.

For more information, visit Kansas Action for Children's Telephone Calls to Legislators (Adobe Acrobat).

Links for State and Federal Members of Congress

Source: AMA: Letter-Writing Campaigns