Advocacy
Advocacy is Our Priority
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Advocacy Toolbox Visiting Capitol Hill |
You can help increase public awareness to the causes and consequences of brain injury. Together, as we contact our legislators about timely issues, we can work toward developing public policy to improve the lives of individuals with brain injury, as well as their families and caregivers. Below are some tips to guide your involvement.
Telephoning Your Elected Representatives
Let your voice and the voice of those affected by brain injury be heard by lawmakers. Please join BIRF in advocating brain injury issues on Capitol Hill. By simply writing a letter or making a phone call, you can ask your Members of Congress in Washington D.C. to support issues that are important to survivors of brain injury and their loved ones. Here's some tips to make getting involved easy.
To contact your senator and representative, you may can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask for your senators' and/or representative's office. Remember that 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 (a resident of the legislator’s district), tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as: "Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I support/oppose (S.___/H.R.___)." You will also want to state reasons for your support or opposition to the bill. Ask for your senators' or representative's position on the bill. You may also request a written response to your telephone call.
Tips:
- Be Brief. Immediately establish what you are calling about, and what you would like the legislator to do (i.e. improve a state service, support or oppose a bill).
- Be positive. Remember—the staff person will work harder on your behalf if this conversation is one he or she remembers fondly.
- Leave your name, address and phone number.
- Do not be afraid to ask for a meeting with your legislator or someone from his or her office! This can be the most effective form of advocacy.
- Send a “thank you” note (or make a “thank you” call) when your legislator responds to your request.
Writing Congress
The letter is the most popular choice of communication with a congressional office. If you decide to write a letter, this list of helpful suggestions will improve the effectiveness of the letter: Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly, e.g., House bill: H. R. ____, Senate bill: S.____.
Be courteous, to the point, and include key information, using examples to support your position. Address only one issue in each letter; and, if possible, keep the letter to one page.
Tips:
- Write a personal letter (e-mail). It is far more effective than a form letter. Tell your story and how brain injury affects you, your family, or your community. Consider discussing life before brain injury, as well as how the injury happened.
- If you are writing about a service provided by the state, identify the service in the first paragraph of the letter and whether or not it meets your needs as a person affected by brain injury.
- If you are writing about a bill, identify the bill number in the first paragraph of your letter, and immediately establish whether you would like the legislator to support or oppose the bill.
- Identify yourself as a constituent (a resident of the legislator’s district).
- Don’t be afraid to ask for a meeting with your legislator or someone from his or her office. This can be the most effective form of advocacy.
- Send a “thank you” note when your legislator responds to your request.
Addressing Correspondence:
To a Senator:
The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of)Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
To a Representative:
The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of)House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
Note: When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper to address them as:
Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman: or Dear Mr. Speaker:
Tips On E-mailing Congress
Generally, the same guidelines apply as with writing letters to Congress. You may find and e-mail your senators and representative directly from this Web site.