If you’ve been doomscrolling these last few weeks (yeah, us too), you’ve likely seen countless asks to call your members of Congress and tell them to stand up to theTrump administration’s extreme actions. You may have paused to think about making the call, but got nervous or distracted and put it off.
Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Phone anxiety is real, and when the call is to a government office, picking up the phone can seem overwhelming. It can also be one of the most effective ways to sway your members’ vote on issues you care about.
Congressional staffers log every single call that comes into their office in a database that informs the member of the issues their constituents are engaged with, and they use this data to inform their decisions. Staffers answering the phones are trained to talk with constituents, and they do it all day. They won’t be debating you about your position, and are likely to be primarily listening and taking notes.
Right now, the Republican-controlled Congress is attempting to pass a bill that would give tax breaks to the country’s wealthiest people while cutting programs that are critical to working families. Programs at risk include initiatives that help address the climate crisis and save people money on their energy bills, not to mention indispensable programs like SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid. If extreme Republicans in Congress get their way, children will go hungry, families won’t be able to afford to heat their homes, people will be unable to pay for life-saving medication and treatments, and so much more.
With what’s at stake, it is urgent that your members of Congress hear your concerns. After all, they are there to represent their constituents, including YOU! Calling your members’ offices is one of the most effective ways to share your opinion and ensure your members are working in the best interest of the people who elected them.
How to Call Your Members of Congress in 3 Steps
Step 1: Find your members of Congress and their contact information.
Visit www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member and type your address into the search box. A list of your representatives and their contact information will appear!
Or, you can call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your member’s office.
Pro tip: Members of Congress have both DC and district offices. Oftentimes, district offices have a lower call volume, meaning you may be more likely to speak with a staff member from their local district office than if you were to call their DC office. You may opt to call both!
Remember, elected representatives are most responsive to their own constituents (people who can vote for them), so be sure to prioritize calling Members of Congress who represent you. We know it’s tempting, but it’s not effective to call members who don’t represent you – and doing so might block calls from their constituents that could have more impact.
Step 2: Prepare for your call.
Decide what you want to talk about, and be specific! You can make a call to let your members’ offices know where you stand on an issue you care about, such as protecting National Parks, maintaining funding for clean drinking water programs, or investing in clean energy. Remember, you don’t need to be an expert to voice your opinion, and your call can be short and sweet.
Pro tip: Call your Representative to let them know how you would like them to vote on a specific bill. Asking for a specific action gives you leverage to hold them accountable. If you would like to call about a specific bill, you can find bill names and numbers on congress.gov. You can also search current bills by issue area!
To make sure you hit all the important points, it can be helpful to write a script for your call. During your conversation, you will have to give your name, where you live, and explain why this bill or issue matters to YOU. Including personal stories and details makes your call more compelling for lawmakers.
Here is an example of what your script could look like:
“Hi, my name is [your name] and I am a constituent from Richmond, VA. I’m calling to urge Senator Warner to protect EPA funding in the budget. The EPA is the first line of defense protecting Americans everywhere from dangerous pollution that causes cancer, asthma attacks, lung disease, and other health threats as well as climate change.
I have seen Richmond be affected by climate change through the heat waves and hotter temperatures we have to deal with as well as the flash flooding we see regularly.
Also, Richmond went through a terrible drought this past summer made worse by climate change. I have friends and family members living in Virginia Beach and Norfolk that are dealing with the impacts of climate change directly with flooding in the region. I’m asking the Senator to fight for and support EPA funding. Thank you.”
The person who picks up will typically be a staff assistant or an intern, or you may need to leave a voicemail. They will listen to what you have to say and relay your message to your member of Congress.
If talking to a real person makes you nervous, you can call after business hours to leave a voicemail!
Read directly from your script, or just reference it to help you out.
That’s it, you’re done!
Bonus inspiration: follow along as an LCV staffer prepares for her own first call to Congress:
Calling is the single most effective quick way to have an impact, so give it a try. That said, if you are still a bit too nervous to make the call, there are other options! You could try:
Attending a town hall (virtual or in-person).
Town hall meetings are great opportunities to speak directly to your lawmaker and let them know their constituents are engaged on issues you care about. This is a really effective way to make your voice heard, though time consuming.
Members’ staff regularly check their social media mentions and tags, so engaging with their offices via social media is a great way to show you are invested in an issue while also raising awareness and momentum around that issue. You can also use your social media posts to encourage others to make calls!
With a new anti-environment President and congressional leadership, climate solutions are under attack. President Trump has called climate change a hoax and has shown that he’s willing to undo our movement’s progress addressing the climate crisis, along with access to clean air and water. Make your voice heard: sign the petition telling Congress to stand strong and protect hard-won climate and environmental protections.
