Communicating with Congress

Your voice and your opinions are powerful. Your Member of Congress is elected to represent your concerns. It's up to you to voice those concerns (politely!) and to make sure your voice is heard. If you take the time to convey your thoughts to your elected officials and follow up with them, your message will have a great impact.

You can communicate with your Members of Congress and congressional staff via email, letters, faxes, and calls. Click here to send your letter to Congress, and sign up to receive our free public policy e-newsletter. We'll provide you with updates on what is happening in breast cancer policy and when your help is critical.

Tips: Writing your Member
Tips: Calling your Member

Don't forget to keep the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance in the loop!

Send (mail, email, or fax) copies of your letters and faxes about theNational Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) to the Komen Advocacy Alliance, so we can keep track of your correspondence. This helps us coordinate efforts, and by knowing who is doing what and where, helps us to be more effective. Click here for contact information or email policy@komenadvocacy.org.

Letters

Use the proper form of address:

Address the letter "Dear Senator/Representative Jane Doe." Be sure to include your address on the letter. Envelopes often get thrown away.

Fax and Phone

To obtain the fax number and phone number of your Member, call the Congressional Switchboard. The Senate can be reached at (202) 224-3121 and the House at (202) 225-3121. When faxing a letter, call the Member's office to follow up and confirm that the letter has been received.

Tips: Writing, Faxing or Emailing your Member of Congress

• Be brief. One or two paragraphs is sufficient. Write about only one issue in each letter (e.g., NBCCEDP funding). Refer to legislation by name and, when possible, by bill number.
• Get to the point. Start your first paragraph by stating who you are and what you are writing about. Support your position in the remainder of the letter. Use facts, information, and examples from your own experience. State how the issue is relevant to your local area.
• Offer information. Be a resource for your legislator. Cite sources, such as your local Affiliate or the Susan G. Komen for the Cure national website or 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636).
• Send local news clips on you and your issue. Make it a habit to forward copies of local newspaper clippings and cite media coverage of Foundation activities and breast cancer coverage in your area that is relevant to your efforts on the NBCCEDP funding issue. Attach a note reminding him/her of your position. Even if the Member is aware of the coverage, receiving a copy from a constituent serves as a reminder that voters are concerned about the issue.
• Ask questions. If you have questions about your Member's position on your issue (e.g., NBCCEDP funding), ask. This may require your legislator or staff to look more closely at the issue in order to respond to your letter.
• Keep Susan G. Komen for the Cure in the loop. Send (mail, email, or fax) copies of your letters to Komen Champions for the Cure™, so we can keep track of your correspondence. This helps us coordinate efforts, and by knowing who is doing what and where, helps us to be more effective. Click here for contact information

Tips: Calling your Congress Member

Calls can be particularly important just before a vote in Congress. Calls to the Congressional District office are also important. We will let you know what's happening on Capitol Hill and when your calls to Congress are critical. When making a call in response to a Komen Call to Action, you should:

• Call the Congressional Switchboard. Ask to be connected to your Member's office. To reach your Representative call (202) 225-3121, and for your Senators call (202) 224-3121.
• Speak to the legislative assistant (LA) in charge of breast cancer issues. Usually, it is the health LA or the appropriations LA. Members of Congress will rarely be able to pick up the phone, so your best bet is to talk with a legislative assistant who may have time to talk to you.
• Introduce yourself. Identify yourself as a constituent, a breast cancer survivor (family member, friend etc.), and state your affiliation with the Komen for the Cure.
• Be prepared with a clear message. Get straight to the point (politely!) by telling the staff member who you are and why you are calling.
• Give thanks! If you know your Member of Congress has been supportive of increased funding for the NBCCEDP, make a point of thanking him/her for past support.
• State your connection. If you have previously met with your Member of Congress don't hesitate to remind him/her or his/her staff of this information.