>Capitol Hill Basics >Email

Capitol Hill Basics - Emailing Members of Congress

Generally, the same guidelines apply as with writing letters to Congress. To find out the e-mail addresses for your Members of Congress go to Contact Congress. You will need to know your nine-digit zip code. The following points contain particular instructions to use when e-mailing your legislators.

Identify Yourself. Some Congressional offices receive hundreds of e-mails a week. The most important e-mails are the e-mails from constituents. Always include your street address, city, state and zip code at the top of your e-mail so the Congressional office knows your message is from a constituent and needs attention.

Remember These Things. Do not forget to include your name, organization and the fact that you are a constituent in the first line of your e-mail. Be courteous and include essential information, using examples to support your position. Address only one issue in each e-mail. The closing sentence of your message should always reiterate exactly what you are asking the Member of Congress to do. If you are e-mailing your Member on an issue TIA is working on, contact TIA Public Affairs for a model letter.

Request a Response. Some Congressional offices will respond to e-mails by sending a return e-mail. Of those offices that do this, a few send a response e-mail directly on the issue but most offices will simply send a generic response acknowledging the office received your e-mail. These offices will usually follow up with a written letter response. Often these response letters and e-mails are form letters. Do not be discouraged this means your letter was read and counted.

Forward the E-mail. To help our lobbying efforts, send TIA's Public Affairs Department copies of your e-mails when you e-mail your Members on a TIA issue. One of the most powerful tools TIA's lobbying staff can have when they have a meeting with a Member of Congress is a stack of correspondences from back home. You can fax copies of your e-mails to 202/408-1255 Attention: Public Affairs.