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The
proper salutation is "Dear Congressman...," or "Dear Senator..." When
writing to the Chair of a Committee or Speaker of the House, the proper
salutation is "Dear Mr. Chairman," "Dear Madame
Chairwoman," or "Dear Mr. Speaker".
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State
the purpose of your letter.
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When
contacting members of Congress about pending legislation, refer to
specific bills by number whenever possible.
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Your
analysis of an issue should be the most important ingredient in your
letter. In general, be concise, polite and reasonable. If
the issue is particularly
complicated, brevity may be difficult to achieve. In such cases
try to limit your focus to a specific aspect of the issue in order to
make your letter as brief as possible.
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Explain
why you support this measure and show how it addresses an existing
problem
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If
possible, give an example or explain how the bill will affect you
personally.
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Show
that you are aware of the bill's status and that you understand the
legislative process.
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Ask
the legislator to respond in some way.
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Avoid
form letters - Members of Congress and Senators usually respond to form
letters with form letters. Instead, construct an argument in your
own words and personalize your remarks as much as possible. You
will enhance your credibility and elicit a more detailed response.