Phone Calls

 
Calling Your Members of Congress

One of the simplest and most effective ways you can advocate for the Younger Americans Act is by calling your Members of Congress.  Your Senators and Representative are elected to represent your views and need to hear your opinion about issues of importance to youth.  Call your Members of Congress and urge them to support and co-sponsor the Younger Americans Act!

Contacting Your Members of Congress:

·         Get the names of your Senators and Representative and how to reach them.  If you have Internet access, visit www.senate.gov and www.house.gov/writerep/ to identify your Senators and Representative and their contact information. If you don’t have access to the internet, check your local phone book.

·         Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to contact your Senators and Representative.

  Preparing and Delivering Your Message:

·         Know the issue.  Review information on the Younger Americans Act.

·         Identify yourself (name and city).  Ask to speak with the Member of Congress. If he/she is not available, ask to speak with the legislative assistant handling youth issues.

·         Introduce yourself to the Member of Congress or the staff person.

·         Identify the action you are requesting.  For example, “Please support and co-sponsor the Younger Americans Act” or, if you’re speaking with a staff person, “please tell Rep. Smith that I urge her to support and co-sponsor the Younger Americans Act.”

·         State your position.  Have prepared a sentence or two on why you support the Younger Americans Act. Be sure to include information about how the bill will impact your state and community.

·         Present a compelling argument.  For example, “It costs $1.3 - 1.5 million dollars when just one youth leaves high school for a life of drug abuse and crime. On the other hand, the average cost of a mentoring program is $250 per child. We need to invest now in programs that engage youth positively, to avoid paying the higher costs of incarceration later.”

·         Answer questions.  If you don’t know the answer, tell them you’ll get the answer for them shortly and do so!

·         Ask for the Representative/Senator’s position on the legislation.

·         Thank them for their time and consideration.

·         Call again!  Keep your Members of Congress accountable to you; repeatedly let them know your position on current legislative issues.  Be sure to thank them for pro-youth votes!