A phone call to your official’s local or DC office is the most effective tool. Emails come next, then letters and town halls.
Find Who Represents You
- US House: house.gov
- US Senate: senate.gov
- US Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121
- Texas Legislature: Who Represents Me
- City and county: your city or county website lists council members and commissioners.
Ways to Be Heard
| Method | Best for | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Phone call | Upcoming votes | Give your name and city, state your position in one sentence. Takes about 2 minutes. |
| Email or web form | Detailed concerns | Use the official contact form on their website. Keep it under 200 words. |
| Letter | Lasting record | Mail to the district office; DC mail is slowed by security screening. |
| Town hall | Face to face accountability | Arrive early, bring one short question, stay respectful. |
| Office visit | Building a relationship | Schedule with the district office and bring a one page summary. |
Phone Script
Hello, my name is [NAME] and I live in [CITY], [ZIP]. I am a constituent and a member of Americans For Common Sense. I am calling to ask [OFFICIAL] to vote [YES or NO] on [BILL NAME or NUMBER] because [ONE SENTENCE REASON]. Will you please pass that along? Thank you for your time.
If you reach voicemail, leave the same message with your phone number.
Email Template
Subject: Constituent request on [BILL or ISSUE]
Dear [TITLE and LAST NAME],
I am a constituent from [CITY], [ZIP], and a member of Americans For Common Sense.
I am asking you to [ACTION] on [BILL or ISSUE]. This matters to my family because [PERSONAL REASON, 1 or 2 sentences].
I will be following your vote closely. Thank you for your service and for listening to the people you represent.
Respectfully,
[NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE]
Always include your address. Offices prioritize messages from verified constituents.
Act Locally
- Attend one city council or school board meeting a month.
- Sign up for public comment and speak for 3 minutes or less.
- Read the posted agenda ahead of time; Texas requires it at least 72 hours before most meetings.
- Get to know your county commissioner and state representative by name.
- Report back to your local AFCS group on what you saw and heard.
