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How to Write a Letter to Congress

Students learning how to write a letter to Congress on climate change action

 

As citizens, we rely on our elected officials to represent our interests in Congress. But how can they do that if they don’t know what we care about? That’s where we come in. By writing a letter to our representatives, we can let them know what issues matter most to us and what actions we want them to take. And with climate change becoming an increasingly urgent concern, it’s more important than ever to make our voices heard.

So, how do we go about writing a letter to Congress? It’s actually pretty simple. The most effective way to get our message across is by crafting a personal letter or email to our representatives. And don’t worry, you don’t have to be a professional writer to do this. With our handy guide, we’ll walk you through the process step by step.

Together, we can make a difference and ensure that our elected officials are working towards a better future for all of us. Let’s get started!

 

How to Write to Your Congressmember

Here at Citizens’ Climate Lobby, our volunteers are regularly telling members of Congress that climate change is a major problem that should be given top priority. We also let them know that carbon pricing is a climate solution with bipartisan appeal and quick impact on America’s greenhouse gas emissions. 

It’s not hard to write a compelling letter to your member of Congress that will help move them forward on climate policy. Here’s a basic outline:

    • Introduce yourself, sharing something personal: “I’m a constituent and a voter,” or “I live in [city] with my family”
    • Share your concern about climate change and why the issue of climate change is important to you: “Climate is a priority issue for me because…”
    • Make your Ask and support your position. This could be as specific as asking them to cosponsor or vote for a certain piece of legislation, like the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, or as general as asking them to prioritize climate change and support a price on carbon.
    • Conclude your letter.

 

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS

 

A few talking points you can mention about a price on carbon when writing your letter:

    • A strong, economy-wide price on carbon could reduce America’s carbon pollution by 50% by 2030, putting us on track to reach net zero by 2050. This blog provides extensive details.
    • Businesses will respond to a price on carbon by becoming more energy-efficient and innovating new technologies, which will lead to abundant, affordable, and reliable clean energy.
    • Carbon pricing policies can include a regular “carbon cash back” payment to Americans. This protects low- and middle-income households financially as America transitions to a clean-energy economy.
    • A carbon price will save 4.5 million American lives over the next 50 years by restoring clean air across the country.
    • A carbon fee will incentivize innovation by America’s businesses, creating millions of new jobs that will transform our economy and put Americans back to work.

Find more information to include in your letter, as well as sources for the information, see our price on carbon page here.

Remember that it’s best to keep your letter to one page, and that handwritten letters make the ultimate impact!

 

Help fight climate change today!

 

 

Tell your House Representative we want a price on carbon

The House of Representatives is starting discussions about climate change. Will you contact your Representative about carbon pricing?

 


FAQs

Will my Representative listen to me?

Yes! The idea that Elected Officials don’t listen to their constituents is not true. In reality, Congressional staffers take every call and voicemail and read every email their office receives and pass these onto their member of Congress in regular briefings. Congress works for you and they want to know what their constituents care about. You may receive a generic email in response, but your message was still received loud and clear.

Why do we need a prefix to our name to email our Senator?

Members of Congress require a prefix for emails that are sent to their office. We acknowledge that the prefixes provided do not encompass all gender identities. Unfortunately it is Congress that sets these prefixes and so we are required to use the ones that are currently accepted by the majority of offices.

How else can I help?

You only need to email once yourself. Then, share this page with any friends, family, and coworkers who want to introduce themselves to their members of Congress, too!

 

TAKE ACTION NOW!

 

Volunteer for the Environment

 

Call Your Member of Congress

 

Send them a Tweet

 

Donate to climate change

 

Looking to write an LTE?

 

How to Write a Letter to the Editor