Writing Effective Letters to Lawmakers
One of the best ways to communicate your concerns to your lawmaker is to write a short, simple letter that gets to the point fast. Here are a few tips and a form letter that you can use to help impact policymaking.
TIPS
- Show courtesy and respect for the people you contact.
- Say what is on your mind and in your heart. The more personal your letter is, the more influence it will have.
- Don't think you have to use scientific jargon or speak like an expert. Assume your audience has an 8th-grade level of science.
- If your handwriting is legible, handwrite your letter. Electronic mail and faxes should be avoided, unless there are time constraints, as they are less personal than a letter.
- Limit your letter to one page and 3 paragraphs if possible.
- Begin by stating the reasons for your letter, then, write about your personal concerns and experiences.
- Close with a specific request (i.e., that the policy maker support a particular bill, state his/her stance on a particular issue, etc.)
- Include your name, address and telephone number on your letter.
- Enclose photos or an article, which might help illustrate your cause.
- Write or call a second time.
FORM LETTER
Date
Your name
Your address
Your city, state and zip code
Your phone number
Appropriate lawmaker name with correct title
Address
Dear _________:
Paragraph 1: Purpose of the letter. Briefly state your credentials. State what you want your lawmaker to do.
I am a sophomore at Texas High School who has been collecting water quality, biodiversity and garbology data for one year at two sites on the Rio Grande River. Based on what I have found through my testing data, I urge you to take actions to restrict the use and sale of supposedly phosphate-free detergents from Mexico, which are polluting the Rio Grande River.
Paragraph 2: Why this bill or issue is important to you. Personalize your letter.
About a year ago, my family and I would catch healthy and abundant fish in the Rio Grande River. The river was pristine and clean. In the past 3 months, I have seen an increased number of algae blooms, and the fish have been harder to find. Through my water quality testing, I have noticed that the phosphate levels have been higher than normal. My biodiversity studies indicate fish numbers are declining, and my class has found an increasing amount of "phosphate-free" Mexican detergent containers along the riverbed that are now able to be sold on the United States side of the river due to more lax NAFTA rules.
Paragraph 3: Request action. Ask the member to vote for or against a bill or take certain actions or approaches (offer an option) and ask for a response.
I am concerned about the decline in the quality of the water along the Rio Grande because many of the people in my community depend upon the river for food and irrigation. I know from other students testing downstream that their phosphate levels are worse than ours and are worsening rapidly. I urge you to take action to decline support for more lenient NAFTA rules.
There are few things more important to sustaining life than clean water. I look forward to hearing your position on this issue. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Your name
