How to contact your representatives.

To contact your representatives about a federal issue, decide what you want Congress to do, identify the offices that represent you, and send a message with a clear request. You can do each step in Modern Action.

Contact your representatives about an issue, or contact Congress about a bill.

Steps to contact your representatives

1. Choose an issue or bill. Browse current issues or find a specific bill. Read what is being proposed and where the legislation stands.
2. Choose your position. Select where you stand and the reasons that reflect your view. Add how the issue affects you if you want that included.
3. Confirm the recipients. Your address identifies your federal representatives. Modern Action uses the legislation and available action to match the request to the relevant offices.
4. Review and send. Read the draft, check the request and any personal details, and edit the wording before sending.

Which representative should I contact?

Start with the officials who represent where you live. In a U.S. state, your two senators represent the whole state; your House member represents your congressional district. Enter your ZIP code in the representative lookup, then check your home address and recipient before sending.

Then match the request to the decision. A House member cannot cast a Senate vote, and a senator cannot cast a House vote. A bill may need action in one chamber now and the other later. Check its current status instead of assuming every office should receive the same request. For a Senate decision, contact your senators.

Modern Action shows the relevant legislation and prepares the request for the offices involved. Review those recipients before sending. This guide covers Congress; state and local decisions belong to different elected offices.

What should I include in the message?

• The issue or bill. Include the bill number when you know it. If you do not, describe the issue clearly.
• Your request. Say what you want the office to do, such as support or oppose the legislation under consideration.
• Your reason. Explain why you hold that position. A short personal example can make your concern more specific.
• Your constituent information. Check your name and home address so the office can identify that you live in its district or state.

Modern Action drafts the message from your choices. You still decide what it says. Read the draft for accuracy, remove anything you do not agree with, and make sure the requested action is clear in the first few sentences.

For a complete example and a writing checklist, see how to write to Congress.

When should I contact them?

If you want an office to act on a vote, hearing, or committee decision, send your message while that decision is still ahead. Check the bill’s status before using a request you wrote earlier.

After a vote, asking an official to change that completed vote no longer fits. You may instead want to ask about the next legislative step, a future proposal, or the official’s position. Match the request to what can still happen.

You do not need to wait for a bill number to raise an issue. Start with the issue in Modern Action and review any relevant legislation and available action it shows.

What happens after I send?

Check the status Modern Action shows after you submit. A message waiting to be sent is different from a completed submission, and neither is a reply from the office.

Keep a copy of what you sent. If you follow up, refer to the original issue and request, and include any new development that changes what you are asking for. For more context, read does contacting Congress work?.

Common questions

How do I contact my elected official or representative?

Choose the issue or bill you want Congress to act on. In Modern Action, select your position, confirm your address and recipients, then review and send the message prepared from your choices.

Who are my representatives?

If you live in a U.S. state, you are represented by two U.S. senators and a House member for your congressional district. Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories have different representation. Start with your ZIP code in Modern Action’s representative lookup, and check your home address and recipient before sending.

What is the best way to contact representatives?

Choose a channel the office accepts and make a specific request. Modern Action prepares a written message for the relevant offices. If you prefer to call, use the contact details on the official’s Modern Action profile and keep the same issue, position, and request in front of you.

When should I contact them?

If you are asking for a particular vote or committee action, contact the office before that decision. Check the current bill status first; after a vote, the request may need to change.

Do I need to write the whole message myself?

No. Modern Action drafts the message from your position and reasons. Review it, check the facts and recipient, and edit anything that does not reflect your view before sending.