It takes only a few minutes to write a letter, but those few minutes can make a big difference. When Representatives or Senators or City Councilors or any decision maker receives enough letters on a particular issue, they realize that their constituents care. And, knowing you care is often a first step toward getting a decision maker to pay attention to an issue. Your letter can educate a decision maker about the facts of a problem, it can help them to realize that folks in the community are concerned, and it can sway their thinking and actions.

Here are some suggestions to give your letter the greatest impact:

~ Use your own words and your own stationery if you can: A personally written letter has even more impact than pre-printed postcards, petitions or form letters. Using a word processor is ideal, but a neatly handwritten letter is fine too.

~ Be concise: Most busy decision makers (and their staff) won't take the time to read anything longer than one page.

~ Be constructive in your comments: Don't be unnecessarily critical, and never threaten or insult the decision maker. If you have an opportunity to, thank the person to whom you are writing if s/he took a positive stand on a relevant issue, or did something else you appreciate.

~ Identify your subject clearly: If possible, refer to legislation either by its bill number or by its popular name, such as Clean Water Act. And, be sure to use your letter to educate the decision maker. S/he may not be aware of some of the problems you are facing or of some of the specific sections of the pending legislation.

~ Personalize your message: People tend to remember a good story or example a lot better than a series of facts or statistics. Make sure your letter tells the decision maker why this issue matters to you personally.

~ Mention your affiliation to local organizations and groups, if they're pertinent.

~ Ask the decision maker to do something specific if that is appropriate: For example, ask her to vote for or against a particular amendment, request hearings, or co-sponsor a bill.

~ Ask for a reply to your requests and questions: Be sure to include your contact information so s/he can get back to you.

A Sample Letter to a Decision Maker:

Dear Representative _______,

One in four Americans lives within four miles of a Superfund site. These sites poison the land, contaminate the water and make people sick.

The Superfund law is based on the "polluter pays" principle. Those who created the mess should pay to clean it up. But large polluters like General Electric, DuPont, Chevron and their insurers are supporting proposals to roll back the polluter pays provision of Superfund.

The Superfund law should be strengthened, not weakened.

I urge you to oppose all efforts, such as H.R. 1300, H.R. 2580 or similar proposals, to weaken Superfund's polluter pays and cleanup provisions. I also urge you to support efforts, such as H.R. 1657, which would expand citizens' right to know about the toxic chemicals used in their neighborhoods.

I cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance I put on your vote in this matter. There are few things more important to life than clean water and a healthy, livable environment. The polluters should pay for their own mistakes -- not the citizens who must live in the heavily polluted regions. In addition, all citizens should have the right to know about levels of toxins released into their communities.

I look forward to hearing your position on this issue.

Sincerely,

Name
Address
Email
Phone

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