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Pointers and Tips for Visiting with your United States Representative or Senator
 Personal visits are the most effective means of getting your point across. We strongly encourage such visits and are happy to help you set them up!
When To Visit:
Visit your elected officials:
- When they are at home during a recess (see When to Act).
- On Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday when Congress is normally not in session and when congressional members often return to their home districts/states.
- During a town hall meeting or other event sponsored by the congressman/woman (call the local office to find out when such an event will occur or sign up to be on their eNewsletter).
- In Washington, DC – RIF national staff can coordinate a visit and possibly a Capitol Hill tour for you.
Making an appointment:
- Make the appointment as early as possible.
- You can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to get your congressman/woman’s phone number in Washington, DC if you want to meet with him/her in DC.
- If you want to meet with your members of Congress in their home state/district, and not in Washington, DC, then call the district office closest to your home.
- Ask for the appointments assistant or scheduler and ask for time to meet with your Senator or Representative “to talk about getting his/her support for Reading Is Fundamental - an important literacy program in (name of school or program or community) that receives federal funding.”
- If your senators or representative are not available, it is very good to meet with a staffperson. They are the congressman’s eyes and ears on the ground and are extremely influential. In Washington, DC you should meet with the legislative director or legislative assistant for education. In the local state/district office, you should meet with the chief of staff or the district/state director.
- Feel free to bring along parents, a child, or teachers.
- Let the appointments assistant/scheduler know in advance if you’d like to have a picture taken with your legislator.
Prepare for Your Meeting
- Think through what you want to say before your meeting. It’s very likely that you will only have 10-15 minutes with your lawmaker.
- Find something to leave with the congressman (i.e. photographs of RIF motivational events/book distributions, a plaque, thank-you letters from children, a scrapbook) that captures some essence of your program.
- Call the RIF national office and let your program specialist and/or the government relations officer know about your scheduled meeting. We can provide you with information to share or let you know if we’ve had previous contacts with that congressional office.
- Do a little research on your lawmaker. Does he/she hold a leadership position in Congress (such as speaker, majority leader, committee chair) or is the chair or ranking member of an important committee or subcommittee. Find out more information about your local elected officials by entering your zip code in the “Take Action Now” box above on the right. For each lawmaker you’ll find their picture, background information and a link to visit their Congressional website.You can also call the RIF national office and ask to speak to the Government Relations Officer.
- Bring your business cards if you have some.
During the Meeting
- In the few minutes you have with your member of Congress, try to:
(1) Educate her about the important role your RIF program plays in increasing reading activity, proficiency and motivation among the children and families in your community and site;
(2) Shareyour enthusiasm about your RIF program and share inspiring or touching stories about the impact that receiving free books has had on the children and families you serve;
(3) Inform her of the need for free books and reading motivation activities in your school/community and how additional funding for RIF would help meet that need (i.e. could you serve more kids?);
(4) Invite her to a book distribution/reading motivation event;
(5) Ask her to support funding for RIF so that RIF can continue serving children across the country and begin to serve children on the RIF waitlist.
- Be brief. Since legislators and their staff are extremely busy, plan on getting your message across in 5-15 minutes. Don't get sidetracked into small talk - make your time really count.
- Listen carefully. Be prepared to answer questions. If you don't know the answer to a question, don’t worry about it. Offer to provide the answers later. Contact RIF’s government relations officer for any additional information you need.
- Be firm. Try to find out exactly where your legislator stands on the on his commitment to RIF. Ask him whether he will sign the Dear Colleague letter; ask him whether he will support increased funding for RIF. Ask what action he intends to take, and don't be afraid to press for specifics. But always be polite!!
- Be on time and be patient. Be prepared to wait if your representative or senators are running late. Don’t take it personally.
- Speak simply, honestly, and from the heart. Avoid jargon during these meetings. Share your enthusiasm! You can’t go wrong when you speak from the heart about the difference you think RIF makes in children’s lives.
- Avoid the following during your meeting:
- Putting the legislator or staffperson “on the spot” for any reason
- Long presentation (share ideas and information, don’t lecture)
- Interrupting the member/staff
- Exaggerations
- Promising something you can’t deliver
- Criticizing other literacy programs (this can be perceived as self-serving and may undermine your credibility)
- Discussing irrelevant or controversial subjects unless an opinion is specifically solicited
- Say thank you before you leave! Your representative or senators and their staff seldom hear the words “thank you.” Thank them for their time and for supporting RIF.
- Relax and enjoy the moment. Enjoy this opportunity! Recognize that these individuals are there to represent your interests and your voice is an important one. Smile and relax!
- Ask for the staffmember’s business card. Give him/her your business card if you have one.
After the Meeting
- Always send a thank-you letter. Thank your members of Congress and/or the staff person for their time and include a summary of your views, together with any additional information that may be relevant. It is best to send the note by fax because regular mail arrives in congressional offices slowly. Also please fax a copy of the letter to RIF’s government relations officer at (202) 673-1649.
- Follow up, by telephone or letter, on any outstanding items you may have discussed at your meeting.
- Call the RIF government relations officer and let her know how the meeting went.
- Send copies (by email or regular mail) of any pictures of you and your elected representative(s) to the RIF government relations officer and we will add your picture to our photo gallery.
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