Preparation for Capitol Hill Visits
In making your appointments to meet with Congress the following tips may be helpful:
Return to Legislative Alert
- Personalize and mail your letter of introduction, which follows, as soon as possible.
- Call your Congressperson's Washington Office and speak with their Appointments Secretary to schedule your appointment. The number for the Capitol Switchboard is 202/224-3121.
- Explain that you will be in Washington and would like to schedule an appointment on Tuesday, May 19 between 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm (or other time if you choose).
- If the Congressperson is totally unavailable, ask to meet with the member of his or her personal staff who handles Clean Water or environmental issues. Members of Congress rely heavily on their staffs and this will be time well spent, even if you are unable to speak with your Congressperson directly.
- Follow up your telephone call with a letter confirming the time and place of the appointment, the topics you wish to discuss and the names and titles of the other AMSA member agency representatives who will accompany you to the appointment.
- Confirm the appointment by telephone a week or so in advance of the meeting.
- When writing to a Member of Congress, the appropriate address style is:
The Honorable __________ The Honorable __________ United States Senate United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 Dear Senator __________ Dear Representative __________