Contacting Congress
A step-by-step guide to getting your representative to join the Barton bill sponsors
By Barney Deden
Although I am new at the game of "recruiting" cosponsors for federal legislation, I have talked in detail with our legal counsel and have visited with dozens of drycleaners about their activities regarding H.R. 1711. I present the following as the most successful procedure I've heard to date for signing up cosponsors for the bill
1. Call your Congressperson's Washington office. If you can't find the number in your local phone book, call me at (402) 391-7373. I have a list of Washington numbers.
Ask the receptionist who answers the phone for the name of the legislative assistant (LA) who handles environmental issues. Write his/her name and phone number in a handy place near your desk or phone.
Ask to talk with the LA. Explain to him/her that you are hoping that Rep. XXX will support your business by cosponsoring legislation designed to establish a contamination cleanup standard for drycleaning sites. Tell him/her that you will send a copy of H.R. 1711 and some related information and that you will call back in a week to answer questions or address concerns.
2. Call friends in your area to report on your contact and ask them to make their own contact with the same LA. It is important to have as much local input as possible.
3. Send the information mentioned. If you need copies call me or industry leaders in your area or copy the information from trade journals. Address your letter to the LA with a request for the LA to present the information to the Representative.
4. Exactly one week later (Do not procrastinate) call the LA again.
Ask if he/she or the Representative have any questions about the bill or related materials. Explain the need for this legislation on and how it could save you from unnecessary cleanup litigation and expensive remediation
5. Exactly one week later make another follow-up call. Be careful to be polite and humble, and be appreciative for the time the LA is giving you. Most LA's will assure you that they are there to serve you (they really are) and will be friendly and cooperative.
6. Unless the LA specifically tells you that the Representative will not cosponsor the bill, keep asking for cosponsorship. If cosponsorship is specifically denied, ask for support for the bill when it comes up in a committee on which the Rep. serves or for support when the bill reaches the House floor. Keep calling. Don't give up.
7. If at any point in this process you need advice or support or if you feel progress can be furthered with the professional help of our Washington law firm, please call me, (402) 391-7373, or call them directly at (202) 331-9100 and visit with Charlotte Giddings, who has spent many hours discussing H.R. 1711 with dozens of LA's.
It is also necessary to keep her informed of the progress you make after your first few contacts.
Date created:Oct. 31, 1997 Last modified: Oct. 31, 1997 Copyright © 1997, Blind Squirrel Maintained by: Hal Horning hhorning@pond.com