Contact Congress
Members of Congress are entrusted with serving the public, and your voice is an essential part of that responsibility. Every constituent can contact their elected officials by email, phone, or in person.
When you choose to engage, you strengthen the democratic process.​
Communicating with Congressional offices
Meetings are the most effective way to communicate your perspective and lived experience, followed by phone calls and then emails. If you or someone in your group has a natural connection to the Member—shared community ties, a professional or religious affiliation, or a personal relationship—use that to request a direct meeting. If that isn’t possible, meeting with their foreign policy staff is just as powerful. Staff brief the Member, shape their understanding of issues, and often influence how they vote.
​
You can also share your comments and concerns by contacting any district or Washington, DC office:
​
-
Call the DC office: Find the number on your Member’s website or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative’s or Senator’s office.
-
Call a district office: Phone numbers are listed on each Member’s website and are often easier to reach.
-
Email the office: Personalize your message—explain why you care as a constituent and why they should care as your representative.
-
Be specific: Clearly state what issue you’re writing about and what action you want the Member to take.
Setting up district meetings
District meetings are one of the most effective ways to influence your Members of Congress. When you meet locally, you show them that constituents in their own community care about U.S. international assistance—and that carries real weight in their decision-making.
Identify your Members of Congress
You have two Senators and at least one Representative. If you need help finding who represents you, you can visit https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member. Pick one congressional office to meet with first.
1
Schedule the meeting
Once you’ve identified a Rep and/or Senator, find the closest office to your home and give them a call to ask for an in-person meeting. This may take more than one call to schedule a meeting.
2
Gather participants
Once you have a meeting scheduled, recruit 3-5 constituent friends/neighbors who can come with you to the meeting! You can also use the Signal groups to ask for participants.
3
Prepare
Get your talking points in order. Use your personal stories, but also AOTH state maps, briefs, and other resources to tell a compelling story. Visit aidonthehill.org for free leave-behinds.
4
End with an ask
We want the Rep/Senator to advocate for the inclusion of foreign assistance funding in FY26 appropriations! Our primary talking points remain the same: save funding, save expertise, save statutes, save US global influence.
5