Letter to a Congressperson

As nurses we too have a moral, ethical, and professional duty to be advocates for our patients so that the government can meet the moral challenge of taking care of the children, aged, and ill. To do this we need to be part of the dynamic process of healthcare policy making. We need then to be politically active in both state and national initiatives that affect healthcare. One simple way is letter writing. Below are some guidelines about writing your Congressperson on an issue you believe will affect the scope of your practice and ultimately patient care.

Write a letter to your Congressperson on an issue about which you are passionate. The letter must be written in Times New Roman 12 point font and not to exceed one page.

Writing a letter to your Congressperson
Below are some guidelines from a variety of internet sources on the essential elements of writing a persuasive letter to your Congressperson.

1. Be courteous and respectful without "gushing."
2. Clearly and simply state the purpose of your letter. If it's about a certain bill, identify it correctly. If you need help in finding the number of a bill, you can go to https://www.congress.gov/ or https://www.flsenate.gov/
3. Say who you are. Anonymous letters go nowhere. Even in email, include your correct name, address, phone number and email address. If you don't include at least your name and address, you will not get a response.
4. State any professional credentials or personal experience you may have, especially those pertaining to the subject of your letter.
5. Keep your letter short -- one page is best.
6. Use specific examples or evidence to support your position.
7. State what it is you want done or recommend a course of action.
8. Thank the member for taking the time to read your letter.
   Never
9. Use vulgarity, profanity, or threats. The first two are just plain rude and the third one can get you a visit from the Secret Service. Simply stated, don't let your passion get in the way of making your point,
10. Fail to include your name and address, even in email letters.
11. Demand a response.
    Identifying Legislation
    Cite these legislation identifiers when writing to members of Congress:
    House Bills: "H.R." House Resolutions: "H.RES."
    House Joint Resolutions: "H.J.RES." Senate Bills: "S."