Do I need to be an expert to contact Congress?

No. A short, clear message from a constituent is enough. Offices are used to calls and emails from people who are not policy experts.

Will the representative personally read my message?

Usually a staff member reads, categorizes, and logs constituent messages. The volume and themes of constituent contact can still be reported to the member and staff leadership.

Should I contact my House representative or my senators?

For federal policy issues, it is reasonable to contact your U.S. House representative and both U.S. senators. Contact your own offices first because congressional offices prioritize constituents.

Take action toolkit

Contact Your Representatives About a Government Shutdown

Use official contact paths, plain-English scripts, and a private checklist to contact your U.S. House representative and senators about a federal government shutdown. This page does not store your ZIP code, address, or message.

Find officials Email template Phone script

Find Official Contact Paths

House

Find your representative

Enter your ZIP code to open the official House.gov lookup. Some ZIP codes span more than one district, so House.gov may ask for your full address.

Senate

Find your senators

Senators represent the whole state. Choose your state to open the official Senate state page with both senators, contact links, and office phone numbers.

State

Open Senate Directory

Choose your state to open the official Senate state page.

Phone

Capitol Switchboard

The U.S. Capitol Switchboard can connect you to House and Senate offices. It is useful when you know the office name but do not have the direct number.

(202) 224-3121

Ask to be connected to your representative's office or to one of your senators.

Make the Message Easier

Email Generate a shutdown email template Create a customizable message you can paste into an official contact form. Phone Generate a short call script Use a simple, natural script for calling a congressional office. Pick your concern What are you concerned about? Choose a shutdown issue and we will point you to the most relevant guide and message template.

Why Contacting Congress Matters

Congressional offices receive, categorize, and count constituent contact. You may not speak directly to the member, but that does not make the contact meaningless. Staff can track volume, themes, local stories, and requests for a public position.

21.7% Self-reported contacting a member of Congress in the prior 12 months in a 2025 constituent engagement report.

8-15% Behavioral estimates cited in the same report suggest actual annual congressional contact may be lower than self-reports.

40.5% Of non-contactors in that report said members do not care about people like them.

37.1% Of non-contactors said contacting Congress is too difficult. This page is meant to remove that friction.

You do not need a perfect argument. A clear, respectful sentence about what you want and why it matters to you is enough to be logged.

What Usually Happens After You Contact an Office

The office checks constituency.Most forms ask for address information because offices prioritize people who live in the district or state.
A staffer logs the topic.Your message may be categorized by issue, position, bill number, agency, or requested action.
Patterns get summarized.Offices often watch whether one issue is generating unusual volume, local stories, or urgent service problems.
You may receive a response.Many offices send a form response. That can still mean your contact was counted.

What Are You Concerned About?

Choose a shutdown issue and we will point you to the most relevant guide and message template.

Pick your concern

Contact Checklist

Found my House representative Found my two senators Drafted or copied a message Contacted my House office Contacted one Senate office Contacted the other Senate office

Relevant Committee Links

Your own representative and senators are the best first contacts. Committee pages can still be useful for tracking hearings, subcommittee work, appropriations materials, and official statements.

House AppropriationsAnnual funding bills and subcommittee work. Senate AppropriationsSenate funding bills, hearings, and subcommittees. House Homeland SecurityDHS oversight and public materials. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsGovernment operations and DHS oversight.

Sources

FAQ

Do I need to be formal?

No. Be respectful and clear. It is okay to say, "I live in your district and I am concerned about the shutdown."

Should I mention a bill number?

If you know one, include it. If not, say the issue plainly. Staff can still log the topic.

Is calling better than emailing?

Both can matter. Calling is quick and useful during fast-moving issues. Email is better when you want to include a personal story or detailed request.