Following Up

What you do after your initial contact with members of Congress may be the most important part of the communication process. Taking steps to capture the discussion, share feedback, and follow-up on any requests is the only way to ensure that you and your work will remain on the elected official's "radar-screen." The best way to achieve that goal (without becoming a pest) is through effective follow-up.

It is important to follow-up on your request within three weeks of your initial meeting or other contact. But remember, while following-up and asking again is valuable, being a pest is not. You should follow-up on your request within three weeks, and then about once every three to four weeks until you have a definitive answer. In some cases you may want to let the elected official set the pace. For example, if the staff indicates that they simply cannot respond to your request for two months, make a note to yourself to call back in two and one-half months.