Knowing What to Ask

The communications that receive the most attention in our office often ask for something specific, such as signing on to a specific piece of legislation, or voting in a particular way on a bill. Of course, we always appreciate updates and general information on issues you care about. However, you should think about whether there is something specific you would like Congressman Carney to do. To find out what bills have been introduced on any topic, try a keyword search on the Library of Congress website.

When considering what you want, be sure that you are asking for something that is actually a federal issue. For example, fixing a pothole on the road in front of your house is something that should be directed to your local elected officials. The following are the kinds of things that you might want to talk to Congressman Carney's office about.

• Sponsor, Cosponsor, or Vote for or Against Federal Legislation: On a daily basis, Congressman Carney makes important decisions on national policy issues. You should let him know when you strongly support or oppose a certain piece of legislation.
• Letters of Support: Whenever you make a grant request for funds from a federal agency, you may contact Congressman Carney's office and ask for a letter of support. Congressional offices receive these types of requests much of the time, and if there are no conflicts with other constituents, are usually happy to oblige. If you want to find out about available grants and loans from the federal government, click here.
• Research and Reference Information: Our office has access to a wide-range of research materials from the Library of Congress' Congressional Research Service (CRS), which you can ask for by topic.
• Tours: Our office offers tours of the Capitol, including the Capitol dome. We also have access to special tickets for tours of the White House, the Library of Congress, and other federal buildings. Click here for more information on Visiting Washinton, D.C.