Call Action Alert: FAQs and Tips
Call Action Alert Frequently Asked Questions:
How long will it take me to complete this task? – The call itself is only 1 or 2 minutes, so the entire task will take you 2-5 minutes.
Who answers the phone when I call a Senate office?– One of the staffers whose job is to greet people entering the office and to answer calls will pick up the phone if available. These are generally new, young office staff who are very friendly. If they cannot get to the phone, or the office is not open, then you most likely will get voicemail where you can leave a message. Occasionally, you may get a voicemail that asks you to call back during office hours.
What will I say?– We give you a short script that you will use when you call. It’s important to state your name and that you are a constituent calling from X city, in X state, and you are calling in support of the Lymphedema Treatment Act, bill number S.1315. Your call will then get tallied for a report to the Senator so then he or she knows what issue/upcoming vote is important to their constituents.
My Senator is already a cosponsor, do I need to call?– YES, it is important to call and bring to their attention that the LTA has just passed the House, and that we need their help making sure it gets a vote in the Senate before the end of the year. Additionally, being a cosponsor does not guarantee that they will vote YES. In our House vote we had five cosponsors who voted no, so hearing from constituents right now is very important.
My Senator is not a cosponsor, do I need to call? -YES, many members of Congress who do not cosponsor a bill, will still vote Yes when the bill comes to the floor, especially if they have been educated on the bill (which we have done) and hear from their constituents that a Yes vote is important to them. In our House vote there were 76 Representatives who voted yes who had not cosponsored! You have the power to make a difference!
I called my Senator earlier this year, do I need to call again? – YES, it’s important that they hear from you now for the reasons explained above. If the LTA does not get a Senate vote before the end of the year, or if it doesn’t pass during that vote, we will have to start the whole process over again when the new Congress begins in January. The last in-session day for the Senate this year is currently scheduled for December 16th, and it would be ideal for you to call once a week until then, or until the bill is voted on if before then.
Why can’t I just send an email? – There are several reasons, but the most important is that phone calls carry a lot more weight than an email. One office told us it takes about 100 emails to equal the significance of them receiving just one phone call! Additionally, we are in a time-sensitive situation, and nothing gets more immediate attention than a phone call.
What if the staffer answering the phone asks me a question that I don’t know how to answer?– Staffers rarely ask any questions other than the bill number, how to spell Lymphedema, how to spell your name, and sometimes your city or zip code to verify that you are a constituent. In the unlikely event that you are asked a question to which you do not know the answer, just be honest and say you don’t know and that you will pass on their question to someone who does and they will follow up. Then you can simply email us with the question and we will respond.
Tips For Making Your Call:
- Start your call by stating your name, that you are a constituent, and give your city and state. For example, “Hi this is Suzy Q, a constituent from Hometown, Wisconsin….”
- Then just follow the script, which contains the name and number of the bill, and what you are asking them to do. The script will be in the call Action Alert along with your Senators’ phone numbers.
- Conclude with a sentence or two about why this bill is important to you. For example, “This bill is important to me because I am a Lymphedema patient and this bill would allow me access to my compression garments that I need to manage my disease and remain healthy.”
Still feeling uncertain? We have a quick video tutorial to show you how our Call Action Alert works, and a comprehensive video where members of our board demonstrate making a call and talk through the FAQs above.
No matter what you say, as long as you convey that you are a constituent calling in support of the Senate passing the Lymphedema Treatment Act, your call is tallied with any other calls and passed on to the Senator. The more calls received, the more weight the bill carries.
