Take Action: Letter Wizard

Option #1: Fill in the fields below to construct your email or letter:

Option #2: Use the Freedom Action Form

Representatives "represent" the people in their districts and will not put much weight in opinions from anywhere else. So...

#1 Find your representative's contact information here.

#2 Then copy and paste their information in the fields below:

Note: If you are sending an email than only the full name is necessary.

To The Honorable:
Address1:
Address2:
City:
State:	ZIP:
Phone:
eMail:

#3 Write Your Letter: The best letters are courteous, to the point, and include specific supporting examples.

NOTE: You can rewrite any of the following paragraphs to suit your particular situaion.

First Paragraph: Briefly say (1) why you are writing and (2) who you are. List your "credentials" which may be that you have an effected health issue.
As a constituent in your district I am requesting that you vote for the passage of House Bill: HR 91 Better Use of Light Bulb Act (BULB). The BULB Act repeals Subtitle B of Title III of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 that effectively bans incandescent bulbs in the US, starting in 2012. You have probably heard the arguments surrounding this bill that include saving energy, personal freedom of choice, and free market principles. However, I would like to make you aware that I have a serious health issue that involves the use of Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL).

Second Paragraph: Provide more detail. Be factual not emotional. Provide specific rather than general information about how the topic affects you and others.
People who are affected by the light emitting from CFL can experience nausea, migraine headaches, eye stain, agitation, depression, fatigue, digestive problems, heart palpitations and the list keeps growing. In fact, a variety of health issues are known to be affected by the use of CFL: Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, diabetes, epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, anxiety, Autism, learning disabilities, immune system disorders and more. CFL symptoms force individuals to not appear in public where CFL are used. For those with severe electromagnetic sensitivity (ES) or electrohypersensitivity (EHS), symptoms include sleep disorders, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, cognitive dysfunction, dizziness, skin disorders, among others. Also, medical studies are identifying the cumulative effects of mercury poisoning from broken CFL in homes and, even when properly disposed of, when mercury leaks from landfills into our food and water.

Third Paragraph: Include here your personal story or how fluorescent bulbs negatively effect you...


Fourth Paragraph: Close by requesting the action you want taken:Please vote in support of H.R. 91.
Now that you are aware of the health problems caused by CFL, I ask you to please support HR91, known as the BULB Act. I want to continue to have the option of using incandescent bulbs to protect my health. Your support of this bill will surely be remembered on Election Day. I look forward to hearing from you.

#4 Sign with your full name and your real physical address and contact information. Remember, Representatives represent their constituents so they need to know you can vote to keep them in or remove them from office.

Sincerely,

Address1:
Address2:
City:
State:	ZIP: +
Phone:
eMail:

#5  

The Consumerist says that the longer your letter, the longer a reply you will likely receive, providing you with more information to deal with your issue. Urging others to write also on the same issues across your district, your state and the country will add force to your voice in congress. To gain attention and add further weight to your letter you may want to get a write up in the local newspapers community section about your letter and the response you received with pictures of you and the letters. This can bring greater awareness to the issues and encourage still others to write as well.

And here are some additional pointers to consider:

1. Write a letter on real paper. It doesn't have to be hand-written; you can use a computer. But a physical sheet of paper carries more weight than an email. It takes more time, effort, energy, and thought than email.
2. Make sure you include your physical address. They need to know you are a constituent, even if you know you don't live in their district.
3. Make sure your name is clearly spelled out. Some signatures are hard to read, so make sure you legibly print your name on the letter.
4. Send the letter where the official is. Is the legislature meeting in session? Send the letter to Tallahassee. If not, send it to the district office.
5. Be nice. You can disagree without being disagreeable. So, treat your elected official the way you expect him or her to treat you - with civility and respect. Even if you are writing to Dick Cheney or Nancy Pelosi, and you hate their politics with a zealous fervor, being respectful yet direct can move your letter to the top of the stack.