Key Message:
Don’t give up!
Members of Congress and their staffs have very busy schedules. Each day they are contacted by hundreds of people who want to communicate the importance of a different policy concern. Sometimes it takes more than one communication to get their attention. If you have reached out to your Members of Congress and haven’t had a response, don’t be afraid to try again.
Highlighted FAQ: I already reached out to my legislators and have not heard back. What can I do to ensure that my future communications receive a response?
While Congressional offices often can’t respond to each and every communication they receive, what is most important is maintaining the contact and doing it in a variety of ways. If you haven’t already, reach out to your Members via email, phone and social media. Also consider reaching out to the staff member who handles tax issues directly or trying to catch the member face-to-face while they are back in the district. Feel free to email the working group atinfo@adoptiontaxcredit.org if you would like additional tips for effective outreach.
Calls to Action
Continuing Outreach – If you’ve contacted your Members of Congress about protecting the adoption tax credit and making it refundable, please encourage others to take action, too! As we know, there are power in numbers. Please use social media or other means to encourage your friends and family to engage in similar outreach. The more Members of Congress hear about an issue, the more likely they are to act. If you haven’t contacted your members yet, click here to craft a simple message and send it automatically to your members—it’s quick and easy! Please help us spread the word and encourage other to do so too!
In-Person Outreach – Consider scheduling a face-to-face meeting with your Members of Congress or their staff to talk about adoption issues. You can generally request a meeting through a form on their websites, either in DC or in a local office. Alternatively, consider attending a Town Hall or public event that your Members host and use it as an opportunity to talk about adoption issues. To find this sort of event, call your local offices, check their public calendars and/or follow them on social media/email lists for announcements about upcoming public appearances.