Personal meetings with legislators and their staff members continue to be the most effective way to convey your views, and visits have taken on increasing importance ever since regular mail became problematic.  Besides establishing a personal relationship, a meeting provides an opportunity to provide written materials in person, avoiding the mail delivery problems discussed above.

If you are a VA employee, meetings must be conducted on personal time.  Follow the Guidelines on Lobbying by Federal Employees when meeting with legislators.

At any time, individual or group appointments can be arranged by contacting your legislator's Washington or district office.  District offices are listed in your local phone book or go to Congress.org and use the online directory to look up your legislator's Washington office as well as local addresses and phone numbers.

Anytime you anticipate being in the Washington area, plan ahead and request appointments with your legislators by sending a fax to their Washington, DC, offices.  Send requests for local appointments to the state or district office.  Address your fax to the legislator’s “Scheduler” or “Appointments Scheduler.”  Use Congress.org to find out their name or call the legislator’s office and inquire.

Always identify yourself as a constituent when asking for an appointment.  If the legislator is unavailable, the appropriate staff person may offer to meet with you.  Don't pass up this opportunity to initiate a relationship.

Be persistent when requesting appointments.  Scheduling meetings may require a fax or email and two or three follow-up calls.  Wait a week and then call the legislator’s scheduler or appointment secretaries.  Be prepared to re-send your request and call again a few days later.

If your appointment request is referred to the legislative assistant (LA) for veterans’ issues, take it!  Then the next time you make such a request, point out that you have already met with staff and would like to meet with the legislator if at all possible.

Sample faxes for requesting appointments are provided on the following pages.

	Sample Fax Requesting a Washington, DC Appointment
	Sample Fax Requesting an Individual State or District Office Appointment
	Sample Fax Requesting a Group State or District Office Appointment
	Sample Letter Inviting a Member of Congress to Visit Your Research Facility