Call Your Member of Congress

When an action is particularly urgent, ONE will ask its members to call their senators and representatives around specific upcoming votes, congressional activities, or important pieces of legislation. ONE staff will provide you with contact information, the specific request for your call, and best practices when making these calls.

The volume of calls a Congressional office receives can give an overwhelming sense of urgency to an action. It also indicates how much interest the district has in an issue, and lets the member know her or his constituents are paying attention. Making a phone call to your representative or senator only takes a few moments out of your day, but it could help improve the lives of millions of people around the world.

Once you make your call, encourage your friends and family members to call as well. ONE will contact you at the moments when your calls are most critically needed.

Making your call is easy. Here is a video with some simple steps to guide you through the process:

Find your member of Congress' contact information

Call these general numbers to be transferred to your member of Congress' office:

Senate switchboard: 202-224-3121
House switchboard: 202-225-3121

Let us know how your call went

Contact your local organizer or report your call on the link in the email alert you received for the action, and let us know what happened during your call. The more detail you give us, the better we can measure the success of an action and provide ONE staff in Washington, D.C. with leverage for when they follow up with your member of Congress later.

Tips for a successful call

- Know the facts before you call. Read up on ONE's current action before you dial. You can also check in with your local field organizer to find out about any specific legislation we would like you to support with your call.

- Stay on message. Your call will be short, so use your time wisely to make sure your key points are conveyed. Focus on only one topic at a time. Keep in mind that you are calling to advocate for the world's poorest people, and avoid bringing up other issues during your call. When you call, remember to:

1) Identify yourself as a a ONE member and let the staff person know you care about fighting global poverty.

2) Clarify that you are a constituent. Go ahead and give them your city and zip code.

3) Indicate the specific action you would like the member of Congress to take, and mention a bill name and number if possible.