The most effective method of contacting your Congressman or Senator is to call their Washington D.C. office and tell a staff member your position. It is very simple, for every E-mail received they believe nine (9) other people share the same opinion. For every letter received in the mail they believe 15 other people agree with you. However for every call stating an opinion on an issue they believe that 27 more people share your opinion. By far this is the most effective method to sway Congress to act.
To find the contact information for your Congressman or Woman go to http://www.house.gov/
To find the contact information for your Senator go to http://www.senate.gov/
This week’s Focus Issue is U.S. Law 110-314 Read Law Here A Bill to establish regulations for lead levels in children’s products. This law was passed in the wake of several problems in 2007 of children’s toys imported from China with lead paint. Congress rushed to pass legislation to stop this from happening again. It was passed so hurriedly that only one Representatives and three Senators realized the ramifications of the bill and voted against it. What Congress did was create a gaggle of problems for thousands of small businesses across America.
For this and every issue I high light I will provide both a narrative and a letter/e-mail form you can use to contact your representatives. Add to it, or take anything away. They will be included as tools for you to draw from.
For the current issue of lead levels in children’s products U.S. Law 110-314 the following is an example of what I re-laid to my representatives.
Hello my name is (give first and last name), and I am form (city and state). I am calling to let the Congressman/Congresswoman/Senator know my opinion on the recent bill passed regulating the level of lead in children’s products. I feel that Congress has in a rush to appear concerned to the American people, they have passed a law which is unfair to millions of people. I understand the need to protect children for toxic materials, however I feel that Congress did not fully consider the effects this law would have on Main Street America. First the law is too far reaching in its scope by including products produced prior to the law being passed, and failing to exclude used sales of those items produced before this law was passed. By not including this needed Grandfather Clause which most laws of this kind contain you are going to force thousands of second-hand stores out of business, and prevent millions of families from being able to sell any toys or children’s clothing at yard sales for fear of being fined $100,000.00. Second, the inclusion of books and craft or homemade items will put undue responsibility on the producer. In both of these cases what is produced for adults, sometimes ends up being purchased by the parents for a child thus under this vague legislation makes the re-seller responsible. Third and most important is the fact that Congress passed this law and has made no attempt to disseminate the facts about the law to the retail and re-sale stores across America. No more than ten percent of the effect stores even know about the law and how it will affect them. Congress is negligent in is responsibility to notify those affected by any law passed.
I understand that Congress is reviewing the law to make some clarifications, but they are not addressing the adding of a Grandfather Clause, or the exclusion of books and craft or homemade products.
I am asking that the Congressman/Congresswoman/Senator take action to get this poorly written legislation rescinded before it forces thousands of small businesses to close, and fills our landfills with valuable and needed children’s toys and clothing. Please take action before this law does further damage to the economy, and hurts millions of Americans.
Thank you for your time.
A few things you should know. Yes this is lengthy, but a well thought opinion is given greater weight, and the Staff Member will not see you as giving a reactionary opinion. Also if the Staffer informs you that the representative voted against the bill, thank them for their vote and tell them that the representative should understand the need to act quickly to get this law rescinded.
If you have time and are so inclined it would be helpful to call all of the Representatives from your state to Washington, to give them your opinion. Since you are not from their district your opinion will carry less weight, but they will still see how wide spread the issue is and it will help to encourage action.
The following is the letter form for this issue.
Dear Congressman/Congresswoman/Senator( insert last name),
Hello my name is (give first and last name), and I am form (city and state). I am writing concerning U.S. Law 110-314, which was passed last year, regulating the level of lead in children’s products. I feel that Congress has in a rush to appear concerned to the American people, they have passed a law which is unfair to millions of people. I understand the need to protect children for toxic materials, however I feel that Congress did not fully consider the effects this law would have on Main Street America. First the law is too far reaching in its scope by including products produced prior to the law being passed, and failing to exclude used sales of those items produced before this law was passed. By not including this needed Grandfather Clause which most laws of this kind contain you are going to force thousands of second-hand stores out of business, and prevent millions of families from being able to sell any toys or children’s clothing at yard sales for fear of being fined $100,000.00. Second, the inclusion of books and craft or homemade items will put undue responsibility on the producer. In both of these cases what is produced for adults, sometimes ends up being purchased by the parents for a child thus under this vague legislation makes the re-seller responsible. Third and most important is the fact that Congress passed this law and has made no attempt to disseminate the facts about the law to the retail and re-sale stores across America. No more than ten percent of the effect stores even know about the law and how it will affect them. Congress is negligent in is responsibility to notify those affected by any law passed.
I understand that Congress is reviewing the law to make some clarifications, but they are not addressing the adding of a Grandfather Clause, or the exclusion of books and craft or homemade products.
I am asking that you take action to get this poorly written legislation rescinded before it forces thousands of small businesses to close, and fills our landfills with valuable and needed children’s toys and clothing. Please take action before this law does further damage to the economy, and hurts millions of Americans.
Thank you for your time.
(Your name)
We only have until February 10, 2009 to sway Congress to rescind this law. So please my friends call and e-mail as many Representatives and Senators as you can to let Washington know that this law must be rewritten to protect the thousands it will harm.
Please let me know if you have any questions concerning this issue, I will be glad to help in any way I can.
Take care friends, and remember if you remain silent you will be ignored.
Gerald
