Every two years when a new Congress begins, all the old bills die, if they do not pass. New bills have to be introduced again in the 102nd Congress. Sometimes proposed bills will languish for years, while other times bills move rapidly. To write effective letters you need to be informed of the current status of bills. Follow the issues in the media, and in newsletters and magazines from environmental groups. Some groups issue special "alert" bulletins advising their members as to the best time to write their legislators.
If you are not receiving good current information on the national legislative scene, you may want to subscribe to the 'Audubon Activist', an excellent newsletter published 9 times a year by The Audubon Society. The cost is reasonable - only $9 a year. To subscribe, send your check to:
Audubon Activist
950 Third Ave
New York, NY 10022
Another excellent source of up-to-date Washington political information is the Sierra Club National News Report, published 24 times a year, for $18 a year. Send your check to:
Sierra Club National News Report
730 Polk St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
HOTLINES!!!
Even if you are getting one or the other of the above newsletters, sometimes the mail just isn't fast enough. Both the above newsletters have 24 hour numbers you can call to get the latest legislative updates.
You can also call the US Capitol (202)225-1772 to obtain the current status of legislation, bill numbers, bill names and sponsors.
Once you've found out what is happening to the legislation, you may want to lobby your Congressperson directly by phone, if time is too short for a letter. The US Capitol switchboard's number is (202)224-3121, they can ring your senator or representative's office. ***
