Resources. Planning for the congressional recess.
Tools and resources on how to take action in your community.

Grassroots options for recess

This year Congress will be in recess between March 21 and April 1.This means that Senators, Representatives and their key staff are likely to be spending a significant amount of time in their home states or districts (although some actually do leave for vacation). While they’re home, this is the best opportunity for constituents to get direct access to members of Congress.

Advocates in DC anticipate that by the time Congress leaves for recess both the House and Senate will have passed their version of the congressional budget resolution. This should give local groups an opportunity to assess how their Senators and Representatives acted during the budget process, and may allow community residents the chance to contrast the House and Senate bill against each other as the House and Senate prepare to conference the resolution.

What messages will your Senators and Representatives take back with them to Washington, DC when the congressional recess ends?

Community groups hoping to take advantage of the two-week recess must begin planning and taking action now. Here are some suggestions:

Schedule an appointment with your Senator or Representative.

Nothing is better than face-to-face contact when trying to get a point across to a member of Congress. Getting meetings can be tough given the members' schedules, but it’s worth making the effort. Meeting requests often go through a separate process within congressional offices that help heighten the level of attention given to particular issues. For information on things to consider when requesting a meeting, and a template for a meeting request, click below.

For information on things to consider when requesting a meeting, and a template for a meeting request (MS Word doc, 27k or PDF, 15k)

Generate news coverage on your issue during the congressional recess.

Creative actions that draw attention to real human stories and compelling images make for good newspaper, radio and television news content. Whether you use direct action to demand the attention of your member of Congress, or hold a rally to raise the prominence of an issue while your elected official is in town, real action with real constituent turn-out is always an important element of grassroots strategy. If you hold a local event, please send us photos, information, etc. so we can post it.

Click here, to send us photos, information, etc. so we can post it

Write an op-ed in your local newspaper while your elected officials are in town.

Explain why a budget that includes deep cuts to or spending caps for programs like Medicaid, food stamps, child care, housing, student loans, education, veterans’ health, and law enforcement programs – while at the same time proposing more than $1 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy – reflects the wrong priorities. Click below for suggestions on how to write and place an op-ed in your local newspaper. Then send us a copy.

	Click here, for suggestions on how to write and place an op-ed in your local newspaper
	Send us a copy of your op-ed

Send an e-mail to your Senators and Representative using CCC Action.

Tell your Senators and Representative in the House to reject the President’s budget proposal and all attempts to use dirty budgeting tricks, like reconciliation or budget process changes, to force quick action on cuts to federal entitlement programs (such as Medicaid or welfare). To email your elected representatives, click below.

Click here, to e-mail your elected representatives

Weigh in with your Governor using CCC Action.

Email your governor, and tell her/him to weigh in with those members of Congress who represent your state. Governors need to oppose any budget proposal that cuts funding for critical domestic programs and shifts funding problems onto already cash-strapped states. Click below to take action.

Click here, to e-mail your state governor

Write a letter to the editor.

Respond to past press coverage on budget or low-income issues by explaining how cuts to programs like Medicaid, food stamps, child care, student loans, or education programs will affect real people in your community. Use the letter to urge your Senator/Representative/Governor to reject a budget that harms low-income and other working families. Click below for help writing a letter to the editor for your local newspaper. Then send us a copy.

	Click here, for suggestions on how to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper
	Send us a copy of your letter to the editor

Sign our petition.

It thanks Senator Voinovich (R-OH) for speaking out against including massive tax cuts in the budget resolution, and urges other Senators to follow his lead. Click here to sign the petition.

Click here, to step up and thank unlikely hero, Senator Voinovich