ReadyRsv’s Guide To Effective Congressional and Senatorial Contact

We have all gotten the emails about NAI. If you STILL haven’t heard of this development, look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJCjHS0KQdc


Reading about how to effectively communicate with my elected officials I found that form letter and petitions are the lowest ranked, in terms of influence, methods of communication. Right now, all your #DENYNAI effort may be wasted!

I did some more research and developed my own couple of steps. I am in the process of setting up a meeting with one of my Senators staffers in DC next week! I have also been able to establish a context with a staffer for my local congressman and will be having an office visit in my district or a phone call very soon, as well. One of my Senators office did not take any bait but I am going to try again.

We only have a few more days to influence our future.


OK, step 1.

Write a brief introductory email, you will use this as the basis for your communication after calling the office of your rep/senator.


I am assuming most of you can write better than myself, a product of public school and state college. This is just a template of what I did. I put a few topics for each paragraph, feel free to use your own or post more in replies. The idea is a succinct, sub 1 page letter explaining: Who you are (an informed voter), what NAI is, why it's bad, what you want, offer to meet or speak.

[Brief Email Template, PLEASE DON’T COPY WORD FOR WORD]

Dear [conact name],

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about the situation around NAI.

I am an airline pilot for a major airline in (XYZ) and have been for Xyears. (brief personal background, 3 sentences)

Briefly explain what NAI is in your own terms. “Why it’s bad" (3-4 sentences)
-Avoiding taxes
-offshoring jobs
-avoiding labor laws
-hurting competition
-intentional design to avoid taxes, regulation and competition
*** #1. Against treaty signed by US/EU! Illegal!


My airline employs over X people in the XYZ metro area and X people nationwide. These are very good jobs. Unfortunately, these jobs are in danger due to NAI. (3-4 sentences)
-merchant marine industry collapse
-loss of airline service to small communities
-loss of tax revenue
-loss of jobs (won’t come back to USA)
-worse safety record

I encourage you to reach out to the DOT in opposition of the approval of NAI. (2-3 sentences)

Offer to meet with or talk on phone for further info. Offer specific times you are available. (pilot schedules! yikes!)

Close with a sincere thank you sentence.


Step 2,

Sit down in a quiet spot (like your hotel room desk) and call your representative’s office. Be POLITE, identify yourself as a constituent and inform them you would like to speak with them about an issue. They will say yes. Slowly, clearly and calmly go over that email you just wrote, hitting the highlights. (That’ why we wrote it first!)

The staffer who answers will say one of a few things, but it boils down to wanting more information or getting you off the phone. Two of the three people I have contacted wanted more. Offer to follow up with your email. They may give you their own email address or someone more specific. I got a scheduler’s email address for my senator and the staffer I called in congress gave me his and the appropriate person emailed me back.

Side note: Staffers are recent college grads working for your congressmen. You need to educate them on this issue. The person in charge of aviation is just the person delegated to that job, not a real-deal expert. There are people like that in congressional staffs but they would be a committee staffer, for instance. Assume an educated person who has very little time and wants the meat of the issue and WHY THEY SHOULD CARE!

Step 3,
Send that email! (Maybe wait more than 5 minutes though, you know, since you wrote that excellent email from above, which probably took more than 5 minutes)

Step 4,
Wait 2 business days and email back if no response.

Step 5,
Schedule call or meeting.

Step 6,
Maybe do some more research! Wow! You’re actually going to DC/your local reps office/calling a Senate staffer on the phone! Better study up!

Did you know?

Deny NAI
https://www.transportation.gov/brief...-international
"The whole shebang!"
https://www.regulations.gov/#!docket...-OST-2013-0204


Step 7,
Make your case in a polite, respectful, but knowledgeable fashion. You are an industry veteran and you represent an influential (and in their wyes) most likely wealthy group of voters. Don’t forget to bring your “ask” that they follow up by using their influence to STOP the approval of NAI.

Step 8,
Don’t forget to say thanks! Send a thank you note. We will have lots more battles, why not establish a rapport!

Thanks all,
This should only take about an hour of your time to get set up, and any time spent actually interacting with congress will VASTLY effect your future.

I am just a few days ahead of you guys on this so please, those of you who have walked thescum ridden ,er ,hallowed halls of congress please feel free to correct my almost certain mistakes and inaccuracies.