Every day, hundreds of people meet with Members of Congress, individually or in groups. Meeting with a Member or their staff should not be thought of as an extraordinary occurrence, but rather as an ordinary event. You will be welcomed. If Washington is too far to visit, meeting with a Member at his or her district or state office is possible. An advantage of a visit away from Washington is that you will likely have more time and be free from the interference of voting and committee hearings.
Members are busy people, especially senators.
Be prepared to state who will be attending the appointment and the purpose of your visit. Have alternative dates ready. This will give a focus to your appointment, and will enable you to better determine a Member's position. Be ready with a brief, nontechnical explanation of the issue. Avoid jargon and abbreviations.