If they are unwilling to make a commitment, set a date to follow up b. Follow up with the MoC or aides Tips for building relationships with Members of Congress Members of Congress are people just like us. They feel the same stress, and struggle with the same issues as we do. Their days are filled from morning to often late night with meetings, hearings, markups, and public speaking. In between that, they are expected to consider and vote on legislation constantly being brought up in committees and on the House floor.
Members make many sacrifices to serve the public.
They spend much of their week away from their family and friends, and when they are not in Washington or in their districts, they spend their time traveling between the two. Try to imagine the life of Neil Abercrombie, for instance, who travels all the way to Hawaii every two weeks, having to deal with being away from his family, the time change, jet lag, and everything else that comes with such a trip. One of the best ways to reach a Member of Congress is to acknowledge what they have done. Simply noticing the positive actions they have taken and thanking them can be very powerful for members, who often feel overworked and unappreciated. Members of Congress, just like us, want to be held in high regard.