Base your letter on your own pertinent experiences and observations. If writing about a specific bill , describe it by number or by its popular name. Legislators have thousands of bills before them in the course of a year, and cannot always take time to figure out to which one you are referring. Representatives have to vote on many matters with which they have had little or no firsthand experience. Some of the most valuable information they receive comes from facts presented in letters from people who have knowledge in the field.
Short letters are almost always best.
Members of Congress receive many, many letters each day, and a lengthy one may not get as prompt a reading as a brief statement. Letters should be timed to arrive while the issue is alive. Members of the committee considering the bill will appreciate having your views while the bill is ripe for study and action. Follow through with a thank you letter , whenever possible.