SAMPLE EMAIL TO CONGRESS REPS
(best if modified to be in your own words)
Dear [Name of Senator or Congressional Representative]:
As your constituent and a concerned citizen, I am writing to respectfully request your support for [S 1280 (if Senator)] or [HR 2337 (if House Representative)] - the “Kate Puzey Peace Corps Protection Act” being introduced by [Senator Isakson and Senator Boxer (if Senator)] or [Representative Ted Poe and Representative Sam Farr (if House Representative)].
I strongly believe that Congress should enact this important bill to help better protect Peace Corps Volunteers and support Volunteers who become victims of violence during their service. Doing so will address some critical problems and honor of the service of these brave American women and men, who are the heart of the Peace Corps and deserve our support for their safety.
[Note to letter-writer: Include some specific information about the bill – examples below about what the bill will include]
- Increase staff training to both help prevent and better respond to sexual and physical violence
- Establish Victim Advocate staff to assist Peace Corps Volunteers who become victims of rape, sexual assault, or other violent crime.
- Establish a Sexual Assault Advisory Council to help ensure that policies stay aligned with best-practices in the fields of sexual assault prevention and victim assistance.
- Provide stronger confidentiality protection for Peace Corps Volunteers who report crime as whistleblowers or victims themselves.
- Improves preventative evaluation mechanisms to identify problems that could potentially endanger the safety of Volunteers are recognized and resolved.
- CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL TEXT OF BILL
The US Peace Corps, numerous victim advocacy organizations, and many former & current Volunteers all support the “Kate Puzey Peace Corps Protection Act”. The bill is named after a former Volunteer who was murdered in 2009 after she reported sexual misconduct by a Peace Corps employee and her confidentiality was broken. The legislation provides critical, commonsense protections and support for the Volunteers, and imposes no additional burden on the American taxpayer.
[Note to letter-writer: If applicable, please include here any personal story of why the bill is important to you; for example, if you or someone you know has served, is serving, or will serve in the Peace Corps]
I sincerely hope you will support the “Kate Puzey Peace Corps Protection Act”.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Optional address or contact information – makes it more legitimate]
More Specific (Hypothetical) Example
“John Doe” Email to “Senator Doe” (note personal wording)
Dear Senator Doe:
As your constituent, and a personal supporter of yours, I am writing to respectfully request your strong support for S 1280 - the “Kate Puzey Peace Corps Protection Act” being introduced by Senator Isakson and Senator Boxer.
I feel very strongly that Congress needs to pass this bill to help better protect Peace Corps Volunteers and support Volunteers who become victims of crime during their service. Doing so will address some critical problems – you may have seen these reported in the news this year - and also honor of the service of the brave American women and men who volunteer for this wonderful organization and deserve our support for their safety.
Some key items the bill will address are increasing staff training to both help prevent and better respond to sexual and physical violence, and providing stronger confidentiality protection for Peace Corps Volunteers who report crime as whistleblowers or victims themselves.
The US Peace Corps, numerous victim advocacy organizations, and many former & current Volunteers all support the “Kate Puzey Peace Corps Protection Act”. The legislation provides critical, commonsense protections and support for the Volunteers, and imposes no additional burden on the American taxpayer.
The bill is named after Kate Puzey, a former Volunteer who was murdered in 2009 after she reported sexual misconduct by a Peace Corps employee and her confidentiality was broken. Our family actually knew Kate when she was in high school, and I can attest that she embodied the best of America, and her loss is a great tragedy. Also my own daughter has considered serving in the Peace Corps, and therefore it is extremely important to me that this bill is passed in order to protect her safety and build a stronger Peace Corps.
I sincerely hope you will support the “Kate Puzey Peace Corps Protection Act”.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue.
Sincerely,
John Doe
2292 John Doe Lane
Doeland, CA 94704
p.s. please feel free to contact me for further information: johndoe@johndoe.com
SAMPLE LETTER
You can also send a regular letter to your representative’s office. If so, we suggest referring to the email sample above and simply copying your email or writing a longer version of it.
Remember, it is better to call and/or email, since a regular letter will take three weeks to go through security. That said, personal letters do make more powerful impressions, and you can just use the email you have already written and hope it arrives in time.
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