3. Congressional Support

The administration’s foreign policies are taking this country in the wrong direction. By broadening the political base of people speaking out about foreign policy, and by compelling individuals to take action, we can create a debate in the mainstream, and a movement in Congress, for a better alternative.

Better Leadership for Better Policies
Below you can view and print out an endorsement form for the Campaign for a New Foreign Policy. The goal of the Campaign for a New Foreign Policy is to get specific members of Congress to support us. By supporting the campaign, members of Congess commit themselves to a foreign policy based on values like human rights and democracy, nuclear disarmament, and international cooperation. Let us know when you get a member of Congress to sign on: call our Organizing Director, Beth Fitzgerald at (301) 565-4050, or email Beth at bfitzgerald@peace-action.org.

Read and print out a copy of the Endorsement Form.

Meeting With Congress
Other organizations and prominent community leaders have endorsed your campaign. You’ve also generated letters for a new foreign policy to a member of Congress from his or her constituents. Now what?

Now you’ll have to meet with the member of Congress and persuade him or her to formally endorse the Campaign for a New Foreign Policy. This might not be as hard as you think: with your list of endorsers, and the thousands of letters you’ve generated, you’ve already given your member of Congress plenty of reasons to support.

Tips for a Successful Meeting

1. Good preparation will lead to a good meeting.
Get to know your member of Congress’ record; this will give you an opportunity to thank them for their work on specific issues. You can use the Peace Action Education Fund’s Congressional Voting Record to see how your member of Congress has voted on foreign policy issues in the past.

Call the legislator’s scheduler to set up the meeting. If you are able to meet with the member of Congress in person, the longest meeting you are likely to get is 15 or 20 minutes. If you are meeting with a member of his or her staff, you might ask for more time.

Create an agenda. Remember, the goal here is for the member of Congress to endorse the campaign. Identify two or three discussion points that will persuade him or her to do so. Prepare materials, including the endorsement form, to leave with the legislator or staff member.

Your meeting with your Senator or Representative is a good time to involve the people who endorsed your campaign. Decide who will attend the meeting and make sure everyone has a role to play.

2. Be Communicative, Yet Concise.
Start with introductions: have all participants describe who they are and what they do in the community. Show the legislator that the issue is important to his or her constituents. This is a good time to present the letters you have generated, or give the member of Congress a tally of your local members.

Explain the issue. Let your legislator know why you (and his or her constituents) are deeply concerned about the effect of US foreign policy and why we need a foreign policy better aligned with American values. Make sure to be concise and stick to your agenda.

Don’t forget to listen. This is an important opportunity to find out where the member of Congress stands, so you’ll want to listen to their opinion. No matter how much you disagree with him or her, make sure to be respectful and polite.

Ask them to endorse the campaign. If the legislator is unwilling to make a commitment, set a date for a follow up meeting. Make a note of any questions, concerns, or objections so that you can respond in the future.

3. Follow Up, and Follow Through.
Right after the meeting, prepare to follow up with the member of Congress, and follow through with any commitments you made. Send a thank you letter, along with a summary of the meeting to the person you met with along with any materials or information you offered. Decide what’s the next step and be persistant.

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