Speak Out to Congress

Contact congress and explain how sleep is important to public health and safety, and that funding sleep research drives economic growth.

How to Contact Your U.S. Representative or Senator

To find your Representative: Go to the U.S House of Representatives website and use the Find Your Representative search field in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage to enter your ZIP Code. A map will display the congressional districts nearby your zipcode, along with links to websites for each Representative.

To find your Senator: Go to the Senators listing on the U.S. Senate website and choose your state. The page will then display the names and website URLs for both of your Senators.

Your Representative or Senator should have a contact link, tab or button somewhere on the website homepage, with a phone number, web form or email. It is best to contact the in-state office and ask to speak to the person in charge of the Representative or Senator's schedule.

SRS Talking Points

When you contact members of Congress, emphaisize the following points:

1. State your purpose - to discuss sleep research issues
2. Say where you work, the number of people in your lab and that the jobs are supported through grants. You may ask your Congressman to visit your lab if you feel comfortable and your institution permits visits
3. Let the member of Congress know that you realize upcoming budgets will be difficult; however, research is an economic engine

• Each NIH grant creates seven new jobs on average
• Discoveries made through research can lead to new technology, medicine or treatments that translate into new jobs.
• New treatments for diseases, especially chronic disease, can increase the quality of life and workplace productivity