Build a relationship with your member of Congress that gets 24-hour turnaround

This article is part of Advocacy Basics: Working with Congress.

Were you a little surprised by this particular milestone? Anxious to read the steps to achieve it? Well, unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple . . . but it is incredibly exciting.

Reaching a level of relationship with your member of Congress that enables 24-hour turnaround on phone calls is as much a qualitative description as it is a concrete goal. As Sam Daley-Harris has explained, senators and representatives all have go-to people, people they are in regular contact with, people they trust, and people with whom they have tight relationships. Why can’t some of those people be us? It’s not unachievable, but it takes persistence and patience.

However, there is no secret formula to making this happen; no one-time action that will reach this goal overnight. Instead, it is a matter of persistence, patience and seizing the opportunities presented to you. We have given you the tools. By working through the other Advocacy Basics, you can create this kind of a relationship with your member of Congress. With time, you will see progress in the depth and mutuality of your relationship with your legislator.