H.R. 4169
Contacting your Congressman
A Step by Step Guide

It is important that you understand the bill and have your talking points in front of you. Print out these talking points.  When you call, ask to speak to the health legislative aid. Very politely explain the issue to the health staffer and ask them to review the bill. Tell them you would like to give them a week to review the bill with their member of Congress and then call back a week later - it is important that you call them back a week later - otherwise it may slip off the front burner. You should also emphasize to them that this bill does not say there is a link between mercury in vaccines and neuro-developmental disorders. It just says we should get the mercury out of vaccines - just as the American Academy of Pediatrics, Institute of Medicine and others have called for. Staffers deal with hundreds of issues and politeness and your persistence will help make sure that your Member of Congress gives HR 4169 the attention it deserves.

It is critical that after you contact your Member of Congress, that you follow up with a phone call.

Why should you follow up with a phone call? There are over 5,000 bills that have been introduced in the Congress. There simply is not the time to review in detail all of these bills. There are hundreds (if not more than 1,000) health care related bills introduced in the Congress and a member only has one staffer partially dedicated to working on health care issues.

Feel free to fax this ad to your Member of Congress.