Thanks for your interest in setting up a meeting in your district. Here's some more detailed information you'll need.

Steps to hold an in-district meeting:

  • Contact us (if you haven't done so already) if you want to participate so we can send you materials and connect you with other local advocates participating. Find your members of Congress!
  • Schedule a meeting with your House and Senate members. Call or send a letter to your local office. For statewide groups, you can meet with your entire House delegation.
  • Prepare for your meeting. Download and get to know the talking points below. Meet with the other coalition members that will join you, if applicable.
  • Conduct your meeting. Arrive on time and remember to bring a few copies of the materials to leave behind.
  • Complete and return the meeting report form. This will help us know who is supportive of our issues and send out any materials requested during your meeting. (form will be here soon.)
  • Send a thank you letter to the person you met with along with any information they requested.
  • Stay involved by signing up for SGA's Action Alerts and Washington Update. These will keep you informed on the progress of legislation and opportunities to contact your legislator on critical issues in the future.

General Materials:

  1. Step-by-step directions for holding a successful district meeting
  2. Tips for scheduling a meeting (pdf) and sample letter [.doc] to request a meeting
  3. Comprehensive talking points
  4. Transportation For America website. The campaign for the transportation bill reauthorization next year.
  5. 2007 Growth and Transportation poll from SGA and the National Association of Realtors. Good numbers to back up your case that Americans think well-planned growth and investment in public transportation are smart choices.

Complete Streets

  • Fact Sheet on the Complete Streets bills (House and Senate) (.pdf)
  • Support letter for S 2686, the Senate Complete Streets Bill (pdf)
  • Support letter for HR 5951, the House Complete Streets Bill (pdf)
  • Chart of Complete Streets policies across the country (look for your area) (pdf)
  • How Complete Streets are related to gas prices. A fact sheet

High-Speed Rail Act of 2008

  1. One-pager about Sen. Kerry's High Speed Rail Act (pdf)
  2. Summary of Sen. Kerry's High Speed Rail Act (pdf)

HR 6495: Gas Prices Relief Act

  1. Summary of HR 6495: Rep. Blumenauer's Gas Prices Relief Act (pdf)
  2. Letter of support for HR 6495 signed by supporting organizations (pdf)
  3. Earl Blumenauer in The Oregonian on HR 6495: "Blumenauer steps up as fuel costs soar" (pdf)

If you have questions at any time, contact Stephanie Potts at Smart Growth America. 202-207-3355 x25 | spotts@smartgrowthamerica.org

Don't want to have a meeting on your own? Recruit someone to join you!

Do you know of someone else who is interested, engaged, and would like to be a part of your meeting? You can use this form to let them know about the in-district meetings and to sign up and participate as well. We've got a message to get you started, but you can add what you like. Fill in recipients' emails down in the last box.


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Meet with your congressperson in August!

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I signed up for an in-district meeting with my Senators or Representatives to advocate for smarter growth over the August recess. Join me if you'd like to do the same. Learn more about the meetings from Smart Growth America in their advocacy center.

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