Write Your Congressional Representitive
Writing a letter to your representative is an impactful way to influence legislation. It can encourage them to make S. 1298 and H.R. 2672 Congressional priorities. Did you know that there are more than 10,000 bills filed each year? Only about 250 bills actually get passed yearly. Without your support, it is likely this legislation won't even be seen by our representatives, let alone brought up for a vote. Letters, calls and petitions help give voice to this legislation. Many people don't know where to begin. On this page you will find a sample letter and ways to contact your representative. Of course you can write your own letter instead! Letters can be sent by U.S Post or Email. Find your representative HERE. Follow the link and put your zip code or address in the box.
Sample Letter to Congressional Representative
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
The Honorable [Representative’s/Senator’s Full Name]
[Office Address, e.g., House Office Building or Senate Office Building]
Washington, DC [ZIP Code, e.g., 20515 for House, 20510 for Senate]
Dear [Representative/Senator Last Name],
I am writing as a concerned member of [Your Parish/Community Name] to urge your support for S. 1298 in the Senate and H.R. 2672 in the House, two critical bills that would protect our priests, religious sisters, and other religious workers from unjust deportation due to visa processing delays.
Recently, a change in U.S. immigration policy created a crisis for our clergy, religious workers and parishes. Previously, they could remain in the United States while their visa renewals were processed, allowing them to continue their vital ministries in our parishes. Now, due to significant backlogs in visa processing, many face the expiration of their initial visas and are forced to leave the country for at least one year, with no guarantee of reentry. This policy disrupts their sacred work, weakens our faith communities, and separates us from the spiritual leaders who guide and serve us.
S. 1298 and H.R. 2672 offer a compassionate solution by allowing religious workers affected by these delays to remain in the U.S. while awaiting visa renewals. These bills are essential to ensuring that our priests and sisters can continue their ministries without interruption.
As your constituent, I respectfully ask you to:
1. Support bringing S. 1297 (in the Senate) or H.R. 2672 (in the House) to a vote as soon as possible.
2. Vote YES on these bills to protect our religious workers and keep them in our communities.
Our faith calls us to act with compassion and justice, and supporting these bills is a concrete way to honor the contributions of our religious workers. They lead us in worship, provide spiritual guidance, and strengthen our communities through their service. Losing them to bureaucratic delays is unacceptable.
Please act swiftly to support S. 1297 and H.R. 2672. I am grateful for your attention to this urgent matter and for your service to our community.
To discuss this further, you may contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address].
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Parish/Community Name, if applicable]
If sending by email: You will fill out a form at your representative's site. It will include your name, address and email. Please delete these from your letter, as well as your representative"s address.
If sending by U.S. Post mail: Include all fields on your letter
Feel free to write your own letter in your own words. This sample letter is for guidance. Please be polite and concise for maximum impact.
Find your representative HERE. Follow the link and put your zip code or address in the box.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------