Three Things You Can Say to Your Legislators During August Recess—in 100 Words or Less
August recess brings Arizona’s members of Congress home, creating one of the year’s best opportunities to speak with them at town halls, community events, district offices and congregational visits.
You do not need to be a policy expert or deliver a lengthy presentation. Introduce yourself as a constituent and person of faith, briefly explain what you are seeing in your community, and make one clear request. Here are three messages you can use or personalize—each in fewer than 100 words.
1. Protect Arizonans from hunger
I am your constituent and a Lutheran who believes no neighbor should go hungry. Arizona food banks and congregations are already seeing families struggle with high food, housing and utility costs. Please protect and strengthen SNAP, support the Restoring Food Security for American Families Act, and oppose further barriers that take food assistance away from children, older adults, veterans and working families. Charitable food ministries cannot replace an effective federal nutrition program. What will you do to protect SNAP and ensure Arizona families can put food on the table?
No Arizona member currently serves on a congressional agriculture committee, but every member will ultimately vote on Farm Bill and funding decisions affecting SNAP. Contact both senators and your own representative.
2. Invest in affordable housing and protection from extreme heat
I am your constituent and a person of faith concerned about Arizona neighbors facing homelessness, unaffordable rents and deadly heat. Please protect federal investments in rental assistance, affordable housing, homelessness services, cooling assistance and community heat resilience. Arizona congregations and nonprofit organizations serve people in crisis every day, but charitable ministries cannot meet this need alone. Stable housing and protection from extreme heat are matters of human dignity and public health. Will you support strong federal housing and heat-response funding in this year’s appropriations bills?
Sen. Ruben Gallego and Rep. Juan Ciscomani have especially relevant housing responsibilities, while Sen. Mark Kelly and Reps. Yassamin Ansari and Greg Stanton are well positioned to address heat resilience and emergency preparedness.
3. Uphold dignity and due process in immigration policy
I am your constituent and a Lutheran called to welcome the stranger and protect human dignity. Arizona needs an immigration system that keeps communities safe while preserving asylum, due process and family unity. Please oppose inhumane detention conditions and indiscriminate enforcement that separates families, disrupts congregations and leaves longtime community members living in fear. Congress should provide meaningful oversight of ICE and Customs and Border Protection and pursue workable, humane immigration reform. What will you do to ensure that federal immigration policy reflects both accountability and respect for every person?
Immigration policy directly affects Arizona congregations, border communities and mixed-status families. Sen. Gallego and Reps. Eli Crane, Andy Biggs and Juan Ciscomani hold particularly relevant committee assignments, but every member of Congress should hear from constituents.
Your story is the most important part
Choose the issue closest to your experience and add one sentence about a family, food pantry, cooling center, shelter, school or congregation you know. A short, personal message with a clear request is often more memorable than a long list of statistics.
Review Arizona’s congressional delegation and committee assignments, then visit LAMA’s August Recess resources for guidance on requesting a meeting, inviting a legislator to visit your ministry or preparing for a town hall.
Faithful advocacy is not about party loyalty. It is about bringing our neighbors’ experiences into the public square and asking those who represent us to seek the well-being of all.
For framing and context, read below: