There are many ways to engage your elected officials. You can call, email, write a letter, attend a legislative forum or plan an in-person visit. Here's how:

Contact your Iowa State Legislators

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find

Contact your U.S. Senators

• Contact U.S. Senator Joni Ernst https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

• Contact U.S. Senator Charles Grassley https://www.grassley.senate.gov/constituents/questions-and-comments

• For other U.S. Senators: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Contact U.S. Representatives

• Mariannette Miller-Meeks
  https://millermeeks.house.gov/

• For other U.S. Representatives: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

In person visits:

• Sierra Club often schedules “lobby days” where we go to the Des Moines Capital as a group and meet with legislators on issues of importance. Sign up for SE Iowa newsletters to find out about these lobby days.
• You can, of course, also schedule your own appointment with a legislator at any time. You may wish to visit the Capital for these visits or schedule a meeting with your legislator when they are in your local area.

How to arrange and prepare for an in-person visit (and tips on how and what to present):

While you are free to contact any legislator, it is most effective to communicate with the specific representatives for your area.  It is also a good idea to reach out to committee members who are working on the issue that interests you. There are multiple ways we can do this: Phone calls, emails, letters, texts and in person meetings. 

Personal Visits: Some dos and dont's 

Do:

• Make an appointment ahead of time clarify that you want to meet directly with the representative (if possible), not a staff member. Most State Legislators don’t have staff so you will be able to schedule an in-person appointment easily.
• Stick to the subject. Have a 1-2-page summary of main points that you can leave with them
• If you don't know something, say so - Be honest
• Know something about the official, their legislative priorities 
• Be cordial to the assistant
• Be on time - but be prepared to wait
• Know the number/name of the bill and something about it
• Call or write in a summary of the meeting afterwards
• Thank the public official for the meeting
• Be friendly but efficient and concise 

Don't:

• Be angry or hostile (I'm a taxpayer!) (You'll pay for this at the polls!)
• Be afraid to be assertive
• Have too much material (it won’t be read) 

Points to Know:

• Most public officials are happy when their constituents visit - they'll be friendly
• You pay their salary, they work for you
• Cultivate a good rapport with the assistant and staff - they can be very helpful