The global pandemic caused many organizations, including MOAA, to adjust advocacy strategy. In MOAA’s efforts to never stop serving, the organization continues to be a voice for our members and the entire uniformed service community in a virtual environment.

MOAA’s Government Relations team regularly meets with lawmakers and their staffs in remote settings to ensure that servicemembers past and present, their families, caregivers, and survivors remain a priority for the 117th Congress. There are many ways MOAA members can support these efforts by advocating from your home.

[GET INVOLVED: MOAA's Advocacy in Action 2022]

Call

One of the easiest ways to engage with your lawmakers is to call their office. You may do so toll-free via MOAA’s direct line to the Congressional switchboard at (866) 272-6622. Just ask the Capitol operator to connect you with your legislator’s office. You likely will talk to a staff assistant or a legislative assistant for your member of Congress; their job is to hear your concerns and relay this information to the senator or representative.

Send a Letter

Another way to make your voice heard is by writing a letter to your elected official. Typically, a member of Congress prefers letters on legislative issues be sent to their Washington, D.C., office. Click these House and Senate links to find your elected officials' D.C. addresses. Elected officials often receive a lot of correspondence from their constituents, so it may take a few weeks for you to get a response.

[RELATED: Advocacy in Action: Details on MOAA’s Spring Campaign]

Send an Email

Members of Congress may also be reached through email. An effective way for MOAA members to contact their elected officials through email is by using our Legislative Action Center. Not only can you use the center to find out who your elected officials are, you can also use our pre-made templates to send messages to Congress on important issues to the uniformed service community. Messages on the Legislative Action Center can be customized, and MOAA encourages our members to add personal notes to these emails.     

Engage on Social Media

Connecting with your elected officials on social media is an excellent way to stay up to date on their priorities as a legislator. Popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram allow for lawmakers and their staff to stay connected with their constituents on what issues are most important to their district or state. A Congressional Management Foundation survey from August 2020 found that some Senators and representatives increased their engagement on Facebook to better address larger groups of constituents during the pandemic.

MOAA often participates in social media campaigns to interact with members of Congress. Elected officials often provide their social media information on their website.

Find a Local Chapter

In addition to advocating at the federal level, MOAA encourages you to interact with your state and local lawmakers. Joining a local chapter allows our members to meet and socialize with fellow servicemembers, past and present, in their area and introduces them to a new way to get involved in their communities. Additionally, councils and chapters amplify MOAA’s voice at the state level by meeting with their local lawmakers. Read more about joining a local chapter at this link.

[RELATED: MOAA on the Hill: Testimony Outlines Legislative Priorities for Veterans]

Stay Informed and Connected

Keep yourself up to date on legislative issues important to MOAA by visiting our website for regular updates. Also, make sure you are subscribed to The MOAA Newsletter to receive weekly emails to stay current on MOAA’s legislative efforts. You can check your MOAA newsletter subscription preferences here.

By going to MOAA’s website, you can also read about the history of our legislative accomplishments and what our legislative priorities for the 117th Congress are. Additionally, you can follow MOAA’s official social media accounts and encourage other servicemembers to follow us, as well!

With the support of our membership’s advocacy efforts, MOAA will continue to strive toward meaningful legislative reform that will positively impact those who serve and have served, and their families and survivors. We encourage our members to take advantage of MOAA’s many resources to stay informed, inform others, and serve as an advocate in their community. For any questions on how to best make your voice heard, contact our Member Service Center at legis@moaa.org or by calling (800) 234-6622.

(This article was originally published in April 2021 and has been updated.)