Calling your U.S. House Representative’s office is an important, simple way to bring H. Res. 77 and your views and concerns (as a constituent and voter) about nuclear disarmament directly to them and their staff’s attention. You may choose to call either their Washington, DC office or one of their “in-district” offices.

Find Your Representative/Contact Info

This website can help you find out who your U.S. House member is (if you’re not sure) and their contact information.

General Information About Calling

Congressional offices are busy and oftentimes don’t answer their phones and ask callers to leave a message. You’re likely to have better success talking to an actual person if you call the local district office. Be prepared to leave a succinct voice mail message that identifies you as a constituent, includes your name and phone number, relays your message that you want the member of Congress to cosponsor H. Res. 77 that was introduced by Rep. McGovern on January 31st and requests that a member of their staff return your phone call.

If you call the Washington, DC office and someone answers the phone you may ask to speak to the “aide who handles military and nuclear weapons issues for the Congressperson.” If unavailable, leave the message as detailed above and ask that the aide call you back.

General Script

Hi, my name is ______________ and I’m a resident of __________ and a constituent.

I’m calling to encourage Congressmember _______________ to co-sponsor H. Res. 77 which was just introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern and Rep. Earl Blumenauer on January 31st. Right now the threat of nuclear war is very real and frightening. H. Res. 77 calls on the U.S. to lead global efforts to work with all nuclear weapons states to abolish all nuclear weapons and to adopt policies to prevent nuclear war. I support this Resolution because (*pick one or more*):

• Global tensions are high, and the risk of accidental or intentional use of nuclear weapons is greater than ever before according to experts including the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ and their Doomsday Clock
• The U.S. spends billions of dollars to build and maintain a nuclear arsenal that must never be used and that doesn’t make us safe. We have more pressing security needs in our district, like housing, poverty and gun violence that our tax dollars could be spent on,
• This is a justice issue. Nuclear weapons are immoral, illegitimate, do not make us safe, and are instruments of oppression and an affront to democracy. No one person or nation should hold the fate of humanity in their hands alone.
• My city/town passed a Back from the Brink resolution, as did others in the area (*name them*). There are also many local organizations who support this approach, including (*name them*).

Now is the time to step back from the brink of nuclear disaster, and this resolution lays out a commonsense approach to do so. Again, I encourage the Congressmember to co-sponsor H. Res. 77, and to reach out to Congressmembers McGovern and Blumenauer’s offices if you have questions. To learn more about why this is necessary, you can also visit the Back from the Brink Coalition’s website at www.preventnuclearwar.org. Thank you.

Letters to the Editors (LTE) are a great way to both educate folks in your community and to reach members of your congressional delegation. Your letters should be relatively short — e.g. no more than 150-200 words and convey no more than 2-3 key messages. Ideally the letter should have a strong hook — a reference to a recent article in that newspaper or something that has been in the news lately. See Tips for Writing and Getting Your Letter Published – Union of Concerned Concerned Scientists Activist Resource.

Possible hooks for getting the letter to the editor published

• Russia’s recent announcement that is suspending its participation in the New START, putting the only remaining agreement between the US and Russia in jeopardy
• In January, The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists moved their Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight – the closest it’s ever been to symbolic global catastrophe
• February 24 one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Talking Points/Key Messages General Script

• Today, the risk of catastrophic nuclear war is all too real—greater than it has been since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
• Russia’s recent announcement that it is suspending its participation in the New START Treaty puts the only remaining nuclear arms agreement between the US and Russia in jeopardy.
• During this time of war and heightened global tensions it is critical that the United States and Russia talk to each other and engage in diplomacy and recognize the world’s collective self interest in preventing a catastrophic nuclear war that could threaten all of humanity.
• At the height of the Cold War and heightened tensions in the 1980’s, President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev engaged in diplomacy and negotiated significant nuclear arms control agreements.
• Congress, including [NAME OF HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE] needs to show real leadership in advocating for global, multilateral, verifiable nuclear disarmament and stepping us back from the brink of nuclear war
• [NAME OF HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE] should take the first step by co-sponsoring H. Res. 77 recently introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) which calls on the United States to lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war by adopting common sense policies proposed by the national grassroots nuclear abolition campaign, Back From the Brink (www.preventnuclearwar.org) [Note: By mentioning your House member by name your letter is much more likely to get published.]
• Nuclear weapons don’t make us safe. They did not prevent nor deter Russia from invading Ukraine. They are the greatest threat to our security and survival.
• It is our responsibility to help shape a livable future for our community, our children, grandchildren and all future generations.
• Nuclear weapons are a local issue. Each and everyone of us has a voice and role in preventing nuclear war and are encouraged to get involved with the Back from the Brink Campaign.

Post messages about H. Res. 77 and the need for congressional leadership on nuclear disarmament and dialogue with Russia on your social media channels. (Note: Local organizations should tag their House members.) Here’s where you can find their Twitter handles.

Sample Posts:

• With Putin’s decision to suspend participation in New START, Congressional leadership on nuclear arms control and disarmament is more important than ever. [NAME OF HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE] please cosponsor H. Res. 77 by @RepMcGovern & @repblumenauer and help bring us back from the nuclear brink.
• The threat of #nuclear war is greater than it’s been in decades. We need our Congress people to show leadership for a new, bold approach to #nuclear arms control and disarmament. As a first step, please cosponsor H. Res. 77 recently introduced by @RepMcGovern and @repblumenauer.
• As the #Ukrainewar continues, the risks of nuclear war keep rising. We need our Congress people to show leadership for a new approach to #nuclear arms control and disarmament. As a first step, please cosponsor H. Res 77 recently introduced by @RepMcGovern and @repblumenauer.
• Tired of being at the mercy of a bully with #nuclearweapons? As your rep to cosponsor H. Res. 77 & join the movement to encourage talks amongst the nuclear armed states. A safer future is possible. Find out more @preventnuclearwar.org #PreventWar #NoTimeToWaste
• Concerns about #nuclearwar are rising as Putin flexes his muscles. Want a tangible way to help? Ask your congressional rep to cosponsor H. Res. 77, introduced by @RepMcGovern and @repblumenauer. #UkraineWarAnniversary
• No longer can we allow #nuclearweapons to threaten our future! Now is the time to do something! Pressure your congressional leader to take action by cosponsoring H. Res. 77. More info here: preventnuclearwar.org @RepMcGovern and @repblumenauer
• Dear [NAME OF HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE], We need your help! We’re looking for cosponsors for H. Res. 77, a resolution that includes tangible, time-bound steps to prevent nuclear war. Can you cosponsor? Find out more here: preventnuclearwar.org @RepMcGovern and @repblumenauer [include the congressional leader’s Twitter handle here]