Answer the call

H.R. 4676, Immediate Retired Pay for National Guard and Reserve Members 

BACKGROUND

Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina has introduced a bill that would provide for an immediate annuity for retired National Guard and Reserve members. H.R. 4676 would allow National Guard and Reserve members who have served 20 years or more to be able to begin to draw their retired pay immediately, based on the current point system. There would be no change in the way Reserve Component retirement is computed. 

RECOMMENDATION 

Call, write, fax or email your Representative to voice your opinion.  Attached is a sample letter for your convenience. It may be duplicated and used, however we encourage you to rewrite it in your own words, just address and sign it. Put your return address at the top. Add your Congressman's name after "The Honorable”, after "Dear," put his/her name again. Then sign the bottom. 

Mail delivery to the Washington, D.C. area, Congress, the Pentagon and National Guard Bureau have been seriously delayed because of the Anthrax attacks and contamination at various Capitol Hill Congressional offices. These senseless attacks have caused mail problems and have affected effective communications with elected Representatives.  

Step one: Dial 1-866-877- HILL (4455).  This is a toll-free number. Calling it will connect you to the Capitol Switchboard where you can ask to be connected to your Congressional member or Senator's office. 

Step two: Tell the individual who answers the phone in the Capitol Hill Office that you are a constituent of the Congressional member or Senator.  Give your name, address and phone number.  Tell them what the issue is and that you would like to have the Congressional member or Senator support the issue. Ask that you receive a phone call or letter back concerning your phone call.  Ask for the individual's name that you talked to and tell them you will follow up the call with a letter or a fax. 

Step three: Write or fax a letter to the Congressional member or Senator to the Capitol Hill Office. Tell them in your letter that you called the office, the date you called and the name of the person you talked to.  Remember to ask for a reply. 

Step four: Forward a copy of the correspondence you sent to the Capitol Hill Office to the Congressional member or Senator's local or state office.  Ask them to contact the Capitol Hill office to express your view on the issue.  State and Local offices are in constant communication with the Capitol Hill Offices. 

Step five: Find out when your Congressmen or Senators are coming home.  If possible meet with them at their local office or State office. 

Why not use e-mail? The truth is, the email system in the House and Senate are overloaded and in most cases, email is not effective.