The U.S. Public Service Academy needs you to help us build a first-class institution. With vocal and persistent support from the American people, we can convince Congress to create the Academy and appropriate the necessary funding. Here are some tips for how to write an effective letter urging your senator or representative to support the U.S. Public Service Academy Act (H.R. 1671 and S. 960):

• Be personal & polite: Explain who you are and why you are writing the letter. Make sure the representative knows that you are a voting constituent – include your name and address, and make references to your state or hometown in the body of your letter.

• Be short & specific: Clearly explain why you want the representative to support the U.S. Public Service Academy Act. Keep your letter relatively short. Pick two or three arguments that are important to you and emphasize those. Some arguments you might consider:
— The U.S. Public Service Academy fills an important need in American society.
— The Academy will help America attract its best and brightest into public service.
— The Academy has broad bipartisan appeal – this is an American idea.
— Young Americans deserve to have one federal service academy that gives them the opportunity to serve in areas outside the military.
— The Academy is a worthwhile investment in our future public leadership.

• Be neat & clear: Write legibly and make sure you tell them exactly what you want them to do – they should vote for or co-sponsor the U.S. Public Service Academy Act (S. 960 in the Senate and H.R. 1671 in the House). If you want a personal response, make sure to ask for one.

• Get the correct address: Visit Congress.org to find out your representative’s address.

Senate Co-Sponsors
• Hillary Clinton (NY)
• Arlen Specter (PA)
Joseph Biden (DE)
Barbara Boxer (CA)
Sherrod Brown (OH)
Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
Edward Kennedy (MA)
Mary Landrieu (LA)
Blanche Lincoln (AR)
Barbara Mikulski (MD)
Debbie Stabenow (MI)

House Co-Sponsors
• James Moran (VA)
• Christopher Shays (CT)
Tammy Baldwin (WI)
Sanford Bishop (GA)
Tim Bishop (NY)
Earl Blumenauer
Bruce Braley (IA)
Yvette Clarke (NY)
John Conyers (MI)
Danny K. Davis (IL)
Tom Davis (VA)
Peter DeFazio (OR)
William Delahunt (MA)
Diana Degette (CO)
Lloyd Doggett (TX)
Eliot Engel (NY)
Anna Eshoo (CA)
Sam Farr (CA)
Bob Filner (CA)
Charles Gonzales (TX)
Al Green (TX)
Gene Green (TX)
Phil Hare (IL)
Alcee Hastings (FL)
Ruben Hinojosa (TX)
Mazie Hirono (HI)
Mike Honda (CA)
Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX)
Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX)
Hank Johnson (GA)
Marcy Kaptur (OH)
Patrick Kennedy (RI)
Nick Lampson (TX)
Tom Lantos (CA)
John Lewis (GA)
Zoe Lofgren (CA)
Carolyn Maloney (NY)
Doris Matsui (CA)
Carolyn McCarthy (NY)
Jim McDermott (WA)
Michael McNulty (NY)
Gregory Meeks (NY)
Charles Melancon (LA)
Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC)
Solomon Ortiz (TX)
Ed Perlmutter (CO)
Nick Rahall (WV)
Steven Rothman (NJ)
C.A. Ruppersberger (MD)
Bobby Rush (IL)
Tim Ryan (OH)
John Sarbanes (MD)
Bennie Thompson (MS)
Diane Watson (CA)