Note: This letter should be faxed or emailed, not mailed, to the legislative aid in the District of Columbia that you spoke to.   Make sure you change all italicized information in the letter.  A word document version of this follow up letter can be downloaded for easy use.

Date

Legislative Aid (name),
Legislative Aid for Senator (name)
Office
Street Address
City, State Zip

Mr./Ms. (Legislative Aid name):

On (date) I spoke to you about the Health Promotion FIRST (Funding Integrated Research and Training) bill that is being sponsored by Senator Richard Lugar. I am writing to thank you for taking the time to discuss this bill, and to ask, once again, that Senator (name) co-sponsor this bill.

Please recall that when we talked, I made the following points about the bill.

• This bill emerged directly from the resolution Senator (name) co-sponsored in the 107th Congress H Con. Res. 11 (if this is the case).
   
• Health promotion is critical to the nation because lifestyle related diseases are responsible for half of all the premature deaths in the United States and 25% -50% of the medical costs. These deaths and cost are preventable. Childhood diabetes and the obesity epidemic are two examples of problems that could be prevented. In addition to producing a huge human burden, preventable lifestyle diseases threaten to bankrupt Medicare and cost more than employers make in corporate profits. Health promotion can prevent these diseases.
   
• Health Promotion FIRST is an important first step in integrating health promotion into the national health policy.  We need to have solid plans in place before we push for wide spread programs, and we need a solid science base to  ensure the most effective programs are offered.
   
• Health promotion is important to my state because… (use the same example you used in your telephone call and try to give it local appeal).

Once again, I request that Senator (name) act as a co-sponsor of this bill for the betterment of (your state) and our country.

Please feel free to contact me at (phone number/email address) if you have any questions regarding this important matter. A discussion draft of the proposed bill and a summary document are enclosed. Once again, thank you for your help in working to pass this bill.

I look forward to hearing the Senator’s decision.

Sincerely,

Name Your professional title, if you can use it Member, Health Promotion Grass Roots Advocate

Enc. Note: Enclose a copy of the discussion draft and summary document with your letter available on this site as a printable pdf.