You Are Their Boss - 6 Reasons You Shouldn't Be Anxious To Contact Congress

The REUSE Act of 2025 officially passed through the US Senate, an Act which directs the EPA to study and report on the feasibility of implementing reuse and refill systems for packaging, aiming to reduce plastic pollution and promote the circular economy. 👏🏻 As anything plastic reduction related is music to my ears, I needed to ensure my House Rep jumps out of his seat and exclaims "YEA!" with the energy of a thousand suns when he's called to vote for it, so I gave his office a ring. 📱

As I waited for someone to answer, I reflected on the days when I was too nervous to make these calls. I always intended to, then I'd get sweaty and clammy and make up all sorts of excuses then have to go to the bathroom then have to walk the dog then do the laundry and scrub dishes and oops, the day was over and I never actually picked up the phone. But that all changed about a year ago when a friend told me to think of our Congress people as our own personal contract employees. We, The People, hire them (vote them into office), pay their salaries (via tax dollars) and we can fire them (not re-elect) at the end of their contract (term) if they don't do their job to our liking. So while sometimes it doesn't feel like it, we hold the power. They work for us. 💅🏼

Here are six reasons why you should be exactly 0% intimidated to call Congress. 

1.) You will not speak to the Congress person directly. This was the most nerve-wracking part for me, so let's be clear. Elizabeth Warren will not answer the phone. AOC is unavailable because she's busy bossing the boys around, and you cannot convince me that Bernie Sanders even knows where his phone is. Instead, you'll speak to a 22 year old legislative aide named Leslie who graduated from Georgetown 15 minutes ago, makes $35k a year, and is more intimidated to talk to you than you are to her. Leslie holds the true keys to the voting kingdom, however, so she's the person you want to speak to anyways. More about that later. 

2.) You are their boss. This statement is the title track, bolded and underlined because it's the most empowering of all. Our members of congress (henceforth referred to as MOCs) would be working as cab drivers or bartenders or movie theatre popcorn poppers if it wasn't for us! We gave them a job when we voted them into office, agreeing to pay their salaries and provide them benefits. Now, like any employer, we need to tell them how to do the job we selected them for. 📢

3.) MOCs understand that power dynamic and they want to make you happy. If this person has won themselves a seat in Congress, they're no dumby. They understand power dynamics, and they know when it comes to keeping their chair, you hold it all. Their constituents (aka voters in their district) decide whether that contract gets extended or not, and they know it. 💪🏻

4.) They're thirsty for your direction and feedback. MOCs want to know with absolute certainty what their constituents want so that they can point to their voting record during the next election and show their community that in the words of Bill Belichick, they did their job. 🏈

5.) If we don't give that direction, we can't expect our preferred outcome. You won't find "Mind Reader" on any of their resumes or LinkedIn profiles. If they're left flying blind with no direction as to our wants and needs, they'll likely end up making decisions we don't agree with and ultimately, that's more on us than them. 🙅

6.) Your phone calls really, truly, 100% have an impact. This brings us back to Leslie. Leslie and her fellow aides review constituent calls/emails/office visits and put the yea/nay tally in front of the MOC before they vote on a bill. Without tallies the MOC is forced to sit in on the vote and whisper to their BFF, "What are you going with?" like it's some high school chemistry test and there is solidarity in it if they both get it wrong. 

Don't overthink reaching out to your representative. Calling Leslie is quick, easy, impactful and honestly, she's probably the nicest person you'll talk to today. Let's make the calls, send the emails, and make our voices heard.  And don't forget - you're the boss. 🇺🇸