Get To Know Your Members of Congress
The Secular Coalition is working with Members of Congress to let them know about the importance of the separation of church and state in legislation and in federal agency policy, as well as our support or opposition to specific bills. We hope SCA supporters will join us in contacting their representatives and getting to know them and their staff. If you aren’t sure who represents you, you can simply type in your zip code at the top of House.gov or find your Senators on this page.
House Members have especially small staffs, with two or three people covering nearly every issue that comes before Congress. Letting them know that there is a significant block of secular voters and what issues are important to us is vital. Senate offices have larger staffs, especially the large states, but the same need exists to inform staff members about secular priorities.
Remember, you have the personal experience with secular issues that will demonstrate how important they are. No one expects you to be an expert on how a bill becomes law or the specifics of any particular bill in Congress. You just need to be able to explain how a policy affects you and other people in your community.
In an article published by Vox, former Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) shows how anyone can be an effective advocate by telling a story about a mother whose advocacy changed lifetime limits on health insurance.
The Congressional Freethought Caucus
Some of our allies in Congress, particularly in the House, are members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus. The Freethought Caucus promotes public policy formed on the basis of reason, science, and moral values. It opposes discrimination against atheists, agnostics, humanists, seekers, religious and nonreligious persons, and to champion the value of freedom of thought and conscience worldwide. The Freethought Caucus provides a forum for discussion and holds events to promote its goals. If your House Member is a member of the Caucus, please thank them. If not, there is a handout at the end of the toolkit you can use to encourage your Member to join.