It is important to express opinions on isssues in ways such as writing letters to the editor of local newspapers because Congressmen read the newspapers from their districts and will see the letters.
If you want your voice to be heard in Washington, you should stay in contact with Congressional staff members and the lawmakers, said a former Congressional aide.
"You need to interface with pertinent staff because they are the key people who filter what a Congressman reads or works on," said David R. Wunsch, who served as a Congressional Science Fellow in 1998. "Learn who handles the issues of concern to you and talk with them. Some staff has no concept of issues that are assigned to them and they are looking for someone to inform them."