The Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce recognizes that knowledge is power! Legislative Updates help educate and inform both the Chamber’s Members as well as the Elected Officials representing the region as to the priorities that will benefit business growth and stability. As a policy, the Perkiomen Valley Chamber strives to present non-partisan information to allow each business owner to decide on the best course of action. The businesses that comprise the Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce face numerous obstacles; such as rapidly rising health-care costs, an overly burdensome tax structure, a costly legal environment, and employee regulations. As a policy, the Perkiomen Valley Chamber strives to present non-partisan information to allow each business owner to decide on the best course of action.
PA House of Representatives Session Dates 2024
February 6
March 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
April 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 29, 30
May 1, 6, 7, 8, 20, 21, 22
June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
PA Senate Session Dates 2024
January 2
February 5, 6, 7
March 18, 19, 20
April 8, 9, 10, 29, 30
May 1, 6, 7, 8
June 3, 4, 5, 10,11, 12, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Handwriting, typing, or e-mailing a letter to a legislator is one of the most effective means of communicating your views. These letters carry a tremendous amount of weight with elected officials who use them to judge public opinion, weigh legislation, discover new ideas, and remain connected with their constituents.
Here are some tips to make your letter more effective.
Keep it brief:
Elected officials and editorial boards receive a lot of letters. In order to improve the chances of your letter being read, it is best to keep it brief – less than two pages and limited to one subject.
Identify yourself and the issue:
Elected officials and publications will not consider anonymous letters. Please identify yourself, including contact information such as e-mail, physical address, and phone number. Also, put the issue you are addressing in the subject header of the letter.
Make it personal:
Write about how the issue has specifically affected you, your family, your business or community. What are some ramifications of this legislation that they might not be aware of?
Ask for a reply:
Tell your legislator exactly what you want them to do in response to your letter. If you are writing about a piece of legislation, tell your legislator how you want them to vote.
Using email
E-mail can be an easy and effective tool for communicating with legislators. The tips outlined above for writing letters to legislators also apply to e-mails: keep them brief and to the point, with facts and anecdotes relevant to the legislator’s district.
Make sure the text of your e-mail includes your full name and street address, including zip code. Many legislative offices screen e-mails for address information identifying the sender as a constituent. E-mails that appear to come from outside the district are unlikely to be read and may be blocked by filtering programs.
FOR PA SENATORS
The Honorable (full name)
Pennsylvania Senate
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Senator (last name)
FOR MEMBERS OF THE PA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Honorable (full name)
House of Representatives
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Representative (last name)