A How-To Advocacy Toolkit

Inviting Members of Congress to Your Tribal Community

Step-by-step instructions, best practices, and templates to make hosting your representatives seamless.

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Overview

Why Host a Congressional Visit?

This toolkit is designed to help Tribal community leaders invite their members of Congress to visit their communities. These visits offer powerful opportunities to strengthen relationships with your representatives and highlight the housing needs, successes, and priorities of your Tribal community.

Aerial view of a Tribal housing community with rooftop solar panels in a river valley
A Tribal housing community — the successes, stewardship, and stories a visit brings to life.
1

Identify Your Members of Congress

Use congress.gov by entering your Tribal community’s address, Tribal housing office address, or another location within your congressional district.

Find Your Member →
2

Choose the Right Date & Time

It is important to invite your member of Congress to your Tribal community or Tribal housing program during their recess period, when the member will be in their district. Use the buttons below to view the full 2026 congressional calendar or find the calendars for both the House and Senate.

2026 Congressional Calendar (PDF) Calendars & Schedules →
2026 congressional calendar showing days both chambers, Senate only, or House only are in session
The 2026 congressional calendar — days with no shading are recess days, when members are home in their districts.
House Majority Leader Calendars listing on congress.gov
For the House: click the Monthly Schedule.
Senate Leadership Calendars listing on congress.gov
For the Senate: click Floor Schedule, then Calendar Format.
Tip: Select a date and time when your member is not in session that also works for your Tribal leadership, housing authority, board members, and community leaders. Once you find a date and time that coordinates everyone’s schedules, it is time to invite them!
3

Send Your Invitation by Email

Once you have entered your community’s location on congress.gov and received your results, click Contact next to your member’s name (see example below).

Example congress.gov member search result showing the Contact link
Example search result — click Contact next to the member’s name.

The contact button takes you to your member’s unique contact page. Find your district office phone number (typically at the bottom of their webpage) and call to ask for the district office scheduler’s email.

Example member of Congress website showing district office contact information
Example member website — district office contact info is usually in the header or footer.

Once you have the correct email address, send their scheduler an invitation to tour your community.

Invitation Template

Hello,

With the Congressional recess approaching, the [Your Community Name], located in [City, State / Tribe], would like to invite [Rep./Sen. Last Name] to visit our Tribal community and Tribal housing program.

[Briefly describe your Tribal housing priorities, current projects, successes, and housing challenges.] We would be honored to host [Rep./Sen. Last Name] on [insert date(s)/time range].

Please feel free to connect us with the [Representative’s/Senator’s] scheduler to find a time that works for their schedule.

We look forward to hosting the [Representative/Senator]!

Thank you,

Next: Once you confirm a date with staff in your Representative’s or Senator’s office, it is time to prepare for their visit!
4

Prepare for the Visit

Do your background research. Explore your member’s background and policy interests to have a productive conversation. Using the website where you found their district office phone number, explore their About section, issue areas, and press releases to stay up to date and find common topic areas.

Example member website contact page with services and issue sections
Explore the member’s site — About, Issues, Services, and press releases.
Rep. Troy Downing speaking at a podium beside the American flag during NAIHC Hill Meetings
Rep. Troy Downing delivers remarks at NAIHC’s Hill Meetings — members of Congress want to hear directly from Tribal housing leaders.

Prepare your stories, opportunities, and challenges. Prepare your staff and Tribal housing program to showcase responsible stewardship of all funding sources, the housing services you provide, the community members you serve, and stories that demonstrate your impact. Be ready to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Tribal housing so your member of Congress understands the importance of continued federal support and investment in Tribal communities.

Be prepared to take pictures. Take advantage of your congressional visit by planning for photos that highlight your Tribal housing program, community, and the impact of your work. Coordinate with your Representative’s or Senator’s staff to capture images that can be shared on social media to increase awareness and support for Tribal housing initiatives.

Prepare leave-behinds. Prepare fact sheets, project summaries, housing development plans, success stories, funding impacts, and other resources that highlight your Tribal housing program’s accomplishments, priorities, and needs.

5

Follow Up After the Visit

After the visit has occurred, send a thank-you email to the staffer you have been in contact with. Feel free to highlight any conversations you had and offer to be a resource on Tribal housing, infrastructure, and community development issues.

Thank-You Template

Subject: Thank You for Visiting [Your Tribal Housing Program or Tribal Community Name]

Hello [Staffer Name],

Thank you again for facilitating [Rep./Sen. Last Name]’s visit to our Tribal community and housing program. We appreciated the opportunity to showcase our services and discuss key issues impacting our community.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can be a resource moving forward.

Warm regards,

Remember: A visit from your members of Congress is the best way to begin or continue a working relationship with their office — so be honest and enthusiastic!
A row of newly built Tribal housing homes with covered porches on open prairie
Your Visit Checklist

Before · During · After

Work through each phase as you plan. Check items off as you go — or print this page and bring it with you.

Before the Visit

Scheduling & Outreach
Internal Coordination

During the Visit

Hosting Logistics
Message Delivery
Documentation

After the Visit

Follow-Up Communication
Internal Debrief
Visibility & Reporting

Ultimately, a visit from your members of Congress is the best way to begin or continue a working relationship with their office — so be honest and enthusiastic!