New Standards Released
On January 7, 2020, the US House Commission on Congressional Mail Standards issued new guidelines for mass communication with constituents. Under the old rules, most unsolicited communications had to receive an Advisory Opinion from the House Commission.
The new guidelines include several important exemptions. In particular, they provide that “Follow-up responses are permitted if such follow-ups describe specific Federal government action relevant to the original incoming correspondence.”
PoliScribe’s Intelligent Mail Assistant Can Automatically Draft FOLLOW-UP RESPONSES
PoliScribe can automatically generate follow-ups to constituent letters on legislation. These updates are designed to show the constituent that the Member listened to their concerns, acted on them, and then cared enough to close the loop.
For instance, a message might say something like:
Sample Letter Generated by PoliScribe
Dear [Constituent],
I wanted to follow up on your email from earlier this year in support of H.R. 1044, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019.
As you'll recall, this bill increases the per-country cap for family-sponsored green cards from 7% to 15%, and eliminates per-country caps for employment-based green cards.
I was proud to vote for this legislation when it came before me on the House floor, and am happy to confirm that it has passed the House by a vote of 365 to 65. I will continue to be a strong voice for reforms to ensure a fairer and more effective immigration system.
Thank you again for contacting my office. Please don't hesitate to keep in touch!
Sincerely,
ALEXANDER HAMILTON
Congressman, 1st District
P.S. Next Wednesday, I will be hosting a Community Coffee at the Starbucks on Main Street from 11 AM to 1 PM. I hope you will join us for a discussion about federal and local issues affecting our community.
PoliScribe’s PARTNER Fireside Led The Changes
We are delighted to have played a role in updating these guidelines. Josh Billigmeier, the CEO of Fireside, our partner in the House, testified before the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. The hearing was entitled Congress and the Frank: Bringing Congressional Mailing Standards into the 21st Century. In particular, he urged the Committee to “Allow Offices to Send Multiple Follow-Up Responses to a Constituent Without Franking Approval.”