Political Guide

Contacting your elected officials about protecting wildlands is your right and one of the most important ways to help conserve wildlands. Below are ways to find and contact your elected officials and heads of governmental offices.

State Government

State Departments

TN Committees of Interest

Senate Standing Committee on Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/committees/energy-ag-nr.html
House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/committees/agriculture.aspx

Federal Government

Federal Departments

Council on Environmental Quality www.whitehouse.gov/ceq
U.S. Department of Agriculture www.usda.gov
–U.S. Forest Service https://www.fs.usda.gov/
—Southern Reg Forester www.fs.usda.gov/r8
—-Cherokee National Forest www.fs.usda.gov/cherokee
U.S. Department of Interior www.doi.gov
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service www.fws.gov
–USFWS SE Regional Director www.fws.gov/southeast/
—Field Supervisor www.fws.gov/cookeville/
National Park Service www.nps.gov
–Big South Fork NRRA www.nps.gov/biso
–Obed Wild and Scenic River www.nps.gov/obed
Office of Surface Mining www.osmre.gov
Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov
–Reg 4 Admin www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-epa-region-4-southeast
Tennessee Valley Authority www.tva.gov
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers www.usace.army.mil/

Tips for Communication

  • Address recipient as Dear Mr. President, Dear Mr. or Madame Secretary, Dear Sen., Dear Rep.
  • Make your communication legible. Original letters are better than form letters.
  • Mail to the U.S. Congress is very slow. It’s better to fax, e-mail, or phone. If you send a letter, it’s better to send it to the local office.
  • Be brief, and refer to a bill by name or number.
  • Give a reason for your request. Personal experiences are effective.
  • Ask your official for his/her position on an issue.
  • Put your complete name and address in your letter, since envelopes are trashed.
  • Copy your legislators on any committee or departmental correspondence.
  • Thank public officials and legislators when they support your position.
  • Consider sending a copy of your message to the Letters to the Editor column of your local paper, perhaps introducing it with “[The issue] is of major concern to the people of this region. I have sent the following letter to __.”