Join NATCA’s Handwritten Letter Campaign

We would like to thank each of our members who have already participated in our Voter Voice campaign over the past two weeks. NATCA members, along with our friends and families, have sent more than 41,000 messages to Congress. It is now time to start the next phase of our outreach to Congress to educate them on the negative effects the shutdown has on our membership.

We are asking each of you to handwrite letters to your three members of Congress.

The National Legislative Committee will then deliver these letters directly to Capitol Hill. It is very powerful when the members of Congress see a constituent took the time to hand-write their story. During the 2018-19 shutdown our letters were very well received. Several members of Congress read these letters and entered them into the official record. They served as a strong tool to help end the shutdown.

Below are templates and formatting instructions for the handwritten letters. These templates offer helpful suggestions if you may be unsure what to write. The focus is to share the personal impact the shutdown has had on you, and to advocate for ending the shutdown now. Don’t forget, in addition to writing your own letters you can have your family members write letters too!

Thank you for participating!

The National Legislative Committee

Guidelines for the Letter

• Where/When: Do NOT use any government resources (e.g., paper, pens). You MAY write and collect the letters in your facility.
• Length: Keep your letter to one page; short, simple, and heartfelt.
• Tone: Be respectful. It’s okay to express concern or urgency but avoid inappropriate language.
• Address: The Letter MUST include your full home address at the bottom so the office can identify you as a constituent and respond.
• Format: Use plain lined or blank paper, avoid letterhead or official materials.
• Delivery: Send to the NATCA National Office (address below) by Tuesday, November 4; the NLC will deliver to each congressional office.
• Postage: Can be vouchered to the NLC Budget Line 50 (David Skarphol).
• Envelope: Do NOT seal letters in individual envelopes.
• Quantity: Write three letters; one each to your two Senators and one to your Representative in the House.
• Authenticity: Letters must be handwritten. Do NOT photocopy or sign duplicates, even if the content is similar.
• Appropriateness: Letters will be reviewed; inappropriate ones will not be delivered.
• Find Your Representatives: Find your members of Congress here.

Be sincere, stay factual, and speak from the heart—your story is powerful.

Send Your Letters to:

NATCA
ATTN: NLC – Handwritten Letters
1325 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20005

Letter to Congress Format:

[Date]
The Honorable [insert Member’s name]
[Office Address]
United States [Senate/House of Representatives]

Dear [Senator/Representative] [insert Member’s Name],

• Start by stating the reason you are writing, e.g. the government shutdown
• Write about the personal effects this has had on you and your family.
• End by stating you want the Member of Congress to “End the shutdown now!”
• Sign it with your name, facility, and home address

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Facility]
[Home Address]

Themes and Prompts for Letters

Below are suggested THEMES for drafting your letters to Congress. Please make them personal and try to avoid writing them word-for-word.

1. Reason: Oath of service
   You took an oath to serve the flying public and take immense pride in that responsibility. This is why you continue to show up every day but being forced to work while not receiving a paycheck feels like a betrayal of that service.
2. Reason: Increased risk
   ATC’s primary mission is public safety, but the current financial uncertainty compromises your ability to deliver peak performance. Forcing controllers and other aviation safety professionals to work without pay, potentially juggling second jobs, introduces unnecessary risk into the system.
3. Reason: Family hardship
   You are a constituent and an Air Traffic Controller/Aviation Safety Professional who is currently required to work full time with zero pay. This financial strain has forced you to make tough decisions within your family (food, medication, medical treatment, childcare, etc.). 
4. Reason: Veteran Public Servant
   As a military veteran, you continued serving our country as a civilian air traffic controller/aviation safety professional. When you signed up, you knew you would be sacrificing weekends and evenings with your family. You have faithfully served the American public and now are being told to work and sacrifice without knowing when you will receive your next paycheck.
5. Reason: New Hire/Trainee
   You have recently been hired by the FAA and are excited to start your career as a public servant. You have relocated to a new city, often without a family support system, and the uncertainty of when you will receive a paycheck is distracting you from your primary job of learning your craft. The system is critically short of air traffic controllers and your focus should be on training.
6. Reason: Furloughed
   You are currently furloughed during the government shutdown. You take pride in your work keeping the aviation system safe and functional. You desire to do the job you were hired and trained for, but you have been sent home because of the government shutdown.
7. Reason: Unique Situation
   Each of you has a unique story to tell. It might be a combination of the themes above, or it might be totally different. Write the letter that means the most to you and your situation.