Guidance for writing to Members of Congress

• Identify your Members of Congress (1 House and 2 Senate) using the address where you register to vote [insert MAA website link]
• Use the MAA NSF FY 2026 advocacy template message to prepare your message
• Using their website information, call the 3 congressional offices to determine who on staff handles NSF appropriations and their email addresses
• Email your tailored NSF FY 2026 advocacy message to attention of those staff members
• Consider follow-up meeting and/or video/call per instructions below the following draft letter.

Here is a sample letter than you can customize and send to your representative and senators. Our elected officials care about their constituents, and it's important that they hear from you!

Dear [Insert Representative or Senator and appropriate name],

As Congress finalizes Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations for the National Science Foundation (NSF), I urge you to support robust overall funding and protect critical investments in STEM education.

Specifically, I ask that you:

• Appropriate at least $9 billion for NSF, as recommended by the Senate Appropriations Committee, and
• Ensure that NSF’s Division of Undergraduate Education programs are fully supported.

NSF plays an essential role in advancing U.S. scientific discovery, innovation, and workforce development. Its investments in research and STEM education prepare students, teachers, and early-career scientists to address the nation’s most pressing challenges in health, technology, energy, agriculture, and national security.

I am a [Title] at [organization/location]. I am writing today as your constituent. In my work, we [insert brief description of your organization’s STEM-related activities especially those supported by NSF]. Our success depends on a strong NSF that continues to support both cutting-edge research and the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Sustained, reliable federal funding for NSF ensures that the United States remains globally competitive, builds a diverse and highly skilled STEM workforce, and keeps mathematics and other foundational sciences at the core of progress.

Thank you for your leadership and for considering this request. Please let me know if I can provide additional information about the importance of NSF programs to [your state/district].

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your residential city/state]