Below is a sample/template letter, it requires minor editing and modification to personalize it for your use.
Dear Senator or Congressman______
As residents of your district(or state) we know that the protection, rehabilitation and improvement our nation’s infrastructure is anarea of common interest for Congress and the Administration. Whether we are referring to highways, roads, bridges, buildings or dams the construction and maintenance of our nation’s infrastructure is vital to our future.
The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has established a critical national infrastructure that is providing multiple benefits to millions of Americans in every state. These benefits include protecting lives and property, reducing the need for federal disaster assistance, building community resiliency to extreme weather events, providing reliable/high quality drinking water, creating and preserving jobs, broadening the economic base and improving both water quality and quantity. Maintaining, improving and adding to this infrastructure is critical to the health, safety and well-being of the nation’s citizens.
Adequate funding for the program will allow local watershed project sponsors to complete existing projects and implement new projects. These projects will add infrastructure and add to the wide array of public benefits. The success of local, state and federal government agencies in partnershipwith landowners has proven that it is an effective program which provides a positive return on the complete investment.
(Add local needs here, the paragraph which follows is an example of what you might include in your letter using your local needs)Here in your Congressional District(or state) and our community we have identified real needs that can be met by the Watershed Program. We have invested time in tailoring our plans to solve the water resource issues we face. We have invested in the planning process and land rights acquisition. We need $______federal dollars for funding construction and NRCS technical assistance.As the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees develop their Bills, we ask for your support and commitment at the national level for our locally documented needs.
We are pleased that the Administration’s proposed Fiscal Year 2016 budget contains a request for $200 million for Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations and werequest that you strongly support funding for this program in the Fiscal Year 2016 budget.
We believethat the National Watershed Coalition’s funding recommendations of $300 million for Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations, $35 million for Watershed Surveys and Planning and $85 million for Watershed Rehabilitation are in line with the documented national needs for this critical work. Your support for these funding levels translates to solving critical natural resource and water issues here at home.
Sincerely