Advocating to Legislative Groups
Join NAMI Buffalo & Western New York’s Legislative Action Team if you would like to promote awareness and more importantly are willing to take action. We write letters, send emails, and make calls on pending legislation, budgets, and regulations. We attend awareness events and rallies. We meet with legislators and other key people. Let us add you to our Legislative Action Team email list to join our team. Contact us today!
Become familiar with NAMI legislative priorities:
- NAMI National (click here) and
- Federal Bills supported by NAMI (click here)
- NAMI New York State (click here)
- New York State Legislative Action Agenda (click here)
- Western New York – contact us to sign up for email action alerts. We are currently advocating for corrections reform, jails and prisons, ending solitary confinement, housing expansion and long-term supported and intermediate residential housing.
Contact with elected officials is often the driving energy behind better programs and services for individuals and families who are coping with serious persistent mental illness. Occasionally, their office may be the avenue of last resort in a particular personal situation.
For your elected officials go to www.elections.erie.gov or call the County Board of Elections at 716-858-8891 (Erie); and www.elections.niagara.ny.us/ or 716-439-7215 (Niagara). Or go to the League of Women Voters website.
You can also find information on the NYS Senate and Assembly web sites (see below)
How to Call an Elected Official
Calling elected officials is a very effective way to have your voice counted, especially when important legislation is to be voted on. To be most effective, be specific with your message:
- Your name and address
- The legislation you are calling about (use Bill # or clear description of the issue)
- The reason why you feel strongly about the legislation or issue, how this action will make things better; e.g., improve care, increase safety, reduce costs, decrease strain on overburdened systems not suited to caring for those with mental illness, etc.
- Briefly explain your relationship to the issue: as such as parent of a loved one with mental illness, a member of NAMI, health provider or educator, person with lived experience of mental illness, etc.
Contact information for Elected Officials (use the title “Honorable” in the address and the title of the elected position in the greeting. e.g. Senator or Congresswoman)
New York State:
Governor of New York State
NYS Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12224
518-474-7516 or 518-474-8390
https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form
New York State Senator
Albany, NY 12247
518-455-2800 or 518-455-3216
www.nysenate.gov
www.nysenate.gov/legislation
New York State Assemblyman or Assemblywoman
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-4100 or 518-455-4218
www.assembly.state.ny.us/
www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/
NYS Bill Status Hotlines
NYS Senate: 800-342-9860 or 518-455-7545
NYS Assembly: 800-342-9860
NAMI-NYS
www.naminys.org
99 Pine St., Ste. 302
Albany, NY 12207
518-462-2000
Erie County:
Erie County Legislature
716-858-7500
92 Franklin St., 4th Flr.
Buffalo, NY 14202
www.erie.gov/legislature
Erie County Executive
716-858-8500
95 Franklin St., 16th Flr.
Buffalo, NY 14202
www.erie.gov
Niagara County
Niagara County Board of Elections
716-439-7215 or voter lookup at https://vic2.ntsdata.net/niagaraboe/pollingplacelookup.aspx.
United States (National):
Office of the President (switchboard)
202-456-1414
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20500
www.whitehouse.gov/contact (email is preferred per the website)
To register your opinion with the White House on an issue: 202-456-1111 or fax to: Attn:
Comment Line: 202-395-1232
More tips and suggestions: https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/write-or-call/
United States Congress
202-224-3121
Washington, DC 20515
https://www.congressionalinstitute.org/contact-congress/
Call and ask to be connected to your Senator or Representative free at 800-972-3524.
If you are not sure of your election district or who are your representatives in Congress, contact the Erie County Board of Elections at 716-858-8891 or visit their voter lookup at https://elections.erie.gov/VSearch2.
If you are in a county other than Erie, call your local Board of Elections or visit their website.
For more information on communicating with an elected official or the Legislative Action Team, contact NAMI Buffalo & Western New York.
