Advocate for Policy

Take action by contacting your local representatives about legislation impacting victims of sexual and domestic violence. To find out what legislative action affects victims, check out the Legislative Agenda page.

For more information on whom your local representatives are, please click here.
Contact these individuals about North Dakota legislation. To make a difference regarding federal legislation, you can contact the three representatives for North Dakota.

Senator John Hoeven (R)

Senator Kevin Cramer (R)

Representative Kelly Armstrong (R)

Contacting Your Legislators

If you write, call or visit your legislator, make sure to include the following information:

Who you are (including agency name if contacting on behalf of an agency);

Where you are from (if calling on behalf of an agency, include entire service area, not just where the agency is located);

The issue of concern to you (be specific, what bill number or budget amendment line item);

And what you want from them (support for a bill, opposition to a budget cut, action on a proposal, etc.).

Tips for Testifying at a Committee Hearing

Testimony does not need to be long. It should be a maximum of 3 minutes, but can be much shorter than that.

Before you start writing your testimony outline, figure out what key points you want to make (no more than 3).

Start your testimony by saying who you are, the agency you represent (if testifying on behalf of the agency), and where you are from. Mention your entire service area.

Say why you are there. Include the bill number, what the bill is about, and whether you are concerned about it or support it.

Tell them why you are taking that position. This is where you talk about your key points. Include real-life stories from your work (protecting confidentiality), statistics from your service area, and how this legislation would impact survivors and/or the services you are able to provide.

State what you want them to do (Please support or oppose SB ####)

Thank them for their time.

Be prepared to answer any questions they may have.

Check out the Public Policy tab for more information about past and current legislation that affects victims of sexual and domestic violence in North Dakota. For more information on national issues, click here.