You do not need policy expertise or a personal story to advocate for children. A clear request, accurate information, and a willingness to follow up are enough to begin.
At the Survivors’ Solidarity March in Washington, D.C., Bloom Safe founder Steve Simons asked supporters to carry the work beyond the march: into their communities and into conversations with Congress.
Here is how to take that next step.
Our immediate goal is to find congressional leadership to review, refine, sponsor, and introduce the Bloom Safe Act. The proposal remains a legislative discussion draft. It has not yet been introduced or assigned an official bill number.
That makes your outreach especially valuable. You can help bring the proposal to the attention of the people who can move it forward.
1. Find your House and Senate offices
Start with your U.S. representative and both U.S. senators.
- Find your representative: Use the official House lookup tool, which connects your ZIP code to your representative’s website and contact information.
- Find your senators: Select your state in the official Senate directory to find their websites and telephone numbers.
Use each member’s official contact form, call an office, or request a brief meeting with legislative staff. You can also call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at
202-224-3121
and ask to be connected to a particular House or Senate office.
Identify yourself as a constituent. Include your city and ZIP code, and provide your mailing address when the office requests it.
2. Make a specific request
A general message about protecting children matters. A specific request gives the office a next step.
For your representative, ask:
Will the Representative’s policy staff review the Bloom Safe Act discussion draft and consider leading its introduction in the House after review and refinement with House Legislative Counsel?
For your senators, ask:
Will the Senator’s policy staff review the Bloom Safe Act discussion draft and consider helping develop and sponsor a Senate companion?
If the office is not ready to consider sponsorship, ask whether staff will meet with you, identify drafting concerns, or explain what information would help them evaluate the proposal.
At this stage, ask for review, drafting engagement, sponsorship, and introduction. Once legislation is introduced, supporters can make requests tied to its official bill number and status.
3. Use this short phone script
Hello, my name is [name], and I live in [city, ZIP code]. I’m a constituent calling about preventing child sexual abuse.
I support the proposed Bloom Safe Act, which would invest $1 billion annually in prevention research, education, adult training, community programs, survivor support, and digital safety, with public reporting and independent oversight.
It is currently a legislative discussion draft seeking congressional sponsorship. Could you connect me with the staff member who handles child sexual abuse prevention or public-health policy? I would like to send the draft and request a brief conversation about helping move it toward introduction.
What is the best way to send those materials, and when should I follow up?
If you reach voicemail, leave a shorter version with your name, location, request, and callback information.
4. Adapt this email or contact-form message
Subject: Constituent request: Please review and help introduce the Bloom Safe Act
Dear [Representative/Senator Last Name],
I am a constituent from [city, state, ZIP code], writing to ask your office to review the Bloom Safe: Make America the Safest Place to Be a Kid Act.
The proposed Act would establish a permanent national public-health framework for preventing child sexual abuse. It would invest $1 billion annually in research, age-appropriate education, adult training, organizational safety, community prevention, survivor and family support, and digital safety.
The draft directs at least 60 percent of funding to eligible non-Federal partners and requires public reporting, spending transparency, and independent evaluation.
[Add one or two sentences explaining why prevention matters to you or your community. Personal disclosure is not required or recommended.]
For a House office: Would the Representative consider directing policy staff to review the discussion draft, engage House Legislative Counsel, and explore sponsorship for introduction?
For a Senate office: Would the Senator consider directing policy staff to review the discussion draft and explore development and sponsorship of a Senate companion?
I would welcome a brief meeting with the appropriate staff member. Please let me know what additional information would help your office assess the proposal.
The current draft and supporting materials are available at BloomSafe.org.
Thank you for your consideration. I would appreciate a response identifying the next step.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Mailing address]
[Email and optional telephone number]
5. Bring three useful resources
Start with the short overview, then offer the detailed materials:
- Congressional One-Pager: a concise explanation of the proposal and congressional ask.
- Bloom Safe Act discussion draft, v2.1: the proposed legislative language.
- Advocate Talking Points and Congressional Meeting Guide, v3: preparation, policy explanations, sources, and answers to detailed questions.
A meeting with staff is a meaningful opportunity. Staff can examine the proposal, raise technical questions, and help the member decide whether to engage.
6. Be ready for common questions
These answers describe the current discussion draft. Section references help staff find the relevant language.
“What would Bloom Safe actually do?”
It would establish permanent public-health leadership within the Department of Health and Human Services, with central roles for CDC and the Department of Education. It would connect research, education, adult training, safer organizations, community grants, survivor support, and digital safety within a coordinated national framework.
“Why is a national initiative needed?”
Families, schools, prevention organizations, and communities need sustained resources and reliable evidence. Bloom Safe would support their work while building national research, coordination, and accountability. The draft also requires coordination with existing programs to reduce duplication. See §§ 101–102 and 411.
“How much would it cost, and how would it be funded?”
The draft directly appropriates $1 billion each year, beginning in the fiscal year of enactment and continuing unless changed by a later Act of Congress. Congress would need to examine the budget implications and any proposed offsets through its legislative and budget processes. Advocates should not promise a budget score or guaranteed savings. See § 501.
“Would most funding stay in Washington?”
At least 60 percent must be awarded through grants or cooperative agreements to eligible non-Federal entities. Federal administration is capped at 3 percent, with specified exclusions for activities such as research, reporting, technical assistance, and evaluation. See § 501(d).
“How would taxpayers know whether it works?”
The first public national report would be due within 180 days of enactment, with updated reports every year. The draft also requires quarterly spending information, public award information, independent evaluation, audits, and recurring Government Accountability Office review. Reporting must include findings that show programs did not work as hoped. See §§ 204, 412, and 502–503.
“Would it impose a national school curriculum or mandatory certification for every adult?”
Education grants are voluntary, and the draft expressly protects State and local control over specific curricula. It would establish national adult-training competencies and a voluntary Bloom Safe certification. See §§ 301–302.
“Would it expand policing or create new crimes?”
The draft limits law-enforcement participation to specified data, research, education, and training activities. It does not expand investigative or enforcement authority, and its public-health definition of abuse does not itself create new criminal offenses or civil liability. See §§ 3–4 and 501(f).
“Would survivors help shape the work?”
Yes. At least one-quarter of the proposed national Advisory Board would be adult survivors. Non-Federal members would receive compensation and participation support. Survivor participation would remain voluntary. See §§ 103–104.
“Could local nonprofits, schools, or faith communities participate?”
Yes. Eligible applicants include governments, schools, universities, nonprofits, survivor-led organizations, faith communities, healthcare providers, and other qualified partners. Awards would be competitive and subject to safeguards and accountability requirements. Direct Federal assistance could not fund worship, religious instruction, or proselytization. See §§ 402 and 408.
“How would sensitive information be protected?”
The draft requires collecting only necessary data, security controls, research protections, and review before public release. It prohibits using personally identifiable or readily identifiable information obtained under the Act for specified unrelated purposes, including criminal or immigration enforcement, advertising, and employment screening. See § 205.
“What if they ask something I cannot answer?”
Say:
That deserves a precise answer. I’ll check the draft and supporting sources and follow up with your office.
Write down the question. You can contact Bloom Safe for help locating the relevant information. Accuracy builds a stronger relationship than guessing.
7. Follow up with a clear next step
Before a call or meeting ends, ask:
Who will review the materials, what additional information would be useful, and when should I follow up?
After a meeting, send a brief thank-you within 24 hours. Restate the request, provide the documents, and answer outstanding questions with sources. Keep a simple record of the office, staff contact, questions, and agreed follow-up date.
If you receive a general response expressing concern for children, respectfully return to the specific request: Will the office review the draft and discuss a path toward introduction?
A meeting or acknowledgment is an opening for further work. Publicly describe an official as a supporter only when the office has explicitly authorized that description or issued a public statement.
Take the first step today
Choose one congressional office. Send the message or make the call. Then invite someone in your community to contact their own representatives.
You never need to disclose abuse or share another person’s experience to make this request. Your concern for children is enough.
Ask Congress to review the Bloom Safe Act and help bring it forward for introduction. Every child deserves to Bloom Safe.