Why August Could Be Your Most Powerful Month as an Advocate

When people picture Congress, it's usually marble hallways, endless hearings, and lawmakers arguing on cable news.

August is... not that.

Every year, members of Congress head home for what's known as “August recess.” Instead of spending their days in Washington, they're back in their districts attending town halls, visiting local businesses, meeting with community groups, and – most importantly – hearing directly from the people they represent.

Turns out, democracy has office hours.

And if you've ever wondered whether ordinary people can actually influence federal policy, this is one of the best times to find out.

Why this month matters

Lawmakers don't just write legislation. They decide what legislation they want to champion in the first place.

That agenda is shaped by many things. News headlines. Experts. Other elected officials.

And yes – constituents. That’s us!

When enough people show up with thoughtful, practical solutions to the same problem, those conversations don't disappear when August ends. They help shape priorities and legislative ideas for the year ahead.

That's why August recess isn't just a calendar quirk. It's one of the biggest opportunities for everyday people to move good ideas forward.

Right now, Americans want solutions

One issue keeps rising to the top of kitchen-table conversations: costs.

Utility bills are climbing across the country. Families are feeling it. Businesses are feeling it. And lawmakers know it's becoming harder to ignore.

The reasons are multiple. Growing electricity demand. An aging power grid. Volatile, unreliable fossil fuel prices. More extreme weather (resulting from climate change) straining our air conditioning and energy systems.

The good news? We know the solutions – and they’re becoming the no-brainer, affordable option. 

Meet the federal bill that does it all

Earlier this year, members of Congress introduced the Energy Bills Relief Act (EBRA) – a comprehensive proposal designed to make energy more affordable for Americans while building a cleaner, more reliable US electric grid.

Will this entire, exact bill become law this year? Probably not.

But that's not the point during this August recess.

EBRA is a blueprint. It brings together many of the strongest policy ideas for lowering utility bills, modernizing the power grid, protecting consumers, speeding up clean energy projects, and helping communities benefit from new energy investments.

Think of it less as one bill and more as a menu for the policies lawmakers should be building into future legislation.

Which is why conversations with our representatives matter now.

Congress gets a summer break. Democracy doesn't.

It's easy to assume elected officials only hear from lobbyists or political insiders. But constituent conversations are a regular and important part of how Congress works.

You don't need to be a policy expert. 

You don't need to memorize legislation. 

You simply need to know why you care – and speak up.

During August recess, we’re going to attend town halls, call and email our representatives, and even invite them for coffee meetups. Each of us can be the voice in the room saying, "these are the kinds of practical, affordable energy solutions my family and our community needs."

The Energy Bills Relief Act offers these solutions. By encouraging our lawmakers to include EBRA provisions as they prioritize and shape legislation in the year ahead, you're helping good ideas gain momentum.

Join us for our campaign kickoff and action event on July 27, with a cameo from very special guest Rep. Mike Levin, one of the original authors of EBRA. In one hour, we’ll unpack August recess, talk about EBRA, share educational and action resources, and prepare to have effective conversations with our reps. 

Then we keep the momentum going through weekly Hours of Action. Same time. Same place. One hour. Every week. 

Changemakers gather virtually and in-person in 18 cities. During festive, focused, 60-minute gatherings where we take meaningful action alongside a welcoming community. Drop in – then get on with your week.

The halls of Congress may be quieter in August. Your community doesn't have to be. Doing beats doomscrolling. Don’t wait to see what happens next. Be part of it. Let's make sure our representatives hear from the people they represent.