Introducing A New Policy's Congressional Letter Tracker
By: Robert McDonald, Senior Legislative Researcher, A New Policy
At A New Policy, we are committed to making U.S. policy transparent and accessible to the public, not just when bills are on the floor, but when members are taking action on Israel/Palestine in ways that are rarely visible to the public.
Today, we’re excited to launch our new Congressional Letter Tracker, now live on our website.
Our Congressional Letter Tracker is built for clarity and ease of use. Every entry includes information you need to understand the impact of a letter without digging through dozens of press releases, news articles, and document archives.
Each Letter Records:
Led by: Which member of Congress organized the letter. This shows who is leading the policy push from senior committee chairs to emerging voices shaping the conversation.
Sent to: The federal official, agency receiving the letter, or official of a foreign country. Most letters on our tracker go to the Secretary of State or other senior Administration officials, where they can directly influence policy decisions.
Subject: A short summary of what the letter is asking for: humanitarian aid, Palestinian self-determination, oversight investigations, civilian protection, sanctions, or other actions tied to American values and interests.
Date sent: When the letter was delivered. Tracking the timeline shows how priorities evolve, especially during fast-moving events when the news can overshadow and gloss over meaningful congressional action.
Number of signers: How many members joined the request. If you don’t see that your member led the letter, click the hyperlink and do a ctrl+f search and find your member. Every signature matters.
The Tracker Allows You to Quickly Understand:
Which issues are gaining momentum,
Where coalitions are forming,
How members are communicating U.S. priorities, and
What actions Congress is urging the Administration and foreign officials to take.
You don’t need insider access to see how influence works. It’s all visible member by member, letter by letter.
Tip: If you want to know if your member signed on, click the hyperlink and use Ctrl+F to search for your member.
Why Letters Matter
Letters are important tools members of Congress use to influence policy. When members believe their concerns are not reflected in the decisions of the Administration, federal agencies, or international partners, letters provide a mechanism for members to show constituents that they are not only speaking on an issue, but taking concrete steps to influence policy. A few examples of what letters can do:
Call for presidential action
Pressure federal agencies,
Call for humanitarian action,
Raise human rights concerns,
Request investigations, and
Define what American values and interests mean in practice.
These letters rarely get headlines, but they can move policy, often long before a vote ever happens. As more members call for U.S. policy toward Israel to align with American interests, universal values, and Palestinian self-determination, letters make that action visible to the American people, showing where members are pushing for change and what they are asking the Administration to do.
