It’s Time to Move the HEADACHE Act
Congressional Call-In Day Advocate Toolkit
Congress has heard our stories. Members of Congress have seen the growing bipartisan support for the HEADACHE Act. Now we need them to act.
On Thursday, September 3rd, headache advocates across the country are calling their U.S. Representatives and asking Congress to move H.R. 5536, the bipartisan HEADACHE Act, before the end of the year.
Our goal is simple: We want the House Energy and Commerce Committee to move the HEADACHE Act forward for a hearing or markup in order for Congress to include the HEADACHE Act in an appropriate year-end health package.
Your call can take just a few minutes. If you want to learn more about the HEADACHE Act before making your call, you can learn more at HEADACHEAct.org
Step 1: Find Your U.S. Representative
You only need to call your own U.S. Representative.
If you know who represents you, go directly to their official House website and look for the phone number for their Washington, D.C. office.
If you are not sure who your Representative is, use the U.S. House of Representatives’ official Find Your Representative tool. Enter your ZIP code and it will direct you to your Representative and their website.
You can also call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your U.S. Representative’s office.
Important
Please call the Representative’s Washington, D.C. office, rather than a district office, whenever possible.
Step 2: Is Your Representative on the Energy & Commerce Committee?
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over the HEADACHE Act, which means its members have a particularly important role in moving the bill forward.
Check the list below.
If your Representative IS on the list, use the ENERGY & COMMERCE SCRIPT.
If your Representative IS NOT on the list, use the GENERAL HOUSE SCRIPT.
Current House Energy & Commerce Committee Members
Republicans
- Brett Guthrie, Kentucky 2nd District, Committee Chair
- Bob Latta, Ohio 5th District
- Morgan Griffith, Virginia 9th District
- Gus Bilirakis, Florida 12th District
- Richard Hudson, North Carolina 9th District
- Buddy Carter, Georgia 1st District
- Gary Palmer, Alabama 6th District
- Neal Dunn, Florida 2nd District
- Dan Crenshaw, Texas 2nd District
- John Joyce, Pennsylvania 13th District
- Randy Weber, Texas 14th District
- Rick Allen, Georgia 12th District
- Troy Balderson, Ohio 12th District
- Russ Fulcher, Idaho 1st District
- August Pfluger, Texas 11th District
- Diana Harshbarger, Tennessee 1st District
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Iowa 1st District
- Kat Cammack, Florida 3rd District
- Jay Obernolte, California 23rd District
- John James, Michigan 10th District
- Cliff Bentz, Oregon 2nd District
- Erin Houchin, Indiana 9th District
- Russell Fry, South Carolina 7th District
- Laurel Lee, Florida 15th District
- Nick Langworthy, New York 23rd District
- Tom Kean, New Jersey 7th District
- Michael Rulli, Ohio 6th District
- Gabe Evans, Colorado 8th District
- Craig Goldman, Texas 12th District
- Julie Fedorchak, North Dakota At-Large
Democrats
- Frank Pallone, New Jersey 6th District, Ranking Member
- Diana DeGette, Colorado 1st District
- Jan Schakowsky, Illinois 9th District
- Doris Matsui, California 7th District
- Kathy Castor, Florida 14th District
- Paul Tonko, New York 20th District
- Yvette Clarke, New York 9th District
- Raul Ruiz, California 25th District
- Scott Peters, California 50th District
- Debbie Dingell, Michigan 6th District
- Marc Veasey, Texas 33rd District
- Robin Kelly, Illinois 2nd District
- Nanette Diaz Barragán, California 44th District
- Darren Soto, Florida 9th District
- Kim Schrier, Washington 8th District
- Lori Trahan, Massachusetts 3rd District
- Lizzie Fletcher, Texas 7th District
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York 14th District
- Jake Auchincloss, Massachusetts 4th District
- Troy Carter, Louisiana 2nd District
- Rob Menendez, New Jersey 8th District
- Kevin Mullin, California 15th District
- Greg Landsman, Ohio 1st District
- Jennifer McClellan, Virginia 4th District
*Committee membership current as of August 2026. The official House Energy and Commerce Committee lists 54 members. *
Step 3: Make Your Call
When someone answers, you can simply say:
“Hi, I’m a constituent calling about H.R. 5536, the HEADACHE Act. Could I leave a message for the Representative and the staff member who handles health policy?”
You do not need to be a policy expert. You do not need to memorize the script. And you do not need to debate the person answering the phone.
Your job is simply to make sure the office hears from a constituent that it is time to move the bipartisan HEADACHE Act.
GENERAL HOUSE SCRIPT
Use this script if your Representative is NOT on the Energy & Commerce Committee.
Hi, my name is [NAME], and I’m a constituent from [CITY].
I’m calling about H.R. 5536, the bipartisan HEADACHE Act.
More than 40 million Americans live with migraine and headache disorders, but these diseases still do not receive the coordinated federal attention they deserve.
I’m asking Representative [NAME] to support the HEADACHE Act and help move it forward before the end of the year.
Specifically, please ask the Representative to urge House Energy and Commerce Committee leadership to bring H.R. 5536 forward for consideration by way of a hearing or markup and to support including the HEADACHE Act in an appropriate year-end health legislative package.
IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS NOT ALREADY A COSPONSOR:
I’m also asking Representative [NAME] to cosponsor H.R. 5536.
ADD YOUR PERSONAL CONNECTION:
This matters to me because [ONE OR TWO SENTENCES ABOUT HOW MIGRAINE OR HEADACHE DISORDERS HAVE AFFECTED YOU, YOUR FAMILY, OR YOUR COMMUNITY].
Can you please share my request with Representative [NAME] and the staff member who handles health policy?
Thank you.
ENERGY & COMMERCE COMMITTEE SCRIPT
Use this script if your Representative IS on the Energy & Commerce Committee list above.
Hi, my name is [NAME], and I’m a constituent from [CITY].
I’m calling about H.R. 5536, the bipartisan HEADACHE Act.
More than 40 million Americans live with migraine and headache disorders, but these diseases still do not receive the coordinated federal attention they deserve.
Because Representative [NAME] serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, they have an especially important opportunity to help move this legislation forward.
I’m asking Representative [NAME] to support H.R. 5536 and work with Energy and Commerce Committee leadership to bring the HEADACHE Act forward for a hearing or markup before the end of the year.
I’m also asking the Representative to support including the HEADACHE Act in an appropriate year-end health legislative package so Congress has every possible opportunity to get this legislation enacted.
IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS NOT ALREADY A COSPONSOR:
I’m also asking Representative [NAME] to cosponsor H.R. 5536.
ADD YOUR PERSONAL CONNECTION:
This matters to me because [ONE OR TWO SENTENCES ABOUT HOW MIGRAINE OR HEADACHE DISORDERS HAVE AFFECTED YOU, YOUR FAMILY, OR YOUR COMMUNITY].
As a member of the committee with jurisdiction over this bill, Representative [NAME] can play an important role in helping move it forward.
Can you please share my request with the Representative and the staff member who handles health policy?
Thank you.
If your Representative is Committee Chair Brett Guthrie or Ranking Member Frank Pallone
You can make your request even more direct:
“As a leader of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I’m asking Representative [GUTHRIE/PALLONE] to help bring H.R. 5536 forward for committee consideration and markup before the end of the year.”
If Your Representative Already Cosponsors the HEADACHE Act
That’s great, but your call still matters. You can check if your representative is
Cosponsoring the HEADACHE Act was an important first step. Now we need members who already support the bill to help get it moved.
You can say:
“I want to thank Representative [NAME] for cosponsoring the HEADACHE Act. I’m calling today because we need their help taking the next step and getting the bill moved before the end of the year.”
Then continue with the appropriate script above.
If You Reach Voicemail
Keep it short:
Hi, my name is [NAME], and I’m a constituent from [CITY].
I’m calling to ask Representative [NAME] to help move H.R. 5536, the bipartisan HEADACHE Act.
Please support the bill, urge Energy and Commerce Committee leadership to bring it forward for a hearing or markup, and support including the HEADACHE Act in an appropriate year-end health package.
[IF NEEDED: I’m also asking the Representative to cosponsor H.R. 5536.]
This matters to me because [VERY SHORT PERSONAL CONNECTION].
Thank you.
For Energy & Commerce members
Replace the third paragraph with:
As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I’m asking Representative [NAME] to help bring H.R. 5536 forward for consideration and markup and support its inclusion in an appropriate year-end health package.
What If the Staff Member Asks Me a Question?
That’s okay.
You are not expected to know every detail of the legislation.
If you don’t know the answer, simply say:
“I’m not sure, but I’m calling as a constituent to ask the Representative to support moving the HEADACHE Act. The Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy can provide your health staff with additional information about the bill.”
You can also direct them to the HEADACHE Act’s standalone webpage at HEADACHEAct.org.
Never feel like you need to guess.
Make It Personal
The most powerful part of your call is something only you can provide: why this matters to you.
You might briefly mention:
- Living with migraine, cluster headache, or another headache disorder
- Watching a child, parent, partner, friend, or family member live with a headache disorder
- Missing work, school, family activities, or important life events because of attacks
- Difficulty finding knowledgeable medical care
- Trouble accessing treatments
- The financial impact of living with a headache disorder
- Why you want future patients to have better care than you have experienced
You do not need to tell your entire story.
One or two sentences is enough.
Your Three Asks
If you forget everything else, remember these:
1. SUPPORT IT
Support H.R. 5536, the HEADACHE Act, and cosponsor it if you haven’t already.
2. MOVE IT
Help get the HEADACHE Act considered and marked up by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
3. PASS IT
Support including the HEADACHE Act in an appropriate year-end health package so Congress has every opportunity to enact it.
After You Call
Tell us how it went!
After your call, complete our short Call-In Day reporting form.
Let us know:
- Your name
- Your state
- Your congressional district or Representative
- Whether you spoke with someone or left a voicemail
- Any response you received from the office
- Whether the office requested additional information or follow-up
Your report helps AHDA understand which congressional offices are hearing from advocates, where we need to follow up, and where support for moving the HEADACHE Act is growing.