United States Senator Mel Martinez | ||||||||||
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Constituent Services - Casework
As your U.S. Senator, one of my most important roles is to assist you with any matter that pertains to a federal agency. If you are experiencing a problem with a federal agency, allow me to intervene on your behalf. Members of my staff are specially trained to address and help resolve these types of matters.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions. I hope you find this information helpful. How can Senator Martinez help me?The Senator has hired staff specially trained to assist constituents in their transactions with federal agencies. They will act as a liaison on your behalf for any cases you have pending before a federal agency. They will be available to assist any individual or group that has a concern, complaint, or question of eligibility or benefit as it pertains to a specific federal agency. How do I ask Senator Martinez to help me?To request assistance from my office, please complete the Privacy Act Consent Form. Why must I submit a Privacy Act Consent Form to get the Senator to help me?The Privacy Act of 1974 protects your personal information and prohibits a federal agency from distributing your personal information to a third party without your written consent. A federal agency will not release to our office any of your confidential case information without proof of consent. What information will I need to include in the Privacy Act Consent Form?Most importantly, you will need to sign the form. Please remember to include any identifying information that is needed such as a social security number, date of birth, alien number, military rank and unit, VA claim number or agency application number. It will be helpful if you include a brief explanation of the problem you are having and specify the federal agency with which you are experiencing the problem. Also, please note how you would like my office to assist you. Please note, the federal agencies require that all information be written in English. Where do I send my Privacy Act Consent Form?
*Emails will only be accepted if a scanned copy of the completed Privacy Act Consent Form is attached.Can Senator Martinez assist me with a legal matter?The Senator cannot offer legal advice and cannot intervene on matters that are pending before the courts. If you need to find a lawyer, you should call the Lawyer Referral Service of the Florida Bar Association at (800) 342-8011. Can Senator Martinez appeal an agency's decision?The Senator does do not have the authority to overturn a decision already given by a federal agency. Can Senator Martinez help me with a problem I am having with a state or local government agency?While we welcome the opportunity to be of assistance, it is a long-standing tradition that state and local matters be directed to the appropriate official for investigation. Please contact the Office of the Governor or that of your state Senator, Representative, or local official for assistance with these types of matters. Florida residents may find their state representative by visiting, www.myflorida.com Non-Florida residents may locate their U.S. Senator by visiting, www.senate.gov Can Senator Martinez help me if I am requesting assistance on behalf of someone else?Due to the Privacy Act of 1974, the person's written consent is required prior to releasing any confidential case information. This includes immediate relatives, such as a spouse or parent and/or interested third parties, such as attorneys. Please have him or her complete a Privacy Act Consent Form and specify that we have permission to contact the federal agency and share any case information with you. If you are the parent of a child under the age of 18, you may submit an inquiry on your child's behalf. If you are an authorized guardian or have power of attorney for an adult individual, please enclose a copy of that evidence with your completed Privacy Act Consent Form. Can Senator Martinez help me if I am not a resident of the state of Florida?No. It is the Senate's long standing tradition that we afford your Senator the opportunity to assist you. If you are not a resident of the State of Florida, we will forward your inquiry to the Senator that represents your state. Who can I contact if I have additional questions?If you would like to speak with a member of my casework staff, call (407) 254-2573. Additionally, some of your questions may be answered by visiting the links below: Bureau of Prisons www.bop.gov Department of Defense www.dod.gov Department of Education www.ed.gov Department of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov Department of Housing and Urban Development www.hud.gov Department of Labor www.dol.gov Equal Employment Opportunity Commission www.eeoc.gov Health & Human Services Administration www.hhs.gov Medicare www.medicare.gov Department of State: Passports, Visas and Travel Warnings www.travel.state.gov Department of Transportation www.dot.gov Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov Internal Revenue Service www.irs.gov Social Security Administration www.ssa.gov United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, formerly the INS www.uscis.gov United States Department of Agriculture www.usda.gov United States Department of Health and Human Services www.os.dhhs.gov United States Postal Service www.usps.com |