Questions about Congress

What does Congress do?

Are there requirements to become a member of the House of Representatives?

Where are the Representatives' offices located?

How can I watch the proceedings on the House floor?

How many members of Congress are there?

How long do members of Congress' terms last?

Who are my U.S. Senators from Indiana?

How do I find out the status of a particular bill in the House of Representatives or in the Senate?

How can I find out what bills Congressman Ellsworth has introduced or co-sponsored?

What committees does Congressman Ellsworth serve on?  How can I find out information about them?

How do I find out how the Congressman voted on legislation?

Questions about how Congressman Ellsworth can help you

How can I order a flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol?

How can I request a tour of the U.S. Capitol Building?

How can I request a tour of the White House?

How do I apply for an internship in Congressman Ellsworth's office?

I am having a problem with a federal agency.  What can Congressman Ellsworth do?

I am having a problem with a state agency.  What can Congressman Ellsworth do?

I am having a problem resolving a legal matter.  What can Congressman Ellsworth do?

How do I apply for a military service academy like the Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, or West Point?

What is the Congressional Art Competition?  How do I participate?

How can I sign up for the e-newsletter?

Where can I access the privacy release form?

How do I find out what grant money is available for my organization?  Can Congressman Ellsworth help me receive a Federal grant?

Questions about contacting Congressman Ellsworth

How do I request a meeting with Congressman Ellsworth?

I want Congressman Ellsworth to speak at my school or an event my organization is hosting.

What is the best way to contact Congressman Ellsworth?

I contacted Congressman Ellsworth, but haven't received a response. What's going on?

Are there requirements to become a member of the House of Representatives?
Yes, the U.S. Constitution spells out the basic requirements for holding office: an individual must be 25 years of age, a U.S. citizen for seven years, and a resident of the state he or she is elected from.  States have different requirements regarding what qualifies an individual as a resident.

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Where are the Representatives' offices located?
The House of Representatives has four office buildings: Cannon, Longworth, Rayburn and Ford. My office is located in the Cannon Building, room 513. I also have district offices located in Evansville at 101 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room 124 and in Terre Haute at 901 Wabash Avenue, Suite 140.  

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How can I watch the proceedings on the House floor?
You can view proceedings on the House floor on CSPAN. Senate proceedings are broadcast on CSPAN 2. If you are visiting DC and would like to watch the House proceedings in person, please contact my office toll free at (866) 567-0227 for information on tour times and to reserve your spot.

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How many members of Congress are there?
There are 435 voting members in the House of Representatives, 100 members in the Senate, and 5 delegates. 

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How long do members of Congress' terms last?
Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms, while Senators serve six-year terms. There are no limits on how many terms a member may serve. 

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Who are my U.S. Senators from Indiana?
Senator Evan Bayh and Senator Richard Lugar

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How can I order a flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol?
Residents of the 8th District may purchase a flag from my office. For an additional fee, you have the option of requesting your flags be flown over the United States Capitol on a specific date and receiving an accompanying Certificate from the Architect of the Capitol. Click here to get started.

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How can I request a tour of the U.S. Capitol Building?
General admission tickets for the United States Capitol are available Monday through Saturday on a first come first serve basis, so arrive early.  Tickets are distributed beginning at 8:00 am, and tours are conducted from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. 
Congressional staff led tours are also available on weekdays. Please contact my office toll free at (866) 567-0227 for information on tour times and to reserve your spot. 

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How can I request a tour of the White House?
Due to increased security procedures enacted since September 11th, it is very difficult to get tickets to tour the White House and slots are extremely limited. Tour requests should be made up to six months in advance and requests are considered on a first come first serve basis. Tours are available Tuesdays-Saturdays, and the White House makes the final decision about who will receive a tour. To learn more, please click here.

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How do I apply for an internship in Congressman Ellsworth's office?
Congressional internships provide individuals with valuable hands-on experience working closely with staff in a wide-range of areas including press, correspondence and legislative policy. Please click here to learn more about internship requirements and obtain an application. 

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I am having a problem with a federal agency. What can Congressman Ellsworth do?
As one of your federal representatives, I may be able to assist you in resolving a problem with a federal agency. My staff makes every effort to assist Hoosiers with a variety of issues; however, there are some matters over which I have no jurisdiction. Please click here to learn more about how my office can help or open a case. 

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I am having a problem with a state agency. What can Congressman Ellsworth do?
If you are seeking assistance with an issue that involves local or state government, you should contact your Indiana State Senator or Representative. 

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I am having a problem resolving a legal matter. What can Congressman Ellsworth do?
Unfortunately, my staff and I are prohibited from giving legal advice or intervening in legal proceedings.

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How do I apply for a military service academy like the Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, or West Point?
There is no greater honor than serving your country. The United States service academies offer young Hoosiers an opportunity to not only obtain a first class education, but upon graduation, serve our country as commissioned officers in the Armed Forces. Each member of Congress is alloted a limited number of nominations, which they may submit for consideration of an appointment by the academy. Please click here to learn more about application requirements.

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What is the Congressional Art Competition? How do I participate?
The Congressional Art Contest is an annual event for high school students in congressional districts throughout the country.  The competition is open to all high school students (grades 9-12) in the Eighth District of Indiana. Please click here to learn more about the competition and how to participate.

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How can I sign up for the e-newsletter?
To sign up, click here.

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Where can I access the privacy release form?
Click here for the Privacy Release Form.

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How do I find out what grant money is available for my organization? Can Congressman Ellsworth help me receive a Federal grant?
Each year billions of dollars are distributed in federal grant and loan money to institutions and organizations throughout the country. The 8th Congressional District's outstanding universities and colleges, non-profit organizations, and local governments are well-qualified to compete for these funds. Please click here to learn about federal grants and how I can help you.

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How do I request a meeting with Congressman Ellsworth?
My door is always open to the people of the 8th District. To request a meeting to talk about the issues that matter to you, please click here to fill out the Scheduling Request Form.

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I want Congressman Ellsworth to speak at my school or an event my organization is hosting?
My door is always open to the people of the 8th District. To invite me to attend an event or visit your school, please click here to fill out the Scheduling Request Form.

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What is the best way to contact Congressman Ellsworth?
Due to security precautions, all mail addressed to the Washington, DC office will undergo extensive processing before delivery, resulting in a 2-3 week delay. I apologize for the inconvenience. Until the mail process is more timely, the best way to contact me or my Washington, DC staff is by phone at toll free (866) 567-0227, fax at (202) 225-3284 or preferably via email.

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I contacted Congressman Ellsworth, but haven't received a response. What's going on?
As part of my Open Door Policy, I take pride in responding to questions and concerns from 8th District constituents. In fact, in 2007 alone, I responded to more than 61,000 inquiries from Hoosiers like you. Response times to inquiries can vary depending on a number of factors; here are the top reasons why my response may have been delayed:

• The legislation or issue you contacted me about will be considered soon. 
  I want you to have the latest information about the issues or legislation you care about. If Congress is expected to act on a particular issue or legislation soon, responses to your inquiry may be delayed to ensure you receive the most accurate information available about the status of the issue or legislation you contacted me about.  

• An e-mail spam filter has blocked my response.
  If you contacted me using the online Contact Form, you should have received an acknowledgment of receipt email from me within 24 hours of your email. If you did not, please check your junk mail folder and spam filters. To ensure my email response is not caught by a spam filter please add the following email address to your list of approved addresses/contacts: in08ima@ in08.us.house.gov.
  
  If you received the acknowledement email, but have not received a response to your inquiry, please call my office toll-free at (866) 567-0227 and a member of my staff will work with you to make sure you receive a response.

• Your letter was addressed to my Washington, DC office.
  Due to security precautions, all mail addressed to the Washington, DC office goes through extensive processing before I receive it. This process often results in a 2-3 week delay in delivery. To avoid this delay, the best way to contact me or my Washington, DC staff is by phone at toll free (866) 567-0227, fax at (202) 225-3284 or preferably via email.   

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