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I have never been reticent about what I consider to be my first priority as the Representative of the First Congressional District. When asked to describe in a sentence or two the way in which I view my job as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, I needed only two words – helping people. Through the highs and lows of public service, I am most proud of being able to help people with problems they wouldn’t otherwise have the resources to solve. In the tradition of Strom Thurmond and Mendel Rivers, I realize the potential for making a positive change that comes with the privilege of public service.
To provide a venue for First District constituents seeking information and assistance with federal matters, I have assembled representatives from several federal agencies as participants in five upcoming workshops. The Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and Veterans Administration as well as Citizenship and Immigration Services will be presenting updates on their programs and services. My District Staff will also be available to process specific agency requests as part of this most recent outreach effort.
The Social Security Administration’s representative will be available to discuss a variety of Social Security programs, including their E-Service, an on-line method of applying for benefits. They will also assist with questions pertaining to entitlement for benefit programs and Medicare Part-D.
Now that the Economic Stimulus Act has been signed into law, constituents want to know what they should be doing to ensure their eligibility for these payments. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will present more information on the requirements for receiving these “rebate” checks. With the tax-filing season up on, the IRS will also have valuable information to prevent you from becoming a victim of tax rip-off schemes. Information is also available on their website at www.irs.gov.
The men and women who have answered our nation’s call to duty may be in need of services unique to them. A representative of the Veterans Administration (VA) will be present to answer questions pertaining to veterans’ benefits.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly known as Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS), will be available to answer questions concerning permanent residency, naturalization, and other immigration-related issues.
This excellent group of federal representatives will be joined by a member of the South Carolina Broadcasters Association who will present information on the upcoming transition to digital television (DTV) transmission. Analog television sets not connected to cable or satellite, or without a DTV converter box will be affected by the February 17, 2009 transition. This will be your chance to obtain more information on the options available.
I am proud of my record of outstanding constituent service and I welcome the opportunity to provide another setting for those interested in help or information concerning federal matters.
The schedule for the Constituent Service Workshops is as follows:
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Georgetown Sheriff’s Office 430 N. Fraser St. Georgetown, SC
2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Horry-Georgetown Tech 2050 E. Hwy. 501 Conway, SC
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Berkeley County Admin. Bldg. 1003 Hwy. 52 Moncks Corner, SC
2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Cuthbert Community Hut 105 W. 5th St. Summerville, SC
Thursday, March 20, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon North Charleston City Hall 4900 LaCross Rd. North Charleston, SC
Directions to each of the workshop locations are available through my website: http://brown.house.gov. Click on the first “Item of Interest” at the top of the site’s home page.
Residents of the First Congressional District that are unable to attend one of these workshops are reminded that assistance with federal agencies is always available through my District Offices. Inquiries should be directed to:
Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr.
5900 Core Avenue, Suite 401 1800-C North Oak Street
North Charleston, SC 29406 Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 747-4175 – PHONE (843) 445-6459 – PHONE
(843) 747-4711 – FAX (843) 445-6418 – FAX
1-888-868-0737 – TOLL FREE
Information, including a downloadable Privacy Release form, is available on the Congressional website http://brown.house.gov Go to the "Help with Federal Agencies" link for complete instructions and forms.
I Want to Hear from You!
I hope you find this E-Newsletter to be helpful and informative. I encourage you to forward it to friends and family. If someone you know is interested in receiving my Newsletter via e-mail, they need only visit my site and enter their zip code in the “E-Mail Updates” block found on the home page. Likewise, if you would like to contact me, I hope you will visit my website and send an e-mail message by clicking on the “Contact Me” block. Due to security concerns with mail received at the Capitol, postal letters can take several weeks to reach the Washington, DC office.
Thank you for the honor and privilege of representing the citizens of the First Congressional District. I pledge to do my best in upholding the trust that you have placed in me.
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