U.S. Congressman Steve Buyer | Proudly Serving Hoosiers in Indiana's 4th District

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM CONGRESSMAN STEVE BUYER

RE: Completion of Casework by the end of my term.

         Thank you for your trust in allowing my office to assist you with your issue within the jurisdiction of the federal government.  As you may know, I will retire at the conclusion of the current session of Congress at noon on January 3, 2011.

         In the coming months, my staff and I will continue to focus on the important services we provide to Hoosiers.  In particular, we will continue our “casework” to the best of our abilities for those like you who have had difficulties with federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Veterans Administration and all other federal agencies and departments.
  
         Congressional District “casework,” or constituent services, is a valuable function of my office in working to make government more accessible and responsive.   Unfortunately, congressional offices that work with these federal agencies cannot always project or influence the timing in which decisions by the agencies are rendered.   Sometimes such efforts can take weeks, months or years to conclude.  Therefore, we expect many of the cases that are currently awaiting action by an agency to be completed during the next Congress, after I have retired.  If you still wish for my office to assist you with a new case, I will need a signed Privacy Release Consent Form.  Thoroughly complete the form, including the blank lines that ask you to describe your problem (dates, agency name and what you want my office to do to resolve your problem).  It is important for my office to understand your desire for the disposition of your case if it is not resolved by November 12, 2010.  Please review and complete the Directive for Casework  form and select from the following options:

              1. Close your “congressional file” and destroy all records.
              2. Refer your open file and all materials, including sensitive information to my successor in the 4th Congressional District.
              3. Return your open file to you to forward to another elected member of the U.S House or U.S. Senate.
                 (Note: Due to retirements, etc. there will be several new members of the House and Senate next year).

         I take very seriously the trust you have placed in me and my staff regarding your case file and sensitive information.  All case files and personal identifiable documents (electronic or hard copy) that have been concluded will be securely destroyed.  All open cases which we do not receive direction on how to handle when my office closes will be securely destroyed.  All cases that are requested to be transferred will be processed and transferred by December 1, 2010.
  
         It is important to note that if we have already begun processing your case with an agency; that agency will continue to work on your case.
  
         Please return your completed Privacy Release Consent form and Directive for Casework and return to me at my Monticello District Office at 100 South Main Street, Monticello, IN 47960 or via email at buyercasework@mail.house.gov as soon as possible so we can fulfill your wish regarding your case.   If we do not hear from you by November 12 regarding existing casework files, we will destroy the contents of the files in our possession.  If you have any questions please call my office at 317-838-0404 or 574-583-9819.