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Government procedures can be confusing and, in the age of automated answering systems, often frustrating. Caseworkers are trained to assist constituents by cutting through a myriad of departments and phone numbers. They can direct people to the appropriate office, provide them with necessary instructions, phone numbers or materials, and/or find out the status of an application.
Constituents will sometimes request that the Congressman "expedite" their applications for services or benefits. While a caseworker is available to obtain information regarding the status of a constituents application or claim, this office has no authority to move one persons application ahead of others who are also waiting. However, if an emergency situation develops, a caseworker will communicate the circumstances to the agency and request that the agency take the appropriate actions.
Occassionally, a constituent will request that the Congressman use his influence to overturn a decision made by a federal agency. A caseworker is happy to assist constituents by forwarding information to the appropriate sources for consideration during the adjudication process. A Congressional office, however, does not have the authority to instruct a federal agency to approve or deny an application.
The Privacy Act of 1974 requires Congressional offices to obtain written permission from an individual before an agency can release any case-specific information. In some time-sensitive circumstances, however, information may be provided to a caseworker who has received a verbal permission from a constituent by phone and can provide the agency with pertinent information, such as the constituents full name, birth date, Social Security number and/or a file number.
A privacy release form is available in Word and PDF formats. These forms can be completed electronically and should be mailed or faxed to our Jonesboro District office so we can begin working on your request.
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Download Privacy Form in Word format
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Download Privacy Form in PDF format
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Education Department
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FCC - Federal Communications Commission
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Housing and Urban Development
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
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Internal Revenue Service
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Department of Labor
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Medicare
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Military
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Office of Personnel Management
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Passport Service
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Postal Service
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Social Security Administration
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State Department - Visas
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| Veterans Administration
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