Help with Federal Agencies
One of the most important jobs I have is helping my constituents
when they are having problems with federal agencies. Here are a few
quick questions to help you determine whether I can assist you with
your case.
Do you reside in the 14th Congressional District of the State
of Ohio?
Congressional courtesy dictates that each Member of Congress has
the honor of serving his or her own constituents. If you aren't
sure which district you live in, please visit www.house.gov. All
you need is your Zip Code + 4. You can determine your full Zip Code
at www.usps.gov if you are unsure of the last four digits.
Does your case involve a Federal agency?
As a Federal Representative, I am able to make inquiries on your
behalf with Federal agencies. I can help with issues such as
delayed Social Security payments, immigration questions, or
veterans' affairs issues. If your case involves a state or local
agency, please contact your state or local government
representative for assistance.
Does the case you are concerned about involve you?
Due to privacy laws, my office must have the written consent of
a constituent in order to make an official inquiry on his or her
behalf.
Does your situation involve a law that you would like to see
changed?
If you are advocating for a change in a law, please contact my
office and leave your comments, or you can email me with your
comments through my website. It is not necessary for you to fill
out a Privacy Release form in order to request a change in a
law.
Is your situation a legal dispute?
As a member of the Legislative Branch, I am unable to become
involved in court cases or legal issues due to Separation of Powers
as outlined in the Constitution. This restriction applies to both
civil and criminal matters. My office is also prohibited from
giving legal advice or recommending an attorney. If you need to
find a lawyer, you should contact your local bar association for a
referral.
Is your case within the agency's normal processing time?
It is rare that a case can be "sped up" for any reason other
than extreme hardship. If you believe your situation merits more
rapid processing, please contact my district office. My staff will
discuss your situation and help you determine the proper strategy.
Once you have asked yourself these questions and determined that
your case is something I can assist you with, please feel free to
contact my office via telephone, fax, U.S. postal service, email or
in person. If I can assist you, you must complete a privacy release
so that my office is able to initiate an agency inquiry on your
behalf.
What assistance can you expect from my office?
My office is here to assist constituents with problems involving
a federal agency. While my office can make inquiries on your
behalf, we cannot guarantee a positive outcome in all situations.
It is important to note that my office does not have any
decision-making authority, and the respective agencies have
complete discretion concerning decisions on individual cases.
However, my office can make inquiries as to the status of your
case, obtain additional information, or direct you toward
appropriate resources or services. My role is to assure you have a
fair and thorough review of your case. My staff and I will do our
best to help you receive a fair and timely response regarding your
problem.
If you are still unsure whether I can assist you with your case,
please contact my district office. My staff will discuss your
situation with you and work with you to determine the best course
of action.
Instructions for opening a case.
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, we need written
authorization from you to contact any federal agency on your behalf
or to receive any private information or records.
Therefore, please submit an
IRS Authorization for Release of
Information form for matters pertaining to the Internal Revenue
Service or a Privacy
Act Release form for all other inquiries, and copies of any
pertinent documentation to my Painesville Office.
Do not include original documents as they may not be
returned.
Finally, make sure to include a letter describing your
difficulties, and explain the assistance you are seeking from my
office as a result of the congressional inquiry.
PAINESVILLE OFFICE
1 VICTORIA PLACE, ROOM 320
PAINESVILLE, OH 44077
(440) 352-3939
(440) 352-3622 (fax)
For additional information, you may be able to find the answer
to your questions at the appropriate agency website. Below is a
list of many federal agencies. If you are trying to contact a
federal agency and the website is not below, contact my office and
my staff will be happy to assist you.
Federal Agencies
Department of
Education
Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
Federal Trade
Commission (FTC)
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Internal Revenue
Service (IRS)
Department of
Labor (DOL)
Medicare
Department of Veterans
Affairs
Social
Security
State Department
Passport Services
Visas