Help With a Federal Agency

Sometimes it can be difficult to navigate the maze of the federal government. My office can serve as a liaison between you and a federal agency. Some federal agencies you may be familiar with are the Social Security Administration (SSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Veterans Administration (VA). To the right you have quick links and below you can find an expanded list of federal agencies my office can assist with, and some examples of the type of assistance provided.

Before I can begin an inquiry, I need your written consent. The Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits the release of information pertaining to an individual or situation without first obtaining permission from the individual in question. The Privacy Authorization Form will facilitate the initiation of my inquiry.

What you can expect:

• Once you complete the Privacy Authorization Form, sign it and return it to the district office nearest you. Please include any documentation that will help clarify your issue or support your position.
• You will receive confirmation from me that an inquiry has been initiated on your behalf. You can expect a response from the agency within 30-45 days. This is a general guideline, and actual time may vary with each individual case.
• As soon as the agency's response is received, my office will notify you by phone or letter.
• During ongoing claims, agencies often request additional information. I will facilitate the transfer of your information, documents, or forms in response to an agency's request.
• While I am monitoring the progress of your claim, appeal, or application, I will provide you with periodic status updates.

You should know:

• Under the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, I am unable to act as an attorney or provide legal advice in any way to constituents. If you need legal advice or representation, the Texas State Bar www.texasbar.com/ and Texas Legal Services Center www.tlsc.org offer referrals and services. The Texas Commission on Human Rights http://tchr.state.tx.us offers information on enforcement of the Texas Human Rights Act.
• I am unable to intervene on your behalf in disputes involving a private company. You may wish to seek legal counsel, contact the Better Business Bureau, or file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the Texas Attorney General's office. www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/consumer.shtml.
• While I will always do my best to assist you, please remember federal agencies have final discretion concerning decisions on individual cases.

How to obtain assistance from my office:

1. Determine if you reside in Texas' 10th Congressional District

    Congressional courtesy, ethics rules and propriety dictate that each Member of Congress has the honor and responsibility to serve his or her own constituents.

    If you aren't sure which Congressional district you live in, please visit the House of Representatives homepage here, enter your nine digit zip code to determine who your representative is.

    If you do not know the last four digits of your zip code, please visit the Postal Service ZIP Code Lookup page to find out.
 

NOTE:  The House Committee on Administration’s Congressional Handbook restricts the use of official resources for activities outside a Members’ current district.  Specifically, Members may not perform casework for individuals who live outside the current congressional district.  In January 2013, new congressional redistricting lines become in effect for the Tenth District of Texas.  Therefore, if you do not currently reside in the Tenth Congressional District, please re-contact my office in January 2013, at which time I would be more than happy to assist you further with your federal matter.

2. Determine if your issue is under the jurisdiction of a federal agency

    Check this quick list of federal agencies on the right to see if the issue you are dealing with is with one of these agencies.

    If you do not see the agency that you are dealing with listed, or you are uncertain, please call 512-473-2357 and a member of my staff will be pleased to assist with your question.

    If your particular issue does not fall under the jurisdiction of a federal agency, my staff will try to direct you to the appropriate non-federal agency, resources or services that may be helpful.

For more information, please select an issue below: