Casework
As your U.S. Senator, one of the most important roles my office has is to serve as a liaison for Texans with the federal government and its agencies. Referred to as casework, my office can provide Texans interacting with a federal agency assistance to resolve an individual claim or difficulty by making an inquiry on your behalf. Your needs and concerns are a top priority for me.
Since assuming office in November 2002, my office has resolved more than 39,000 constituent cases with federal agencies. These cases have ranged from working with the Social Security Administration to secure benefits for Texas seniors, working with the VA on behalf of Texas veterans, assisting Texans traveling abroad, and helping Texas military personnel and their families.
After reviewing the information below, please click on the tab above that relates to your issue to be directed to another page with more detailed information on how my office can assist you.
If your issue is time sensitive, please call my Dallas office at (972) 239-1310.
Process
Before my office can help, we need the following
Privacy Release Form
The Privacy Act of 1974 requires that I obtain your direct authorization before my office can initiate an inquiry on your behalf with a federal agency. Each of the pages in the Helping You section has an online form for you to fill out. Once you've completed the form and reviewed your information, the "Submit" button will both submit your information electronically to my office and generate an electronic privacy release form for you to print, sign, and then fax or mail to my office (fax: 972-239-2110). Detailed instructions are provided in each step to guide you through completion of the online form and the PDF privacy release form.
Utilizing the online form to generate an electronic privacy release form is the most efficient way to initiate a request for assistance. However, the following privacy release forms may also be completed, signed and sent to my office with a written summary of the difficulty you are experiencing.
General Privacy Release
Immigration Release
Passport Intake Form
The quickest method to send a privacy release form to my Dallas office is to fax it to 972-239-2110. Due to the Senate’s mail security protocol, mail will take at least 2-3 additional weeks but should be sent to:
U.S. Senator John Cornyn
Attention: CASEWORK
517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
HIPAA Release Form
My office may need a HIPAA release form before we can request medical information related to a casework inquiry. If you are a servicemember with a medical issue, or you a military retiree or veteran seeking assistance with TRICARE, then you will need to provide a DD Form 2870, Authorization for Disclosure of Medical and Dental.
My office will refer you elsewhere for the following issues
State Issues
As a federal legislator, I do not have jurisdiction over problems with Texas state agencies. State agencies outside of my jurisdiction include Child Protective Services, the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, and the Texas Department of Insurance. For a complete list of state agencies, please visit http://www.capitol.state.tx.us
For help with state issues, you can contact your Texas state senator or state representative. If you have a problem with child support enforcement, the office of the Attorney General of Texas has a Child Support Division that may be able to assist you. You can reach them by calling (800) 252-8014 or via email at child.support@texasattorneygeneral.gov.
Judicial Issues
My office is unable to assist Texans with pending court actions. The Senate Select Committee on Ethics advises all Senators to refrain from intervening in pending legal actions. Legal service programs are available in every county in Texas, and are supported by the federal government through the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). Information regarding LSC can be found at www.lsc.gov. Additionally, you may consider calling Texas Lawyers Care at 1-800-204-2222 or the State Bar of Texas at 1-877-983-9227. Other good sources includewww.texaslawhelp.org and www.peopleslawyer.net.
Residents of Other States
It is a long-standing tradition of congressional courtesy in the United States Senate that each Senator be given the opportunity to serve his or her own constituents. Therefore, if you are not a Texas resident, your request will be forwarded to a Senator in your state of residence. You may find who represents your state at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
