For almost 10 years I had a front row seat to watch just how much an elected official can do to help their constituents. I met with, and personally helped hundreds of veterans receive millions of dollars in disability benefits they were owed for disability claims previously denied. I walked countless constituents through headaches with the IRS, the Social Security Administration, and almost every other federal agency.
I also saw when those efforts to intervene came up short. I delivered the bad news – from time to time – that there was nothing more in our office’s authority that we could do to fix the problem.
These were all the experiences you gain when you work for the part of a Congressman’s team many forget to consider: the District Office.
When folks think “Congress” they usually think of two things: Washington, DC and campaigns. These come to mind first because e are often the most visible. But nearly every representative I’ve known takes the most pride in what their District team can do to help folks in need right back at home.
That’s an understandable pride too. Campaigns are a necessary grind. Legislating is too – with very few wins. In fact, the average piece of legislation will take around 7 years from inception to final passage – if it makes any headway at all! Considering the average tenure in Congress is now 6.5 years, that means there are individual representatives who may never see a single piece of their own legislation become law.
But almost all of them find other ways to help their constituents. Those other ways hinge on the practice of Congressional oversight.
Oversight 101
Because Congress holds the purse strings – this means they control the national budget – they retain the authority to oversee the execution of federal programs and policies. That oversight allows them to send inquiries on behalf of constituents who are facing problems with federal agencies. Those inquiries must be answered by the agencies in question. Certainly not always, but often, those inquiries allow managers within the agencies to get fresh eyes on a problem and find a meaningful solution.
When people think about members of Congress, they often assume the only answer they can provide is introducing a piece of legislation. That limited thinking often gets in the way of us seeking effective help from those elected representatives and their staffs.
Is that Oversight Authority Right for Your Situation?
For those involved in advocacy, we need to break the default setting that our “asks” always have to be around legislation. Rather, we should find ways to help our volunteer advocates navigate these other resources to find solutions to their problems.
But if you’re wondering whether this is a resource for you when you’re facing a problem, these three questions could help:
1. Is my problem with a federal, state or local agency?
If so, a Congressional District office can help with a direct inquiry, or get you connected to an appropriate office at the state and local level. Effectively identifying which agency is handling your issue will help you determine if a representative can help, and whether they are the right office for the job. But even if it’s not from their level of government, most elected officials will want to – at the very least – help you get connected to the right contact for help.
2. Is the problem with existing policy that needs to change, or do I need help demonstrating the agency made a mistake?
This gets to the issue of legislation versus oversight. If your problem is that a bureaucrat isn’t looking at the details of your problem, you’re likely able to go through the inquiry process. But if you need an agency rule re-written or a policy changed then you’re probably going to end up going down the path of asking for legislation.
But don’t fret – sometimes those discoveries allow elected officials a chance to address similar problems for constituents across their population. That’s a big win if they get it passed.
3. Am I willing to share the information on my situation with a non-attorney third party?
Members of Congress, and their staffs, are not legal representation. They cannot defend you in court or help you file a lawsuit. To have them engage in your situation has to fall in a narrower set of authorities – and it will also require your willingness to share the story of your troubles. This is thorny because often the situations that cause you to finally pick up the phone are often some of your hardest struggles. While they will abide by the Privacy Act, you need to understand that your work with them does not meet the threshold of attorney-client privilege.
Because of that lack of privilege, sometimes your elected representatives just aren’t the right fit. Unfortunately I had to share that reality with a handful of folks along the way because their issue absolutely had to head to the courts for resolution – not the administration.
The Bottom Line
If you’re facing a challenge with a government agency, there are systemic tools at your disposal. You have very little, if anything, to lose by calling a Congressional District Office to share that challenge.
They can help you navigate the bureaucracy. They can help identify if the issues are bigger and need a legislative fix. And even if it’s not in their direct purview, it’s more likely than not that they can get you connected to another level of government that can help you.
So, if you ever find yourself asking whether you should contact your Congressman, the short answer is yes, pick up the phone.
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