Sunday, November 9, 2014

Congressman Robert Hurt's Round-Up: Constituent Services Are a Top Priority

November 4, 2014

While people often associate the work of Congress with debates on legislation, our office provides a variety of additional services of which you should be aware. We have a dedicated staff that is at your service to assist you with any federal matter.

Listening to the views and priorities of Fifth District Virginians on legislative and policy matters is a critical part of my job as your representative, and I cannot be a voice for the best interests of the district without hearing from you. We receive hundreds of calls, letters, emails, and other communications from constituents each week, and we respond to every single message as quickly as we can. We encourage you to remain in touch with us to inform the debates that take place in Congress.

Working with federal agencies and programs can be challenging at times, but our office can help you cut through federal red tape. Whether it is helping secure your Social Security, Medicare, or Veterans' benefits or helping get a passport or visa, staff in our Charlottesville and Danville offices can answer questions you may have and work with you to resolve the problems you encounter. Our staff members also hold local office hours in every single locality throughout the district once each quarter. A schedule of upcoming local office hours can be found on our website.

We also love to see folks from the district who visit our office in Washington. Our office is happy to help coordinate your visit to our nation's capital, whether you are interested in touring the Capitol building, the White House, the monuments, or other points of interest. The museums, memorials, and buildings in Washington belong to you, and we are here to help you make the most out of your trip as you explore the history these places have to offer.

We also have the honor of nominating candidates for admission to the United States Military Service Academies each year. It is a great privilege to work with such outstanding young people who aspire to commit themselves to serving in our military. We also take part in the Congressional Art Competition each year, which recognizes the artistic talents of high school students and the winner's artwork is displayed in the Capitol for the following year for visitors from around the country to enjoy.

To learn more about any of the services listed above and other matters with which we can be of assistance, please visit our website, hurt.house.gov, which contains more information on these topics. You may also call any of our offices to speak with someone who can assist you with these matters whether in Charlottesville (434-973-9631), Danville (434-791-2596), Farmville (434-395-0120), or Washington (202-225-4711). We take our responsibility to serve all Fifth District Virginians very seriously, and we encourage you to be in touch with us if we can help in any way.

Robert met with Paul Perrone and Geoff Hoekstra when he toured Perrone Robotics in Charlottesville.