By Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1)
When most people think about the job of a Member of Congress, they often think about casting votes or attending committee meetings. While these are important parts of the job, much of my time is spent providing important services to the people of Southwest Alabama.
One of the key roles of my Congressional office is known as casework. This means helping residents of Alabama’s First Congressional District navigate the federal bureaucracy. We can do this by intervening on your behalf to check on the status of issues with agencies like Social Security or Medicare.
The overwhelming majority of the cases my office works on are related to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This is due to both the unusually high number of veterans in Southwest Alabama and the incompetent management of the VA on the benefits and health care sides of the Department.
If you are having issues with the VA or any other federal agency, please contact my office so we can check on the issue for you. My staff and I cannot promise perfect outcomes, but we will do everything we can to ensure you are treated fairly and that your case receives the attention it deserves.
If your business or organization is having an issue with other federal agencies, my staff may be able to assist with that as well. The same goes for any issues you may be experiencing with obtaining a passport for international travel.
It is important to remember that my office can only assist with federal agencies or programs. We do not have the ability to intervene on local or state issues. Additionally, my office does not get involved in legal matters. If you have questions about these issues, my staff and I are happy to try and point you in the right direction.
Another service my office provides is nominating young men and women from Southwest Alabama to serve in one of our nation’s military service academies. In order to attend most of our service academies, students must be nominated by a US Congressman or Senator.
Each year, I hold a Service Academy Night to allow young people to learn more about the process and visit with representatives from each of the academies. This year’s Academy Night is October 3, at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile. The honor of attending a service academy comes with an obligation to serve for a minimum of five years upon graduation.
My office can also help arrange for you to receive a flag that has flown over the United States Capitol. Many people have found these flags to be the perfect gift to recognize a friend or loved one upon their retirement, graduation, birthday, or other occasion. Some families also request a flag for the funeral of a deceased veteran, and we are honored to expedite such requests.
If you are planning a visit to Washington, DC, my staff can also help arrange for tours of some of our national landmarks like the US Capitol, the Library of Congress, or the Supreme Court. We can also assist with tours of the White House, but those requests should be made at least six weeks in advance.
These are just a few of the services my office provides that you may not have been aware of. Of course, my staff and I are always available to answer questions about federal legislation or other issues under debate in Congress.
For more information on each of these services or to request additional information, feel free to visit my website online at Byrne.House.Gov or give my office a call at 251-690-2811.
