Protecting our Veterans
Dear Friend,
This coming weekend we will celebrate Memorial Day and those who have given their lives in the service of our nation. It's also an opportunity for us to reflect on the way we treat those currently serving and those veterans who live with the scars of war.
Recent news reports out of the Department of Veterans Affairs indicate that our nation may not be providing services to veterans that they deserve and need. This is disturbing and, if true, completely unacceptable. I want you to know that I am paying close attention and will monitor the situation carefully as we learn more about what has happened.
Each week, we field inquiries in our office from veterans struggling to receive services from the VA. We pay close attention to each inquiry, and we follow up on each case to make sure we are doing all that we can for that constituent.
If you are a veteran in the Seventh Congressional District who is experiencing an issue with the VA, please contact our office, and we will do everything we can to assist you.
I know that we can work together to improve the current situation, and I firmly believe that as President Clinton once said, "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America."
Sincerely,
André
Inside Scoop
Have you checked out Benefits.gov?
Not sure what government benefits you might be eligible to receive? We want to take a moment to direct you to an online resource called Benefits.gov, the official benefits website of the U.S. government. This website informs citizens of benefits they may be eligible for and provides information on how to apply for assistance. Once you fill out a custom user survey, you'll find out about specific grants, programs and opportunities where the government can help you succeed.
An Outstanding Youth Opportunities Fair
Last week, we hosted our inaugural Youth Opportunities Fair in cooperation with Shortridge Magnet High School and the Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY). It was an outstanding success!
More than 500 parents and students attended the event to connect with more than 40 local service providers. They learned about jobs, internships, camps, volunteer opportunities and other programs in place to help youth in our community succeed this summer and year-round. Thanks to everyone who participated in the event and made it a great evening!
Constituent Casework Corner
The most important service our office provides is to make sure our constituents have a voice in government and an advocate to help navigate a system that can feel very overwhelming and complicated. We wanted to share recent feedback with you from a constituent we were able to help as a way of encouraging you to reach out to us if you need assistance working with a federal government agency:
"I was trying to resolve a problem with my mother's Medicare prescription drug coverage and Social Security. Calling two federal offices by phone had left me confused and more than a little frustrated. But calling the office of my Member of Congress ensured that I was put in touch with the right people and the problem resolved. It turned out that an error on my family's part had led to the problem, and made it harder at first for the federal workers to easily resolve it. But your office, and an incredibly helpful woman at Medicare who followed through with me, made it possible for us to fix the mistake and clear the way for my mother to again receive her benefits."
Voting: Our Privilege and Responsibility
One of the greatest privileges of being an American citizen is the opportunity to voice your opinion through the electoral process. The 2014 primary election took place last week, and voter registration for the November election begins soon.
Below are important dates for Indiana voters:
May 20, 2014 – Voter Registration Begins
October 6, 2014 – Voter Registration Ends
November 4, 2014 – General Election Day