A Vision for the Future
A Note from Congressman Carson
Dear Friend,
This Tuesday, President Obama delivered his annual State of the Union address, defining his vision for the future of our country. His address focused on his hope for a year of action and called on Congress to put aside partisan differences in order to do what is right for our country. With the American people still waiting for action on so many critical issues, I stand with the President, ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work.
I was pleased to hear the President's speech focus on creating opportunity for the middle-class through job creation initiatives, promoting job training and placement programs, and supporting our innovative entrepreneurs. As he rightly pointed out, investment in early childhood education programs can set our children up for a bright and prosperous future. I was grateful that the President announced he would take steps, through Executive Order, to raise the minimum wage for federal contractors. He urged Congress to raise the minimum wage for all workers to ensure that someone who works full-time does not have to struggle to provide for their families. As the President laid out, these vital initiatives serve as engines to improve our economy and create opportunities now and for future generations.
It is no secret that Congress has faced serious partisan gridlock for the past few years and much of it has been centered around repealing the Affordable Care Act. I agree with the President that we cannot spend all of our time focused only on repealing the law. Instead, we need to come together to strengthen this important law while also addressing the wide array of other issues that matter to the American people.
I am hopeful that Congress will work together to make this a year of action and rebuild the trust of the people who elected us to represent them. If there are any matters I can assist you with please reach out to my office.
Regards,
André
(Congressman Carson greeting President Obama before Tuesday's State of the Union address)
Inside Scoop
Constituent Services: Social Security Administration
Recently, our office was informed that John, a constituent of the 7th District was having issues with the Social Security Administration. His disability payments were being delayed and he was owed back pay from the agency. This delay even put John and his family in danger of losing their home. Congressman Carson and his staff worked with the agency and John is now able to keep his home because he is now receiving his monthly benefits and was awarded the back pay. In a letter to Congressman Carson, John's sister said, "I don't know what I would have done or where our situation would be if it was not for your staff member."
Congressman Carson and his staff are committed to providing the highest level of constituent service to the people of Indianapolis. One of the services provided is assistance with the Social Security Administration to address lost or delayed payments, inquiring on the status of disability applications, or simply explaining the application procedures for Social Security, survivor benefits, or Supplemental Security Income.
If you have questions or need assistance with a federal agency, please contact Congressman Carson's District Office at 317-283-6516.
Helping Constituents affected by Dyslexia
According to the National Center for Disabilities, children and adults with dyslexia have a neurological disorder that causes their brains to process and interpret information differently. This language-based processing disorder is a lifelong challenge for 1 out of 5 Americans and can hinder reading, writing, and sometimes speaking. Currently, dyslexia is not an eligibility category for special education which can limit the services available to students who are affected. Unfortunately, the result is often that special education intervention is not received until a young person is significantly behind his or her peers.
This week Congressman Carson, a member of the Bipartisan Congressional Dyslexia Caucus, signed on to H.Res. 456 which calls on state and local educational agencies as well as schools to address the implications that dyslexia has on students. Laura Williams, a Multi-Sensory Instructional Specialist with the Dyslexia Institute of Indiana and Cheryl Clemens, a member of Decoding Dyslexia –IN explain that "The resolution will allow schools to identify students who are dyslexic and train teachers in evidence based multi-sensory phonetic interventions that are necessary to ensure these students are successful." Laura continued, "As a teacher and a tutor of dyslexic students, I have seen firsthand the impact that providing this evidence-based, multi-sensory, phonetic approach makes on our students. Thank you for supporting this issue." Cheryl Clemens, also wrote Congressman Carson to thank him for his support adding that "Representative Carson's support of this issue means that more of my neighbors and students will be able to reach their full potential."