Here to Serve
As appeared in the August 12, 2020 edition of the Lititz Record Express, Elizabethtown Advocate & Ephrata Review
It is truly an honor and privilege to serve the people of Lancaster and York counties in Washington as a Member of Congress. Although many may think of a representative's job as only policymaking in the nation's capital, representatives also serve as a connection and liaison between the constituents we represent and the many federal departments and agencies. As your representative in Congress, please know that my office is here to serve you and to assist you in cutting through the red tape of Washington's federal bureaucracy.
My office may be able to assist you with common problems with federal agencies. Since taking office in 2017, my office has completed nearly 4,500 cases, assisting individuals and families who are having difficulty with a federal department or agency and ultimately returning over $5,300,000 to constituents. That money comes in the form of released tax refunds, processed Social Security payments and veterans' benefits.
The most common federal agencies or departments that my office assists constituents with are the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of State. My office can inquire on the status of tax refunds, Social Security benefits, passports, help veterans obtain copies of their military records or lost service medals. This is just a small representation of the problems with which my office can assist.
If you cannot get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, our office may be able to help resolve a problem or get you the information you need. While we cannot guarantee you the outcome you may seek, we will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response to your problem within the letter of the law.
Additionally, my office can provide Congressional Commendations for several special occasions—young adults obtaining their Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts or Gold Star Award from the Girl Scouts and other achievements. My office can also assist with obtaining Presidential Greetings for birthdays for individuals age 80 and older, anniversary greetings for couples celebrating 50 or more years of marriage or the birth of a child.
I would encourage you to contact my Lancaster office at 717-393-0667, my Red Lion office at 717-969-6133, or my Hanover office at 717-969-6132, if you are experiencing issues with a federal agency or visit my website at Smucker.House.Gov to sign up for my E-Newsletters for the latest on what is happening in Washington, DC and our community.