Help With a Federal Agency PDF Print E-mail

My office is here to help you with issues and problems you may be having with an agency of the federal government, such as obtaining benefits and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as well as assistance with military service records and medals, and passport issues.  If you are experiencing a problem with a federal agency and you reside in the 9th Congressional District, please contact my office.

The role of my office when assisting constituents with federal agencies is to make inquiries on your behalf with the respective agencies. This includes finding out the status of a case, requesting additional information, and requesting an expedited response or decision.  While my office can make inquiries on your behalf, we cannot guarantee a positive outcome in all situations. It is important to note that respective agencies typically have discretion concerning decisions on individual cases.

How to obtain assistance from my office:

1. Determine if you live in California's 9th Congressional District
Congressional courtesy dictates that each Member of Congress serve his or her own constituents.  If you aren't sure which Congressional district you live in, please visit the U.S. House of Representatives and enter your ZIP code in the top right-hand corner to find your Representative.

2. Determine if your issue is under the jurisdiction of a federal agency
Check this list of federal agencies to see if your issue falls under the jurisdiction of a federal agency. If you do not see the agency you are dealing with listed or you are uncertain about which agency might handle your issue, please contact one of my offices and a member of my staff will assist you.

If your particular issue does not fall under the jurisdiction of a federal agency, my staff will try to direct you to the appropriate non-federal agency, resource or service that may be helpful.

3. Submit a Privacy Release Form
The Privacy Act of 1974 requires that Members of Congress and their staff have written authorization before they can obtain information about an individual's case.  Print out, complete, and sign a Privacy Release Form and return it to either of my district offices via mail or fax. Copies of any documents or correspondence that you may have from the agency involved are also helpful.