By Congressman Tom Cole
As a congressman, my job of course consists of casting votes, debating legislation in committee, and drafting legislation. However, the duty I take the most pride in is representing the Fourth District of Oklahoma and being a voice for my constituents.
In fact, both this week and last week are what we call district work periods, which is a time when members of Congress are able to spend the week back in their districts with their local communities – and I have been hitting the ground running in Oklahoma so far.
Throughout this current district work period, I have had the opportunity to converse with small business owners and employees, attend groundbreaking ceremonies for exciting new community projects, meet with local leaders and law enforcement, and interact with constituents throughout the Fourth District, where they are able to express to me firsthand the issues important to them and what I can do to help.
These conversations are so important to me, as I know that my first duty as a member of Congress is to the People. However, as much as I would like to, I know that I will not be able to converse with every single person I represent during these district work periods.
This is why my staff in both my Washington, D.C. office, as well as my three district offices located throughout the Fourth District, stand ready to help. Whether it is inquiring about the status of a case at a federal agency or helping you to recognize a life event through a congressional or presidential commendation or helping you to get an opinion passed along to me, my staff is eager to assist you.
For any issue pertaining to the federal government, caseworkers in my district offices can help. They can work to inquire about the status of military and veterans’ affairs matters, such as the Department of Finance and Accounting Service, medals and ribbons, disability, and medical care concerns. My office can also inquire about pending Social Security and immigration applications. If you need assistance contacting a federal agency, you can begin this process by clicking here. If you have additional questions, please call my Norman office at 405-329-6500.
In addition, if you are a Fourth District constituent experiencing a passport issue and would like to request assistance, caseworkers in my district offices will try to get answers for you. For additional passport information, resources, and advisories, click here.
My office can also assist in honoring a family member, friend, or loved one through a congressional or presidential commendation or by assisting you in ordering a U.S. flag with the option of having it flown over the U.S. Capitol on the date of your choosing. To request a congressional or presidential commendation or greeting, click here. If you would like to place a flag order or find more information on this service, click here.
We can also help if you have the opportunity to visit the nation’s capital soon by coordinating tours of federal buildings. To submit a request for tours and tickets at attractions in our capital, click here. For inquiries or questions, you can call my Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-6165.
Lastly, if you are my constituent and have an opinion you would like to express, you can send an email here or call any of my offices. You can also find information on future town halls here. My staff and I look forward to serving you!
