Underrated in America: Congressional representatives
Filed under: Extracurriculars
Even though these men and women are first and foremost legislators who shape the face of our legal system; many of us take for granted the "little" things they can do for us. I know up until a year ago I had only a faint notion of what my congressman did outside of legislating, but that all changed when I ran into consumer issue that even I could not fix. I soon found out that my local congressman was severely underrated; on top of representing my interests in legislature, he also provides me many other services.
The formative experience that made me realize how much I had underrated my congressman was when I had trouble consolidating some student loans. After numerous phone calls to both lenders with no results I reached out to Jim Jordan, my local representative. His office was able to get in touch with the right people and get the loans consolidated within a matter of weeks; saving me close to $300 a month. For more on how to use your congressman or woman to solve student issues check out WalletPop's guide.
On top of that helping you with student loan disputes they can also:
- Help with federal agencies such as housing, Veterans' benefits, Social Security and Medicare.
Arrange tours at points of interest in DC. - Assist with Passport and immigration issues.
- Nominate you for a U.S. Service Academy such as West Point.
- Help you get a Congressional internship.
- Provide you with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol.
- Congratulatory letters for birthdays anniversaries, retirements and more.
- Assistance requesting federal funding.
Don't miss the rest of our series on Underrated In America!
Obviously these are just a few of the extra services that our representatives have to offer their constituents and may vary from state to state. To find out what your representative can do for you, look for the "constituent services" section of their website.
If you think that your congressional representatives are overrated based on their past legislative performance, maybe these services will be enough to change your mind. I know the help I received from Jim Jordan in straightening out a student loan issue has changed my opinion of congressmen and women greatly!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-30-2008 @ 9:10AM
Cathy said...
We, taxpayers and voters, need to demand that congress take a pay cut to the national average wage which is about $50,000. then they need to fore go their gold plated health insurance paid for them by us and their extravagant pensions. they need to pay their own health insurance premiums and pay into social security and buy their own IRAs. maybe then, will they understand things from our perspective.
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10-30-2008 @ 4:23PM
tony said...
How about Term Limits for the Politicians?? It would be nice to see them only have two terms and let more average people get back into our government instead of Lawyers that have ripped our country apart. Then and only then we will not have to see Life long politicians in Washington making millions off the backs of the very people that put them into office. I don't care what any law says about age, a man/woman in his there late 70's, 80's and 90's is way to old to be in office!! Thirty years in office and still our country is in bad shape? Let's wake up American Demand Term Limits for all politicians and make the law simple and understandable and non reversiable!!!!
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10-30-2008 @ 9:36AM
JRSpears said...
Term Limits for Congress....!!!! that is the answer... If Pallosi only had, let say, 6 years? 8 years? in the Senate or House, the power trip would not be there.
This is got to be concidered.
11-02-2008 @ 9:14PM
gail said...
I guess your not going to vote for President then,huh?
Obama graduated from Harvard Law School and
Mccain is over 70.
10-30-2008 @ 11:38AM
Susan said...
I agree with Cathy that congressmen should take a pay cut along with thousand of other Americans. I received a call from my brother who has worked over 40 years and told me he has to take a pay cut or could lose his job along with everyone else in the company. They are supposed to be the lucky ones because so many other hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs due to our economy including myself back in 2006 and unable to find another job. So my vote is that even our president and all of the senate and house of representatives take a pay cut. Also, let them pay for their own health care since they can afford.
P.S. I do not have health care because I cannot afford it since I am not working. These are sad times in our U.S. of America. Let's all band together and help one another. Is there anyone out there that hears me?
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10-30-2008 @ 10:42AM
Susan said...
I agree with Cathy that congressmen should take a pay cut along with thousands of other Americans. I received a call from my brother who has worked over 40 years and he told me he has to take a pay cut or could lose his job along with others in his company. They are supposed to be the lucky ones because so many other hundreds of thousands of Americans have lost their jobs due to our economy including myself back in 2006 and unable to find another job. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are hurting today due to job loss, home loss, healthcare loss.
Everyone must cut back including our leaders of this great country.
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