Service During the Shutdown
Providing timely, effective assistance to the folks across the Fourth District of Arkansas dealing with federal agencies is a central duty of serving as a representative in Congress. Although the federal government may be shut down, my offices in Washington, DC, and across Arkansas remain open and ready to assist.
While a lapse in appropriations creates issues for federal agencies, core programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, the VA, and passport services are operational. This is why, spanning the Fourth District from the River Valley to the southwest corner of the Delta, we are staffed with the best caseworkers in the state, ready and able to assist with any problems you may be facing. No matter what your federal issue may be, these caseworkers are experts in their area, and all constituents are encouraged to seek them out for assistance.
Although sometimes the outcome may not be as favorable as originally hoped, having a friendly hand to help navigate is always appreciated. Federal issues can certainly be tedious, but when we are fortunate to receive the good news that your issue has been resolved, our staff is eager to celebrate right alongside you.
Just this week, our office received exciting news from a constituent in Redfield who said, “After being laid off, I discovered my severance had been miscalculated - short nearly $70,000. After multiple weeks of frustration trying to get help through the FDA, I finally reached out to [my Representative]. Congressman Bruce Westerman’s office jumped on it immediately. Thanks to his team’s persistence, the error was corrected, and today I got the email from FDA I’d been waiting for.”
Stories like these are an encouraging reminder that at the heart of Team Westerman and the office of the Fourth Congressional District is service, first and foremost. It is a blessing to have fantastic caseworkers who not only jump at the opportunity to help their friends and neighbors, but continue walking through the issues with each constituent until the very end – hopefully getting the opportunity to celebrate each win and positive outcome.
If you find that you are facing challenges with a federal agency, please don’t hesitate to contact my Hot Springs office at (501) 609-9796 or Pine Bluff office at (870) 536-8178. It cannot be expressed enough how much of an honor it is to represent the Fourth District of Arkansas. Taking care of constituents is a responsibility not taken lightly, and it is encouraging to know that our office is well-equipped to serve and assist in any way possible.