Help With a Federal Agency
As your U.S. Senator, one of my most important roles is to assist you with matters pertaining to a federal agency. If you are experiencing a problem, allow my specially trained staff to assist you. My staff can act as a liaison on your behalf in most cases you have pending before a federal agency. They are available to assist any individual or group with a concern, complaint, or question of eligibility or benefit as it pertains to a specific federal agency.
Request Assistance with a Federal Agency
Our office assists Idahoans with specific concerns involving federal agencies. To find out how we can best assist you please call my nearest regional office or contact me via email.
Federal Agency Information and Resources
- Agriculture
- Child Support
- Court Cases & Legal Advice
- Department of Homeland Security
- Education
- Federal Employee Issues /Labor
- Food Stamps
- Housing
- Immigration
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Natural Disasters/FEMA
- Passports
- Postal Service
- Social Security
- Taxes/Treasury
- Transportation
- Veteran/Military Affairs
- Visas
- Agriculture
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) serves to protect the soil, water, forests, and other natural resources through rural development, credit and conservation programs. For additional information, visit the agency's website at www.usda.gov
If you are experiencing a problem with an inspection or have concerns to share, allow my staff to assist you. We can also inquire about emergency assistance applications filed with the Farm Service Agency
Return to Top - Child Support
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If you are a parent or custodian of a dependent child who is not receiving public assistance, you may apply for Child Support Services. This program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services but is enforced by the state government where the child resides.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare also provides assistance with child support payments. You can access the their child support link through their website at http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.
Return to Top - Court Cases & Legal Advice
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My office cannot offer legal advice and cannot intervene on matters that are pending before the courts. If you need to find a lawyer, you should visit the ISB Lawyer Referral Service at Lawyer Referral Service or call (208) 334-4500 and leave a message.
The lawyers are all members in good standing of the Idaho State Bar, but are not “rated.” They voluntarily sign up for the Lawyer Referral Service and indicate the areas of law in which they will accept referrals.
Return to Top - Department of Homeland Security
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The Department of Homeland Security leads the unified national effort to secure America, welcome lawful immigrants and visitors, and promote the free flow of commerce. For additional information about the department, please visit their website at www.dhs.gov.
Return to Top - Education
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The U.S. Department of Education administers most Federal assistance and implements policy for education. For additional information, please visit the agency website at www.ed.gov. Students seeking financial aid can conduct a search at www.studentaid.ed.gov.
Return to Top - Federal Employee Issues /Labor
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The Department of Labor administers a variety of federal labor laws guaranteeing worker's rights to safe and healthful working conditions, freedom from employment discrimination, and protection of worker's pension rights.
For additional information about each agency's programs and services, please visit Department of Labor at www.dol.gov; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at www.eeoc.gov; and the Office of Personnel Management at www.opm.gov.
If you are experiencing a problem with any of the following issues, feel free to contact my staff for assistance.
- Discrimination (EEOC - Age, Disability, Equal Pay, National Origin, Pregnancy, Race, Retaliation, Sex, Sexual Harassment)
- Workers Compensation
- Federal Employee Transfers
- Federal Employee Benefits (Leave, Health and Life Insurance, Retirement, Survivor, Long Term Care Insurance)
- Food Stamps
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides money to the state of Idaho to administer the food stamps program. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare determines eligibility and allotments, and distributes the benefits for food stamps. While my office is here to assist you, it is a long-standing tradition that state and local matters be directed to the appropriate official for investigation.
For more information click here to visit their website where you can review the application process and access the required forms.
Return to Top - Housing
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The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers assisted housing programs for low-income families, protects consumers against fraudulent practices of land developers, and promotes and upholds fair housing laws to prohibit discrimination. For additional information about programs and services, please visit www.hud.gov.
The Idaho Housing and Finance Association also has a website where you can search for HUD or Section 8 housing in Idaho. The website is found at http://housingidaho.com.
If you are experiencing a problem with an application for Public Housing or Section 8, want additional information about how to buy a HUD home or want to file a housing discrimination complaint, allow my staff to assist you.
Return to Top - Immigration
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The Department of Homeland Security manages the flow of people, goods and commerce across our borders. As such, it oversees the proper execution of immigration law and policy with the assistance of the following bureaus: US Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS), formerly known as INS; the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE); and Customs & Border Protection (CBP). For additional information about each agency's programs and services, please visit www.uscis.gov.
If you are experiencing a problem with any of the following issues, feel free to contact my staff for assistance.
- Immigrant Petitions (for relatives, fiancés, or employees)
- International Adoptions
- Asylum and Refugee petitions
- Citizenship/Naturalization
- Legal Permanent Residency, also known as obtaining the "green card"
- Employment Authorization, also known as "work permits"
- Advance Parole, also known as "travel permits"
- Port of Entry Issue or Complaints
- Medicaid
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Medicaid is a state-administered health care program available only to certain low-income individuals and families. Each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services.
Applications for Medicaid are administered by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. If you would like to apply for Medicaid you can find the required forms along with instructions for completion on their website by clicking here.
If you need more information, call Family Medicaid at 1-866-326-2485 (toll free) or call the Idaho Careline at 2-1-1.
Return to Top - Medicare
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The administration of Medicare, a social insurance program, is the responsibility of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; however, the Social Security Administration provides assistance to the public through its field offices. For additional information about the agency's programs and services, please visit Medicare at www.medicare.gov
If you are experiencing a problem with your Medicare claims or have questions about the services that are covered by Medicare, feel free to contact my staff for assistance.
Please note: the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) established a special fraud hotline to protect Medicare beneficiaries from fraudulent providers. CMS asks residents of Idaho to help stop fraud by reporting any suspicious charges on their Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) by calling the Office of Inspector General Hotline @ 1-800-447-8477.
Return to Top - Natural Disasters/FEMA
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The federal government has various programs designed to assist victims of natural disasters. These programs are offered by the Department of Homeland Security, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). For additional information about agency services or programs, please visit www.fema.gov.
If you are experiencing a problem with reimbursement or recoupment for damage or have concerns about flood insurance rate maps, allow my staff to assist you. Additionally, if you are a city or county with a pending application for public assistance, my staff can assist you.
Return to Top - Passports
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A passport is required for American citizens wishing to travel abroad. This program is administered by the Department of State. For additional information about the agency's programs and services, please visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/ before you call my office
The application process can be slow, depending upon demand. Please start your passport application process well before you want to travel. If you are experiencing a problem with your passport application, feel free to contact my staff for assistance.
Return to Top - Postal Service
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The U.S. Postal Service provides mail processing and delivery services to individuals and businesses in the United States. For additional information about the agency's programs and services, please visit the United States Postal Service at www.usps.com.
If you are experiencing a problem with your mail delivery, feel free to contact my staff for assistance.
Return to Top - Social Security
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The Social Security Administration (SSA) manages the nation's social insurance program-consisting of retirement, survivors, and disability insurance programs-commonly known as Social Security. For additional information about the agency's programs and services, please visit the Social Security Administration website at www.ssa.gov.
If you are experiencing a problem with any of the following issues, feel free to contact my staff for assistance.
- Applications for disability benefits
- Applications for supplemental security income (SSI)
- Applications for Social Security Cards/Numbers
- Entitlement questions
- Medicare enrollment issues
- Taxes/Treasury
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The Department of the Treasury performs four basic functions: formulating and recommending economic, financial, tax and fiscal policies; serving as financial agent for the U.S. government; enforcing the law; and manufacturing coins and currency. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the department tasked with enforcing the law. For additional information, visit the agency website at www.irs.gov
If you are experiencing a problem with any of the following issues, feel free to contact my staff for assistance.
- Fraudulent W-2 filed with your Social Security number
- Mistakes made when filing income taxes
- Neglect in filing income taxes
- Levy and Lien's by the IRS
- IRS involved in Child Support Payments
- Complaints filed with the Comptroller of the Currency
- Complaints filed with the Office of Thrift Supervision
- Transportation
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The U.S. Department of Transportation establishes the nation's overall transportation policy. There are a total of eleven administrations under its umbrella; which include the Federal Aviation Authority, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Decisions made by the agency are often in conjunction with the appropriate state or local officials. To visit the DoT website, click here.
Return to Top - Veteran/Military Affairs
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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates programs to benefit veterans and members of their families. The Department of Defense is responsible for providing the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of our country.
The four major elements of these forces are the Armed Forces are the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The United States Coast Guard is a division of the Department of Homeland Security. For additional information about available programs and services to veterans, please visit www.va.gov; or the Department of Defense at www.defense.gov.
If you are experiencing a problem with any of the following issues, feel free to contact my staff for assistance.
- Delay/Canceling orders to mobilize/deploy and/or Emergency Leave
- Medical waivers/Age waivers to enlist
- Abuse/Harassment charges
- Military Records Request
- Military Pay
- Medals Request
- Request to Expedite VA claim
- Investigation of eligibility and status of application for Veteran Benefits
- Concerns with TriCare (health care coverage)
- Visas
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A foreign national wanting to visit, work or live in the United States must be issued a visa for admittance. The visa process is administered by the Department of State. For additional information travel to the United States, please visit www.travel.state.gov.
If you are an Idaho resident and want to check on the status of a visa application for a foreign national, feel free to contact my staff for assistance.
To request assistance, please find the location of the nearest regional office for you to contact. My staff is ready to assist you. Please have ready the petitioner's full name, date of birth, place of birth, the beneficiary's full name, date of birth, passport number, State Department case number, date of interview and specific Consulate/Embassy handling the application (if known).
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