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Just Ask Shelly

June 17, 2019
Newsletters

Friend,

It's no secret that the chaos and party politics in Washington doesn't work. So many members of Congress are focused on partisan fights instead of serving their constituents.

I told you I would put you before politics and that's why I have focused not on the dysfunctional political posturing in Washington but instead on traveling the district to meet my constituents and hear from you directly. This has also helped me and my team spread the word about the services we can offer to help people when they have an issue with their social security, Medicare, with the Department of Veterans Affairs, or other federal agencies.

My team includes seven staff members spread across the Second District who are responsible for reaching out to all the communities and helping constituents like you resolve problems and to advocate for you.

Here's an example of what we've been able to get done:

Shelly, a mom from Washington County, didn't receive her full tax refund this winter. Like many Americans, she was counting on her refund to catch up on bills for her and her 5-year-old son. After repeated attempts to resolve the issue with a federal agency, she started getting worried. Thanks to an injury, she was behind on her utility payments and she was scared her family might lose their home.

That's when a friend recommended she call our office. Our staff member Kim helped expedite Shelly's case and quickly recover a portion of the refund she'd been denied. With more of the refund money she'd earned, Kim was able to keep a roof over her family's head and keep the utilities connected. Shelly says Kim "dove into [her] battle headfirst," handling her case with patience and empathy.

This is just one example of the many Mainers we've been able to help. We want to help you and your family too. If you or someone you know is having trouble with a federal agency, fill out the casework webform on our website or call one of our offices. We'll get back to you quickly.

I'm always looking for opportunities to hear from Mainers, and I'll continue to meet folks out in their communities. Please feel free to stop by one of our offices to meet me and my staff and let us know if there is any way we can serve you. You can find them here:

Bangor Office: 6 State Street, Bangor ME 04401. Phone: (207) 249-7400

Caribou Office: 7 Hatch Drive, Suite 230, Caribou ME 04736. Phone: (207) 492-6009

Lewiston Office: 179 Lisbon Street, Lewiston ME 04240. Phone: (207) 241-6767

Washington Office: 1223 Longworth HOB, Washington DC 20515. Phone: (202) 225-2943

Thank you for allowing me to serve you in Congress. I hope you will continue to keep me informed on the issues that matter to you.

If you haven't already, you can subscribe to our newsletter here.

Sincerely,

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Jared F. Golden's signature.

Jared Golden

Member of Congress