Journal Gazette | Constituent services boost district's quality of life
Fort Wayne,
October 21, 2018
I often tell people that northeast Indiana is a great place to live, work and raise a family. Hoosiers in our region work hard and are committed to serving their neighbors and communities. One of my goals as your congressman is to provide outstanding constituent services to 3rd District residents. I am proud of what my staff and I have been able to accomplish over the past two years. The constituent services team in my Fort Wayne office coordinates dozens of inquiries to federal agencies every month. Since I took office on Jan. 3, 2017, my office has opened 1,444 cases and closed 1,124. Some cases stay open several months due to backlogs and delays at federal agencies, but the average case closes within a month. We have helped many individuals receive assistance when they felt they had nowhere else to turn. To make things more convenient, my staff takes our office on the road twice a week to meet with Hoosiers in their local communities. My staff hosts mobile office hours at locations throughout northeast Indiana then shares the feedback they receive with me. We believe in the motto: “Follow up and follow through.” I also make it a priority to visit regularly with mayors, council members, Rotary clubs and other civic groups across northeast Indiana. These organizations are the bedrock of our region and, in many ways, the bedrock of our nation. I'm proud that during my first term in Congress, my office has also helped mitigate or resolve issues affecting several of our communities in the 3rd District. In April, Decatur Mayor Ken Meyer approached me about flood mitigation efforts there. Decatur had been denied critical Federal Emergency Management Agency grant funding to help with flood mitigation. In May, I toured these mitigation zones with the mayor and saw his leadership on the issue firsthand. After several conversations to learn more, I sent FEMA a letter in support of the mayor's original request and asked the agency to reconsider its initial decision to deny funding. I'm proud to report back that not only did FEMA reconsider, but the grant ultimately was awarded. Shepherd's House in Fort Wayne works diligently every day to serve Hoosier veterans who struggle with homelessness and addiction. They provide individuals with a program and support system to ensure a lasting recovery. In July 2017, this incredible organization alerted my office that it was on the verge of losing federal funds provided through the grant and per diem program at the Department of Veterans Affairs. As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs committee, I knew it was my duty to help our local veterans however I could and fight to restore funding. I reached out to then-VA Secretary David Shulkin and asked that another year of funding be extended. Ultimately, the grant was awarded, and Shepherd's House was able to continue its critical work transforming the lives of veterans. I will continue to advocate for Shepherd's House and other organizations that support our Hoosier veterans. My office also assisted the city of Portland and residents of Noble County's West Lakes community with flooding issues by helping with coordination between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local leaders. My team and I have spent time with leaders in Ligonier, helping to address railroad overpass safety issues. And we have helped The Farm, a new charitable organization serving foster children in LaGrange County, with obtaining non-profit status. Whether it is local governments, civic organizations or Hoosier families who need federal assistance, my staff and I are ready to serve you. I am proud that this year my office was named one of six finalists, out of 535 congressional offices, for the nonpartisan Congressional Management Foundation's award for Constituent Services. I believe in the old adage that “all politics is local.” If my office can assist you or your family with a federal issue, please contact us online at banks.house.gov or give us a call at 260-702-4750. Jim Banks of Columbia City, a Republican, represents Indiana's 3rd District in the U.S. House. |