Rep. Hinson wrote: "For many, successfully making an appointment is near impossible, with some Americans facing call volumes of up to four hours; other patrons’ calls are dropped completely. For many, delays in disability benefits or stimulus checks have direct and devastating consequences, such as being unable to put food on the table or have the funds on hand for essential medicines. Others may face the reality of having to foreclose their homes or small businesses, all while dealing with the slow recovery from this pandemic. In fact, my own team of constituent service representatives often face challenges with agency delays in responsiveness or closures that continue to prevent them from receiving records and necessary paperwork to advance constituents’ cases. Iowans and all Americans cannot afford to bear such additional burdens."
The full text of the letter can be found below:
Dear President Biden,
I write to you regarding the ongoing closure of federal agency offices across the country. The Social Security Administration (SSA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and other federal agencies that provide critical services, such as assisting citizens with disability benefits or providing military records to our servicemen and women, remain closed or continue to offer phone-only assistance. While these closures have impacted millions of Americans, they have had a particularly dire impact on the rural communities I represent.
In March of 2020, federal agency offices across the country closed their doors indefinitely in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These offices were forced to adapt quickly to an unprecedented customer-service model in the midst of the pandemic.
Thankfully, within the last year, American innovators and scientists have pioneered an awe-inspiring achievement in the development of several COVID-19 vaccines, marking the swiftest vaccine development in U.S. history. Now, as our nation turns the corner of this pandemic and more Americans receive their vaccinations, a sense of normalcy is returning for most. Businesses, restaurants, and venues that were once shuttered or extremely restricted in operation are finally opening their doors. For many, it is back to business as usual. However, the SSA, USDA, VA, and other federal agency offices continue to operate under the same restrictive measures imposed over a year ago.
Unfortunately, this model of service has created significant delays and hurdles for small business owners, farmers, veterans, seniors, and other Americans seeking assistance. For many, successfully making an appointment is near impossible, with many facing call volumes of up to four hours; other patrons’ calls are dropped completely. For some, delays in disability benefits or stimulus checks have direct and devastating consequences, such as being unable to put food on the table or have the funds on hand for essential medicines. Others may face the reality of having to foreclose their homes or small businesses, all while dealing with the slow recovery from this pandemic. In fact, my own team of constituent service representatives often face challenges with agency delays in responsiveness or closures that continue to prevent them from receiving records and necessary paperwork to advance constituents’ cases. Iowans and all Americans cannot afford to bear such additional burdens. These are the stories I hear every day from constituents of Iowa’s First District, and it frustrates me that their voices and concerns have not been heard or dealt with appropriately.
I encourage you to expeditiously reopen the doors of these agency offices and allow Iowans and Americans to receive the help they so desperately need – help from agencies funded by their tax dollars. As the rest of the country flips their signs from “closed” to “open,” it is time that federal offices do the same.
I stand ready to work with you on the necessary steps to reopen our federal agency offices fully. Transparency and a visible timeline for office reopening is necessary as our country begins to move forward. It is critical we ensure relief for our rural communities and other vulnerable populations. Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Ashley Hinson
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