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Constituent Services
One of the services provided by Members of Congress
is assistance to Congressional District residents who encounter
problems with federal agencies. This constituent service is provided
at Congresswoman Bordallo's District Office in Guam; Suite 107,
120 Father Duenas Avenue, Hagåtña, Guam 96910, (671) 477-4272.
Note: the rules of Congressional Courtesy require that individuals
residing outside of the Guam At Large Congressional District be
referred to the Member of Congress who represents her or his residence.
For your reference, the following are representative examples
of the most common constituent concerns addressed by Congresswoman
Bordallo's staff. After this listing, you will find helpful hints
and instructions on how to access constituent services. Click
on any of the links below for more information about the services
the office provides.
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INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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The Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo offers internships to eligible college-level and graduate students in the Washington, D.C. area. The internships are unpaid, but academic credit can be earned if requested and pre-arranged with an academic institution.
An intern’s duties include drafting correspondence, legislative research and the execution of administrative and staff support tasks. Students interested in applying for an internship should fax a cover letter stating interest and a resume to 202-226-0341. Letters of interest should be addressed to Congresswoman Bordallo in the care of the Chief of Staff. Our office will contact candidates for an interview upon receipt and review of letters of interest.
There are two internship opportunities available: summer and part-time internships. Summer internships are open to rising college seniors and underclassmen and run for a six-week period. Part-time internships are open to applicants in the area. The application deadline for summer internships is April 15, 2006. Applications for the part-time internship are accepted throughout the year. However, summer is the most popular time for interns. House Rules and space constraints also limit the number of interns that can work in the office during any semester. Please bear this in mind when applying. Letters of interest received from students from Guam are given priority.
Questions about internships can be directed by e-mail to Madeleine.Bordallo@mail.house.gov.
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IMMIGRATION &
NATURALIZATION |
The process of becoming a U.S. citizen,
and receiving visits from friends or relatives in foreign
countries are issues that generate many constituent requests.
Other examples are: constituents who require assistance with
the immigrant petition process; families who wish to adopt
a child born abroad; U.S. citizens who encounter problems
or personal emergencies while traveling abroad; and U.S. citizens
and residents who have difficulty obtaining a passport or
other needed travel documents. |
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HOW TO GET HELP IN
DEALING WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES
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The District Office of Congresswoman Madeleine
Z. Bordallo is located at Suite 107, 120 Father Duenas Avenue,
Hagåtña, Guam 96910. The phone number is (671)
477-4272. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Constituents may call to discuss questions
or problems with a member of the staff who can provide assistance
on any federal matter. The most efficient way to obtain assistance
from the District office is to write a letter to Congresswoman
Bordallo explaining the problem and any steps that have already
been undertaken to resolve it. It is also helpful to enclose
copies of relevant documents, and the names and phone numbers
of people who have been involved in the matter. If an attorney
has been engaged, it is important to include the name and
phone number.
Because of the Federal Privacy Act, in most
cases Congresswoman Bordallo must have a written request/authorization
in order to pursue a matter with a federal agency on behalf
of a constituent. Although a letter does not have to be typed,
it is important that it be written legibly. It is best if
the signature is handwritten and then either typed or printed
for clarity. It is also helpful to include one's day-time
phone number so that the staff may call if further information
is needed. After initiating an inquiry, the staff will contact
the constituent as soon as a response is obtained from the
appropriate agency.
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INTERNAL REVENUE
SERVICE |
Constituents inquire about filing federal
income tax documents for personal or business income. The
District Office staff also assists people by expediting a
response when problems arise regarding tax returns; delayed,
lost or stolen refund checks, or exercising the right to appeal
a tax decision by the IRS. The staff works to clarify misunderstandings
between the agency and the taxpayer to ensure that the taxpayer's
position is properly considered. |
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VETERANS |
Veterans eligible for a variety of benefits
from the Department of Veterans Affairs often seek assistance.
The staff assists with disability claims, hospitalization
questions, benefits determinations, and with obtaining information
throughout the federal department. |
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FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
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Federal employees, both active and retired,
often request assistance regarding difficulties at the workplace
or with their retirement. Although Members of Congress are
prohibited by law from involvement in personnel decisions,
they are permitted to make inquiries in the interest of ensuring
that proper procedures have been followed in the resolution
of disputes. In addition, "red tape" issues relating
to retirement and pensions are handled by the Guam District
Office. |
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PRESIDENTIAL GREETINGS
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The Guam District office can obtain an
acknowledgment from the President for a birthday (for persons
80 years of age or over) or a wedding anniversary (50 years
of marriage or more) if given at least three weeks advance
notice. The correct spelling and address of the recipient
is essential. |
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MILITARY PERSONNEL |
Military personnel seek answers to questions
about their assignments, require assistance regarding their
dependents, and request help with the complexities of obtaining
benefits upon retirement. Staff respond to these requests
from men and women in the military. |
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POSTAL SERVICE |
Although the U.S. Postal Service has been
an independent agency since 1970, staff are frequently asked
to provide assistance to constituents who have persistent
problems with the delivery of mail. |
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CAPITOL TOURS |
For constituents planning a trip to Washington,
DC, the Guam office can provide information and assistance
with tours. Calling ahead, well in advance, is necessary to
schedule a tour. You can pick up passes for the House Gallery,
as well as information about Capital tours at our Washington,
D.C. office; 427 Cannon House Office Building, Washington,
DC 20515.
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