I have been fighting with getting my initial 3rd class SI for 4 years and most of that time was waiting 6-9 months for the FAA to send what new hoops i need to jump through. Does anyone have a template (or know where one would be) for writing my congressperson to figure out whats going on? Thank you.
you don't need a template. just lay it all out as succintly as possible. avoid emotion but be thorough. keep in mind your rep's staff will likely be reading this first. and be sure to close by asking for his/her help. good luck.
I had to complete a privacy release form. My congressman emailed it to me about a week after I requested his assistance. I’m sure yours will require the same thing. He then asked for information to support my claim of delay. Certified letter receipts, letters from FAA requesting items, receipts showing I immediately sent what the requested. Also don’t forget about MedExpress online. It shows all dates when they scanned items into your file with a description of what the item is. That’s valuable information for him/her to use to substantiate your claim of BS delays. All of this is after they say they can help of course. Good luck. As for my case it is still pending.
Staff will handle it without involving the Member. Each Member has a sizable staff for constituent services, and this is right up their alley. I knew such a staff member for a district in Appalachia. Besides the usual stuff like assistance getting benefits, she had to respond to badly written letters that asked for gifts in return for a vote. One of them asked for a wood stove. As long as you keep votes out of the discussion, and write in a business-like way, you’ll be way ahead.
Also, a phone call to the office in addition to the letter. That will get their attention. My (retired) congressman actually 'plagiarized' sections of my letter word for word when he addressed congress. Phone call (you will talk with a staffer) with a follow up email. They do listen if you call.. A letter will get a canned response that only has a tenuous connection to what you are writing about, especially if your position is not their position. I've been blown off by the opposite color.
Put a check in with your letter for a large amount of money and indicate it is a down payment, the rest will come after you get whatever you are asking for.
Your rep also has a local office, which may be close to you. Stop by and talk to the staffers. They will take you seriously.
Each member has a website with a list of topics the constituents need help with. Start there…Select the Transportation topic and fill in the blanks on the email form on the website. No need for a physical letter, which will be delayed weeks. Why? Because all USPS goes thru decontamination before delivery to the office. The staffer will send an email with the privacy release for you to sign electronicaly when they respond. Then they will continue working with you including phone calls and email. Do not send documentation until they ask for it. Of course none of this matters if it’s an issue with the IRS.
So I like the idea about MedXpress having dates, but I didn’t check that website until my case was in “final review” and it stating it would have a determination in two days. That was several weeks ago and I called DC and this very rude guy said it would be at the least 3-4 more months before my packet would even be seen. My question is, is there a way to look back at those dates from when your paperwork was submitted on MedXpress, or once it goes to final review (there’s no date for that either on the page) you can’t go back and find those dates?
