Widespread AT&T outages in Lafourche
October 20, 2016
Karen Dupre
October 25, 2016
Dealing with the federal government can be a frustrating and complicated process that can often lead folks to feel powerless against slow-moving bureaucratic government agencies. I’ve been privileged to serve the people of Louisiana in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate for several years, and during that time, I’ve learned that the single most important job for a U.S. Senator is to always keep an open-door policy for constituents who are having trouble with federal agencies.
While helping constituents deal with federal agencies and solving individual problems is certainly not the most glamorous aspect of being a U.S. Senator, I firmly believe it is the most important and by far the most fulfilling aspect of serving Louisianians.
From helping a veteran resolve an issue with the VA to helping Louisianians understand what resources are available to them during and after a natural disaster, I have always felt that it is very important for my staff and I to be well-informed and well-equipped to serve Louisianians when they come to us — regardless of the size and scope of their problems.
I believe this commitment was on display when helping constituents recover from the many disasters we’ve faced throughout the years, including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (among others), the BP oil spill, and this year’s devastating flooding in north Louisiana, greater Baton Rouge, and parts of Acadiana.
That’s why my staff and I have produced a guidebook of best practices that breaks down the vital services the next Senator from Louisiana can provide to make sure Louisianians continue to receive the help they need. I sent a copy of this guidebook to each of the major candidates in the U.S. Senate race earlier this week so that there will be a seamless transition in terms of constituent service.
While my staff and I haven’t “cracked the code” of how to guarantee immediate and positive results, we have figured out a lot of what works in the twelve years I’ve served as your Senator. I’m immensely proud of our strong reputation for being responsive, working hard, and producing results. With this Constituent Service Guidebook, I’m hopeful that the next Louisiana Senator will continue to build on these practices. Very few aspects of being a public servant can have the direct, life-changing impacts that serving those in need has, and I am certainly very grateful to have had the opportunity to help my fellow Louisianians.
A U.S. Navy Veteran enjoys a Veteran’s Day ceremony. U.S. Senator David Vitter says that having constituent service is vital for anyone serving in public office.
