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Trahan office outlines federal casework and updates status of Richard Star Act
Summary
A director of constituent services from Congresswoman Lori Trahan’s office described federal casework available to Lowell veterans, explained limitations during a federal shutdown, and reported the Richard Star Act is still in committee.
Simone Ratanayong, director of constituent services for Congresswoman Lori Trahan, briefed the Lowell City Veterans Commission on Nov. 12 about the congressional office’s federal casework and recent status of veterans-related legislation.
Ratanayong said the office helps veterans with “VA issues, passports, Medicare, Medicaid, IRS issues, Social Security issues,” and other federal agency matters. She cautioned that some agency liaisons are furloughed during a federal shutdown, which slows responses, but the office can log constituent inquiries and push them once agencies reopen.
“ We don't...we can't compel an agency to act in favor of any of our constituents that reach out, but we can definitely make sure that they get all of the due diligence and a status update when they do reach out to us,” Ratanayong said.
She advised that veterans first work with local VSO services and, for unresolved cases, submit a privacy release and contact information so the congressional office can add a congressional tag and escalate when possible. Ratanayong identified a veteran caseworker, Jorge Morales, as the office point of contact (Morales was absent due to illness at the meeting).
On legislation, Ratanayong said the Richard Star Act was introduced in the House on March 14 and that Trahan is a co-sponsor. “It’s currently in committee,” she said, and the office will notify local contacts if the bill advances.
The office also noted it can assist with expedited passport requests in urgent travel situations and with USCIS immigration and citizenship cases, although Ratanayong warned of delays.
What’s next: Ratanayong offered to receive referrals from the commission and requested that commissioners provide privacy release forms for veterans who want congressional help.
