New Website Another Avenue for Information, Feedback

New Website Another Avenue for Information, Feedback
May 2, 2004

Washington, D.C.- The most important part of the work done in any congressional office is constituent communication. That's just a big phrase that means getting the low-down on what the hot topics are on Main Street, and what people are talking about in the coffee shops.

I believe that making a concerted effort to learn what your constituents care about is part of the solemn obligation of any member of Congress. And quite frankly, doing so makes my job much easier. When I've heard your opinions on current issues, I'm better able to represent you when those issues come to the fore in committee hearings, and on the floor of the House of Representatives.

I'm constantly seeking out new ways to get interaction with my 690,000 constituents in the Third Congressional District. The latest way I've done this is through my new congressional website, available at www.house.gov/lucas. My overhauled website now provides constituents with quicker access to information that they need most, as well as new ways of giving me your opinions.

I've taken the most frequently used areas of my old website, as well as the most frequently asked questions from constituents, and brought them right to the front page of the site for easy access.

Contact Frank
The most popular question my staff hears from constituents is how they can reach me. There are many ways to do this. First, I've made a link, called "Contact Frank," from the front page that uses a new email system to prioritize mail from within the Third District. Since the opinions of a constituent in Medford that I represent in Congress mean a lot more to me than a citizen in Montana that is represented by someone else, I make sure the system gives priority to those letters from inside Oklahoma's Third Congressional District.

In addition to contacting me to express your opinion on pending legislation, the new website also has links allowing you to invite me to an event in Oklahoma, or schedule a meeting with me in either my Oklahoma or Washington offices. Also from the front page, you can sign up to receive regular email updates on issues that I'm working on in Washington that affect you.

Services
The "Services" pages give useful information on the myriad of constituent services my office provides. These cover everything from facilitating federal grant requests to getting an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. In this section you can get individual help in handling your problems with a federal agency, such as an unexplained holdup in Veteran's or Social Security benefits. Students can apply for internships in my office. You can find out about my next round of town hall meetings. And constituents visiting Washington can get helpful hints to make their travel more enjoyable, as well as get a tour of the U.S. Capitol from my office.

Issues
Recent surveys of congressional website users have found that they want more information about where their member of Congress stands on the issues of the day. So I've set up an "Issues" section on my new site where I spell out my stance on the most common current issues, such as education, homeland security, taxes, and others. Another section, called "Your Interests" explains important issues I've been working on for specific groups, such as people in small business, parents, and senior citizens. And the "Newsroom" section provides a catalog of my press releases and newspaper columns.

About Frank and the Third District
Two other links give access to information about me, and the congressional district. The "About Frank" section details legislation I've sponsored and my committee assignments. It also provides my biography, as well as a photo page. The "District" link gives information about the Third Congressional District, including a detailed map, census statistics, and links to popular tourist destinations within the district.

Traditional Avenues
As important and useful as the internet has become, I also understand that not everyone has the inclination to use the web. That's why the traditional avenues to give me feedback are still available. Although letters sent through my website are received and therefore responded to quicker, of course we still receive and respond to traditional mail as well. You can also give me a call or meet me at one of my more than 50 town hall meetings in the district this year.

My new website is another tool to stay in touch with my constituents, by letting them know what I'm working on, and giving them another opportunity to let me know what they think on these important issues for all of us. I encourage you to browse the site, but more importantly, I encourage you to use whatever means you prefer to make your opinions known.