The Sun - Pete Aguilar: San Bernardino County Voices Will be Heard in D.C.

Op-Ed

By Pete Aguilar

As San Bernardino County's new representative in Congress, there are a number of issues I look forward to addressing on behalf of Inland Empire families. From fighting for good-paying jobs to improving the quality of education, I am committed to doing right by my constituents.

Since taking office five weeks ago, I've had the opportunity to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle -- from co-sponsoring legislation that lowers the tax burden of local small businesses to supporting a pilot program to help our veterans find work. While I'm proud of the work I'm doing in Washington, my priority is to serve my constituents and to be as accessible as possible through an open-door policy.

As your federal representative, one of my primary duties is to assist constituents who need help dealing with federal agencies. Whether it's a question regarding requests to Medicare, Social Security benefits, or assistance processing a VA claim -- my office and I are here for you.

It's important for seniors who rely on Medicare and Social Security to know that my district office has casework specialists who can help you receive your benefits.

San Bernardino County seniors have worked hard their entire lives, paid into these programs for decades, and they deserve to retire with dignity. Preserving and improving Medicare and Social Security is one of my highest priorities, and that begins with addressing it at the local level. I realize that dealing with these agencies can be a challenge, which is why my staff is here to answer questions, help with claims, and solve issues with you.

Ensuring that veterans have access to their benefits is also one of my top priorities, and as a new member of the House Armed Services Committee, I will be a voice for our men and women in uniform. Loma Linda is home to one of the largest Veterans Affairs facilities in our region and is there to be a service to our veterans. The VA is a critical resource for veterans, but we also know that it needs to be improved, so if veterans experience problems, I encourage them to reach out to my office immediately.

Motivating young people to get involved in public service is crucial to inspiring the next generation to have a stake in our shared future. I can personally vouch for this because my first public service experience was through an internship program. Congressional internships, both in my district and the Washington, D.C., office, are available to college students. An internship is a great way to learn about the federal government and the legislative process, and gives students the unique opportunity to understand how the very core of our nation's government functions on a day-to-day basis. High school students who are interested in attending one of our nation's military service academies should contact my office for information and assistance.

In addition to helping you connect with federal agencies, we can also be useful to you for other services, including flag requests and tours of the Capitol or White House. My office in Washington is located in the Longworth House office building and is always open to constituents.

For more detailed information about my constituent services, please visit my website at aguilar.house.gov. Our local office phone number is 909-980-1492. If you have questions about legislation, you can reach my Washington office at 202-225-3201. Please don't hesitate to reach out and I look forward to hearing from you.

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