by Hunter Jones
On Monday, two of Congressman Dale Strong’s staff sit in Scottsboro City Hall. With a table set up for them and two chairs sitting across for them, they have their laptops and some paperwork on the desk as they sit and wait to hear or assist any of the constituents that happen to come across them today. Whether it be feedback for any changes they’d like to see Strong push for in Congress or just personal help on any federal paperwork they may have trouble completing, they patiently await the next constituent that they are happy to assist.
“This is something that Congressman Strong feels that is important for his staff to deploy out to all the rural communities throughout north Alabama so we can make sure that they’re represented and to ensure that we’re really attending to their needs in their communities,” District Director Dylan Smith said.
Congressman Strong plans to have 24 mobile office hours this year, with two held per month. When selecting locations, Strong’s office will contact local mayors and county commissions to try and find a time that works best for those parties as well as allowing Strong’s staff to reach as many local communities as possible.
“We look forward to interacting with the constituents. Congressman Strong really loves attending these a lot of these himself. Any chance that the Congressman and his staff gets to interact with the constituents that we serve, it’s a real pleasure,” Smith said. “It’s one thing to speak to someone over the phone but really getting to know folks out in the local communities and being able to be face to face with them, it just adds a new dynamic and it’s a level of service that the Congressman really expects the staff to give to his constituents.”
While Strong likes to make the office hours himself when possible, he was not in Scottsboro at Monday. However, he will be sure to receive a briefing for himself and the rest of the staff of the day, outlining the community concerns so that he can best address the needs back on Capitol Hill.
Some of the assistance his staff can provide include passports, IRS tax refunds, social security and veteran benefits. Smith ensures that even if they cannot necessarily help on the spot, they continue their work until they can provide feedback to the constituent, no matter what level of government or government agency they have to tackle.
“As a member of Congress, the agencies really do their best to communicate with us. It shouldn’t be that way, it should be incumbent upon the agencies to work for the constituent regardless but when (the constituent) contact Congressman Strong’s office, they have typically exhausted every avenue and option at their disposal,” Smith said. “That’s where we come in and we really work to ensure that our agencies in the federal government are responsive and beholden to the people that they serve, and for Congressman Strong, that’s the people of Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District.”
For any citizens looking for a mobile office hours to be held at their local city halls or nearby, they can follow Congressman Dale Strong on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Additionally, they can visit strong.house.gov for updates relating to Strong’s work on Capitol Hill as well as to subscribe to their newsletter, where mobile office hours are posted.
“Congressman Strong wants to ensure that throughout north Alabama, the small towns and rural communities are represented. That’s why he has directed us to go throughout north Alabama and ensure that our constituents concerns are heard as well as to make it a priority to work case work on their behalf and to ensure any problem that they’re facing with the federal government is resolved in a timely manner,” Smith said.
