I was honored this week to present World War II veteran, Ralph Squires, with three replacement military honors and a combat ribbon, all which were earned during his service with the U.S. Navy.

Not only was I proud to give this long overdue recognition for Mr. Squires’ bravery as a Seabee during World War II, but I was pleased that my office staff was able to assist Mr. Squires in receiving his medals. Mr. Squires worked with my office and the U.S. Navy to navigate the process and receive his awards in a matter of weeks.

As your representative, one of my most important roles is assisting you with navigating the Federal Government, on casework issues related to Medicare, Social Security, immigration matters and veterans’ issues. Bureaucratic red tape can make things confusing, cumbersome, and take too long. When this is the case, my office has a dedicated team of constituent caseworkers that can help expedite the process.

Northern Virginia is home to many veterans, and my office is available to assist veterans with many services, from recovering copies of military records to receiving VA or TRICARE benefits earned for their service.

Additionally, my staff can help residents work to receive deserved benefits from agencies like the Social Security Administration (SSA) or guide you along the path to citizenship with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).

My staff is also eager to assist younger residents, whether applying for a nomination to one of the nation’s military service academies, participating in the annual Congressional Art Competition, or through providing assistance and information on federal student financial aid programs.

Our close proximity to Washington, D.C. provides many opportunities to visit the sites along the National Mall. As you prepare for your visit, check in with my Washington D.C. office staff members who can help secure tours in our nation’s capital, provide information on museums located in the capitol region, or even assist in ordering a flag to be flown over the Capitol. This information is all available on my website at moran.house.gov.

I am honored to represent you in Congress. As your representative, my staff and I are here to serve you. I urge you to browse my website at moran.house.gov for useful information on the services mentioned above and begin the casework process online.

Rep. James Moran (D) is Virginia’s 8th Congressional District Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.