Shannon Devine's mother, Wanda Baucom, holds Shannon and Jason Devine's daughter, Halle-Grace, at her first birthday party in Lincolnton on Saturday, November 22, 2008. Halle-Grace was adopted from Vietnam on September 1, 2008, after assistance from U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry's office. "She's something else," Jason Devine said. "She's the best worldly thing I've ever done." - YALONDA M. JAMES - yjames@charlotteobserver.com
Savvy Citizen Constituent Services
Roadblock: How can you get help? Congressional lawmakers are asked to intervene most often in issues involving Social Security and veterans' affairs
By Lisa Zagaroli
lzagaroli@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Monday, Dec. 01, 2008
WASHINGTON When the letter arrived, Shannon and Jason Devine of Shelby had been gazing at photos of the adopted child they'd been paired with, the tiny girl with the huge “eyes of onyx,” for four months.
It wasn't the permission to travel to Vietnam and bring her back to the United States that was long overdue. Instead, it was a letter from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Ho Chi Minh City telling them they had to do more to prove that the child's birth parents didn't want her.
The directive was just one of many frustrating hang-ups the Devines were forced to deal with as they tried to get the visa their new daughter needed.
They are convinced the girl, Halle-Grace, would still be in Vietnam if an aide to their district congressman, Rep. Patrick McHenry, hadn't helped them navigate the bureaucracy and ultimately track down a key document that sat on a desk in Vietnam. The visa finally came through on Sept. 30, and the Devines were able to celebrate their daughter's first birthday with her recently in Sherrills Ford.
“Congressman McHenry's office was adamant, persistent and insistent, on almost a daily basis,” said Jason Devine, a part-time pharmaceutical salesman who is studying divinity at Gardner-Webb University. “Some other offices said, ‘We'll try to help you out,' and made token inquiries. Congressman McHenry made it a personal issue.”
While the most high-profile work that lawmakers do is vote on legislation, some argue the bread-and-butter of what members of Congress do is case work – or constituent service.
Their district offices help people sort through an array of complicated issues involving the federal government.
They help folks get Social Security and disability checks, medals they should have been awarded from the military and passport renewals for an upcoming trip. They also help sort out problems with the Internal Revenue Service, benefits from the Veterans Administration and aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
No agency tracks statistics, but each Congressional office can handle thousands of cases a year. McHenry's office has tackled 10,725 cases during his four years in office, according to the Cherryville Republican's staff. The most common: Social Security needs (about 26 percent) and veterans' issues (21 percent).
Happy Birthday Emily
Happy 7th Birthday Emily White!!! Emily and her family (mom-Susan, Dad-Michael and little sister-Erin go to church with us at Eastside. The entire family is very special to us!!! We love you and hope your birthday is a blast!
