What can we do to help?

Dear Friend, 

August is one of my favorite times of the year because I get to spend my days traveling up and down the state doing what I like to call “Customer Calls.” I take this time to visit with groups, businesses, students, and organizations across the state – all with these questions in mind: How am I doing? How are you doing? What can we do to help? These meetings help shape my priorities in the Senate and remind me that everything I do, I know I can do better.  

This August brought me all over the state. I got to learn about the newest revitalization efforts in Seaford, see the effects of sea level rise on our roads and bridges in Oak Orchard, and speak to business owners in Dover about the progress being made to reinvent the site of the former steel mill in Claymont. I even had the chance to stop by Georgetown to present U.S. Marines veteran Frank Bolen with a medal he never received after his heroic efforts in the Vietnam War.

All of these visits remind me of the important work we are doing for Delawareans and the important work that remains. In my three Delaware offices located in Georgetown, Dover, Wilmington — are teams of people working on issues affecting our state led by my new state director and Delaware State University alumnae Asi Ofosu. Standing by is my constituent services team that can help you navigate Medicare, the IRS, an immigration case, federal student loans, or any other federal issue you may have. To make this process easier, just last month, I cosponsored bipartisan legislation to ensure that elected officials like myself can be even more effective advocates for our constituents by modernizing our constituent services process. I’m proud to report that just a few weeks ago, this bill was signed into law. 

And this summer, I was delighted to welcome four interns to our Delaware team who joined me on so many of these trips around the state. Our interns learned first-hand about public service, and had the opportunity to visit Capitol Hill and NASA! We wish them all the best as the summer internship program comes to an end, and look forward to meeting many more bright young students who come through our doors. If you are interested in an internship with one of my offices in Delaware and Washington D.C., learn how to apply here.

Did I miss you on my travels around Delaware this recess? If there is a place that I need to see, please send me an email. I hope to run into you next time I’m in your town!

Tom Carper