Grassley Updates Iowans on Constituent Mail Delays


? Sen. Chuck Grassley said today that enhanced security procedures for mail delivery to the U.S. Senate continue to delay constituent letters sent to Washington, and he urged Iowans who need help with casework to contact his offices in Iowa.

"The delays are significant," Grassley said. "So I want to make sure Iowans who need timely assistance in dealing with a federal agency contact my staff in Iowa so their problems can be addressed promptly. Beyond that, I want Iowans who write to me expressing views or asking questions about issues to know that it takes a long time for their letters to reach me, and that's why replies to their letters are also delayed."

New mail procedures on Capitol Hill were put in place after the anthrax attacks last October. As a result, a letter addressed to Grassley's Washington office is delivered first to either Lima, Ohio, or Bridgeport, New Jersey, for irradiation procedures which take between 10 and 14 days. The mail is then forwarded to another processing unit in Alexandria, Virginia, where all non-paper contents are removed and tested. This process takes as long as another seven to 10 days. If the mail is cleared, it is then sorted and delivered to individual Senate offices in Washington, D.C. These measures will remain in effect indefinitely.

Grassley has always been responsive to letters, e-mails and telephone calls from Iowans, answering every one of them in writing. "Communicating with constituents is an important part of my job of representing Iowans in the U.S. Senate," he said. "I have an obligation to let them know my views, answer their questions and provide information about my work on their behalf. I also very much appreciate the effort made by any individual who personally engages in the democratic process by writing to elected representatives."

Grassley provide the following contact information.

Iowans needing assistance in dealing with a problem with a federal agency, or casework, should call or write to one of his six offices in Iowa.

  • 206 Federal Building, 101 1st Street, S.E., Cedar Rapids 52401-1227 ? 319/363-6832
  • 307 Federal Building, 8 South 6th Street, Council Bluffs 51501-4204 ? 712/322-7103
  • 116 Federal Building, 131 East 4th Street, Davenport 52801-52801 ? 563/322-4331
  • 721 Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines 50309-2140 ? 515/284-4890
  • 103 Federal Building, 320 6th Street, Sioux City 51101-1244 ? 712/233-1860
  • 210 Waterloo Building, 531 Commercial Street, Waterloo 50701-5497 ? 319/232-6657

    Grassley said the best way for Iowans wishing to express views or ask questions about issues via e-mail is to log on to his Web site at http://grassley.senate.gov and click on the send-a-message feature.

    Iowans can also address a letter to Grassley at 135 Hart Building, Washington, D.C. 20510-1501.