As the dry Missouri summer nears the end, my hard-working and dedicated staff  are spending next week engaged in another round of Constituent Service Days that are designed to give you a voice in your government.

For more than three years, we have held hundreds of Constituent Service Days in all 25 counties of the 9th District. These forums, usually held in small venues in your town, give you an opportunity to meet face-to-face with one of my staff members to share your concerns, opinions or just ask questions.

For example: If you have a veterans issue that you want addressed or want to get answers about some confusing Social Security paperwork or maybe you just want to express your frustration with Washington, then these forums are for you. I have made it clear to my staff that our goal is to listen and assist.

Our Constituent Service Days are an extension of my commitment to ensure that I stay in touch with the concerns of the people I represent. As many of you know, there is sometimes a tendency for public officials to lose touch with the people back home and that is something I cannot accept. For those who may be skeptical, let me guarantee you that I personally review what my staff hears from you at these forums. As the name suggests, the number one focus of these forums is the service we can provide to you. You can also rest assured that I take your issues back with me to Washington so that other members of Congress can hear exactly what the people of the 9th District are experiencing in their day-to-day lives.

With so many Americans frustrated by what is going on in Washington, I want you to know that my goal is to provide as much clarity as possible on the issues that directly impact your life. During this critical time in our nation’s history, I ask that you stay engaged and keep abreast of the seriousness of the issues facing our nation. We have to keep the lines of communication open so that together we can work to protect the future for our children and grandchildren.

For the complete list of what day, time and locations of our Constituent Service Days that begin August 27 and end August 30, I encourage you to visit my website at http://luetkemeyer.house.gov for all of the details. The opinions and views of the people I serve are my highest priority. Our government is elected by the people and for the people, and for as long as I am in office, I will meet that obligation and I look forward to hearing from you.