SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. — Congressman Nick LaLota says he has personally responded to more than 73,000 letters from constituents since taking office in 2023, pointing to the volume of correspondence as a measure of his office’s engagement with residents across Suffolk County.
In a public statement posted Wednesday, LaLota said the letters have covered a wide range of issues, including taxes, immigration, healthcare and public safety.
“Hearing from Long Islanders directly is part of the job,” LaLota wrote, adding that he takes constituent correspondence seriously “whether or not we agree.”
LaLota has represented New York’s 1st Congressional District since being sworn into office in January 2023. His district includes much of Suffolk County, and his congressional office maintains constituent-service operations in Hauppauge.
The 73,000-letter figure fits into a broader constituent-service message LaLota has emphasized throughout his time in Congress.
In June, his office announced that it had recovered more than $15.6 million for Suffolk County residents through casework involving federal agencies. According to LaLota’s office, those cases included matters involving the IRS, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, FEMA, Medicare and other federal programs.
The Hauppauge district office also assists residents with Social Security, Medicare, veterans’ benefits, passports, visas, tax matters and small-business issues involving federal agencies.
LaLota has also recently highlighted federal funding secured for local public-safety agencies. In August, he presented nearly $1 million in federal funding to the Southampton Town Police Department and Sag Harbor Village Police Department for technology and vehicle improvements.
The new letter-response figure offers another snapshot of the scale of constituent interaction handled by the congressional office since 2023.
For residents, LaLota’s message is straightforward: contacting a congressional office is not limited to political opinions or legislation. Constituents can also seek assistance with federal agencies, benefits, taxes, veterans’ matters and other government services.