The Department of Education's Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs (OLCA) has a wide range of responsibilities, the most important of which is coordinating all Department matters relating to Congress. OLCA has a leadership role in planning, developing, and implementing the Department's legislative goals and strategies, notifying Congressional offices of grant awards and Department initiatives, addressing appropriations and budget matters, and monitoring the status of legislative proposals.

OLCA's organizational structure consists of political leadership that communicates the Administration's position on educational issues, career staff for legislative policy that advises on legislation and congressional affairs staff that aid in resolving constituent concerns.

OLCA also works with employees throughout the Department to respond to written and oral inquiries from individual members of Congress, prepare for legislative hearings, and schedule and facilitate meetings between members of Congress and ED senior officers.

The inquiries that are received by OLCA are tracked through the Department's correspondence control system. For each issue submitted through a congressional inquiry, it is assigned to the appropriate principal office within the Department for response. Congressional inquiries are typically responded to within three to four weeks depending on the complexity of the inquiry.

Congressional Members can contact the office through OLCA's main telephone line(s) at 202-401-1028 or 202-401-0020. Correspondence can also be mailed to 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-3100.

OLCA is in daily contact with members of Congress. This interaction ensures that the initiatives of Congress and the Department are achieved.

Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs
U.S. Department of Education