Day One!

Let the fellowship begin. Two-minute walk to the Metro, 3 stops on the orange/blue line, 3 stops on the red line and a 4 minute walk (if I don't walk into Dirksen by mistake) and I'm in Hart in 1/2 hour. [One hour if I walk, but it has to be in the good walking shoes - not so attractive with a skirt. Once I'm organized, I'll keep a decent pair of shoes in the office to wear during the day.]

Quite a few new people started last week and today - interns in particular. Never underestimate the value of an intern - often a recent college graduate. They are poised, bright, patient, energetic and willing to do anything. Who do you imagine helps organize the answers to all (tens of thousands!) of those constituent emails and letters? Need help with the computer or IT issues? Ask an intern...

I'm in "fellow row" with another Fellow. Very convenient to the mini-kitchen, the supply cabinet, and the back door. Lots of foot traffic too - good for getting updates and meeting everyone else in the office.

I'm impressed with the seriousness and respectfulness given to constituent needs and to responding in a timely way to ALL of the constituent correspondence. As a regular writer to my own members, it's reassuring.

Finding my way around the office. Who's who, where do they sit, whom can I ask my silly questions to? Found the paper and pens, found the xerox machine, signed my I-9 form, registered for ethics training, and got my email address and a connection to a shared printer. Now I'm official! Added key website links to "favorites," as once I'm in full gear, I suspect I'll need these resources at my fingertips. It's not enough to know where to go, it's a matter of finding it and using it quickly.

Reading the testimony for tomorrow's hearing, and understanding the issues to help the legislative staff. Once my summary is acceptable, preparing possible questions for the senator to review.

Fun! Digest and summarize problems and solutions, pro's and con's. Think beyond the actual testimony, find what else has been credibly written on the issue (e.g., by the Congressional Research Service - see, that orientation is coming in handy already!) And slip in a little upstream thinking regarding public health - value of prevention to reduce downstream treatment costs. Voila!

Oh, lunch? It took more time to find the cafeteria than it did to gobble it down. Tomorrow - bring and horde healthy snacks to make it through the day. Note to self: avoid the chocolate put out for visitors.

Also accompanied the legislative assistant to pre-hearing briefing. Meeting the staff of the members of the committee holding tomorrow's hearing. Learning about the credentials of the majority and minority experts testifying and the gist of their remarks. Reviewing the hearing schedule and bill action of the week. Much effort is made to be organized and share information (among party members, as best I can tell so soon). With so much being unpredictable (how soon bills will move through committee or the other chamber, and what they will look like in the specifics), this effort to keep everyone posted and up to date is much appreciated.

Time now to watch the State of the Union message, knowing I was sitting in that chamber during orientation only two weeks ago!

To be continued!