Fourteen Days Already?

It’s been 14 days so far in this Senator's personal office, and I feel right at home. Who knew that I wanted to be a Public Health Fellow when I grew up?

I’ve really enjoyed being entrusted to take my own constituent meetings. I seek a connection with each constituent, often based on geography, demography, a professional angle or something else we might have in common. The meetings furtherst from my experience seem to be with folks involved with the military in some way (as a contractor, researcher, etc.), which may reflect either on my limited experience or my privilege having others support and fight for my freedoms.

We often host constituent meetings with the senior senator’s staff, and since the two offices coordinate appropriation requests, it seems to work out well for everyone involved – a more efficient use of everyone’s time. We ask these visitors if they’ve been to visit their Representatives, too. If elected members from the same state/district in both chambers request the same thing during the appropriations process, it strengthens the budget request and avoids that negotiation in the conference sessions (where the House and the Senate have to agree on final language if different versions were considered and passed by each).

This week was also spent preparing for a “mark-up session” in committee. We responded, and responded, and still responded, to what seemed like a never-ending series of questions and concerns by the minority members of the committee in which the bill is being considered. We’re hoping for a consensus of support for this bill to be considered as part of a much larger “unanimous consent” agreement by the Senate.

If there was disagreement in committee, even if released by the majority, it would more than likely be blocked by having a “hold” put on it, and might never otherwise “see the light of day” on the Senate floor. So this time before mark-up is spent negotiating and compromising on language to gain agreement without “watering down” the original intent of the bill too much. I’ve noticed that you can’t stand on principle if you’re trying to build broad support. Being persuasive also required data specific to states of the committee members, so that they see how this problem affects their own constituents.

At the mark-up committee meeting itself, we waited 30 minutes for a quorum of senators to arrive in order to do committee business, which we lost not ten minutes later, so recess was called. There was Senate floor business occurring at the same time, and the Senate took up the Indian Affairs Health Care bill later that day. I learned that the mark-up session has been postponed until February 27th, after all that.

The Senate also approved a compromise economic stimulus package, voted on the FISA bill, delayed considering some presidential nominations, and is preparing to hear consumer product safety legislation. Committee meetings on appropriation issues have been held all week long by each committee, in preparation for the Senate budget proposal (to be marked up in early March, and heard on the floor the week after).

It’s hard to believe that I’ve only been here for 14 days. It feels so much longer than that, as I feel comfortable with the process so far, comfortable in my role (I realize that I have very little responsibility at this point, short of being sure that I don’t speak for the Senator). Even the Congressional Research Service (CRS) seminar on the budget process reminded me that I’ve learned quite a bit (just another ten year’s worth to go, I’ve been told – and I believe it!).

Disappointing news – the Senate Ethics Committee decided that I have to resign from the boards that I sit on. The criteria seems to be: if I am paid to serve on a board (nope), if the organization seeks money from Congress (nope), if my Member has oversight for their area (nope), or if my work in the office is in the same area as the issues of these boards (yup – “health”). So I resigned from the American College Health Foundation and the Rutgers Community Health Foundation to avoid a perceived or potential conflict of interest. Perhaps I’ll be invited to return to these boards next year. Now if only the elected members of Congress would be as scrupulous!

I’m starting to develop a routine, which is nice since it requires less conscious effort to get through the day. I’ve learned which way to turn once I leave the Metro stations, I’m developing a sense of direction in the office buildings, and I'm starting to remember in what direction the apartment faucet handles turn (unfortunately, each one is different). I’m starting to store the right shoes for work and walking in the right locations (home and office, when needed).

I’m recognizing landmarks and locales as I walk around and am walking home more often as the days get longer. The sunsets are gorgeous, and the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue puts out 30 or so front-page headlines in their display cases every day, from all over the country and the world. It’s fascinating to compare the front pages. Monday evenings are free performances at the National Theater. My first foray was this week, where I saw a series of female impersonators – fun (and crowded!).

Question of the week: why are there no chairs or benches in the halls of Congress?