Budget Recovery

Wow, work, service and play. What a week!

Wednesday, we tracked the amendments being introduced on the floor (or behind the scenes, as it sometimes felt), 231 to be exact, checking the amendment sponsor, number, summary and intent, and certain particulars (like being offset by function 950, I'll explain another time…). It felt like keeping score at a baseball game, although the play was much faster, you couldn’t always hear the umpire, and you had a hard time keeping up with who was on the field at any one time. Wednesday eve we were in the office until 10:30pm.

Thursday was the “vote-arama,” when the amendments would be considered by the Senate. All 100 Senators were in attendance, even Senator Byrd, in a wheelchair recently out of the hospital, bless him. The majority of introduced amendments weren’t even voted on, others were accepted as a package (you try jotting down 36 4-digit numbers in 15 seconds as they were rattled off by the Budget Committee Chair at the podium while you watch through your (new!) tv at your desk). Other introduced amendments were voted on by voice vote and still others by roll call.

It got a bit dicey Thursday when not long into the voting, this transpired:

Amendment 4189: not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 50.
Motion to table the motion to reconsider the vote by which amendment 4189 was not agreed to: not agreed to by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 51.
Motion to reconsider the vote by which amendment 4189 was not agreed to: agreed to by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 50 (That's when Vice President Cheney showed up to cast his vote - double take!).
Amendment 4189 (upon reconsideration) not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 51.

Yikes! So did the amendment pass? [Nope]

You know it’s late when the email you just sent shows up in your sent box as “yesterday.” Voting finally ended about 2am (I guess that would be Friday). Who knew the Senate had such stamina?

It was exciting, exhausting, and stressful, as you didn’t want to make a mistake in the numbering, descriptions, or information from all the rest of the staff. I did fine, survived, and am glad it’s over!

This week and next the Senate is at work in the district (aka recess), so while work continues, staff is more relaxed in wardrobe and stress level. It’s catch-up time.

This past weekend was the 11th annual National Health Education Advocacy Summit, sponsored by the Coalition of National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO). I attended several Summits in the past, including the first one in 1998. I suspect I was bitten by the advocacy bug at the Summits. I was honored to be invited this year as their keynote, kick-off speaker on Saturday. To my surprise, they also awarded me the CNHEO Health Education Advocacy Achievement Award! What a privilege to be recognized this way, mostly for stepping outside my comfort zone running and holding elected office and for being selected for the APHA Congressional Fellowship.

It was fun to see my colleagues from the different health education associations, from Rutgers University, and from New Jersey, and to see the growth of the field as they return to the Hill to advocate for public health programs and funding. Go health ed! I'm so proud of them.

We New Jerseyans even had a great meal at Zaytinya, a Mediterranean restaurant with portions easy to share, and great bread. Loved the pomegranate seeds in my orange salad.

With the slightly warmer weather and longer daylight, some thoughts turn to baseball, but mine turn to bicycling! Friday I played hooky in the later afternoon, and headed out on my new bicycle tires. Filled them with air at the local bike shop, asked directions to the bike trail, and hit the road. Over the Key Bridge into Virginia, riding along the Potomac River (faster than the crew teams in the water, at least), passing the Pentagon, seeing the city skyline across the water, pedaling to the National airport. The planes take off right over your head!

Headed back across a different bridge, finding myself near the Tidal Basin (those cherry tree buds are out…), passing the Jefferson Memorial, Korean War Memorial (spectacular, if you’ve never seen it, btw), Vietnam Memorial (always stirring), FDR Memorial (fully accessible, and equally moving), Lincoln Memorial) and so on. To be there by bicycle was thrilling. What I remember most was the words etched in granite from FDR, about how a country is measured not by its affluence but by how well we take care of those who have the least: The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much. It is whether we provide enough for those who have little. I’m afraid we’re not doing a very good job right now.

Saturday - another day, another bike ride! This time out to Rock Creek Park path (after I accidentally turned onto the highway! Oops! Realizing my mistake, I took the shortest route out of there, which unfortunately, was the way I got there – but this time against traffic on the highway. Don’t tell my mom. Luckily there was only one car coming at me, at which I gestured wildly. I can only imagine what he must have been thinking of this sight!)

This trail was terrific, but also had the Potomac Runners Club on it, all 300 of them (or so it seemed). What a relief to finally get ahead of them, where I explored the park, the neighborhoods, and rode to the National Cathedral – wow! Sixth largest in the world, with magnificent stained glass windows, gargoyles, gardens, and more. Toured a bit, but will definitely have to come back with time to spare.

Returned via Georgetown to try that new cupcake place recently started by two sisters. My past attempts resulted in finding a long line, finding them having run out of cupcakes (twice), and finding them closed. This time – a line around the block! For cupcakes! I had to draw the line somewhere, and didn’t wait.

Sunday - more biking! Hurrah! Finding new trails and routes, historic homes and gardens, and just enjoying the day. Took a shortcut through the National Zoo, where they make you walk your bike. My rides have been uphill against the wind most of the way (hard on the knees), but seeing new neighborhoods and sights makes it a little easier. Some gorgeous architecture, flowering trees, and a demonstration against the Tibetan oppression. Also another long line out the door at the cupcake place.
Still no cupcakes for me.

Spring has sprung, and what fun to be in a warmer zone for gardening – flowers bloom sooner! The mulch is pungent (I love that smell), and I’m mentally pruning the neighborhood shrubs and perennials (I know…it’s a gardener’s dementia). Caught a wonderful show at the Kennedy Center (free, I love this town!), and am settling in to a week of recess. More time for training, catching up with chores and acquaintances.