Earth Day

Lots of things green. Spring outside in all of her glory. Internet home pages, articles in Hill newspapers, floor statements by Senators. Another opportunity for the public health and climate change connection, and I’m encouraged to see it being made by others this time.

The Senate is full steam ahead, considering whatever legislation is able to achieve cloture on (those elusive 60 votes to overcome a filibuster), acting on highway amendments, fair pay and nominations. Committee meetings are in full swing, with my boss seen chairing several meetings. We get blackberry emails from staff with a head’s up and the internal television channel whenever he’s speaking. That helps me know his positions and statements as they happen.

I’ve been helping prepare for an upcoming press conference on a health topic, and involved in preparing some health legislation for introduction. Lots to do: research the topics, work with legislative counsel for proper Senate language, work with expert and constituency groups for support and input, invite Senate co-sponsors for the legislation, review and prepare for introduction companion legislation from the House side, gain support to co-sponsor existing legislation requested by constituency groups. In fact, I even created the name of one of the bills my boss plans to introduce. All this while helping fill in for a staff vacancy and fighting a head cold.

Last week I attended another CRS workshop, on the Legislative process. One speaker described it as analogous to “The Odyssey,” a journey fraught with similarly impossible odds and challenges.

Correction: warmer weather has brought skirts on the female Hill staff. And the Pope. And practice for Senate staff softball. And the farmer’s market at my Metro stop. And friends and colleagues from out of town to have lunch and dinner with – one of my favorite activities.

Question: why are there no flowers allowed on the Senate floor?