What Does a Member of Congress do?

I am very busy during the work week in Washington D.C. I usually wake up at 5am and don’t leave for home until well after 10pm!

Starting my day with a healthy breakfast and some vigorous exercise, I then meet with my staff to go over the events, meetings and votes scheduled for the day.

My primary responsibility here in Congress is to vote on bills that affect my constituents and all American citizens.  Members of the House of Representatives often debate about a bill that has reached the House floor before we decide to vote, and if you tune into C-SPAN, often you will see me debating some of my colleagues, or just putting in my two cents.

Some of my decisions are extremely difficult, so whether its deciding which fatal disease gets more research funding, how many schools or hospitals get built, or what to set the minimum wage at, its very helpful to hear from my constituents on where they stand. As your representative I both value and need your opinion!

Before making a decision I meet with people on both sides of an issue. That’s why I welcome all of your letters and phone calls and I make an effort to meet with and talk with my constituents several times per day.

In his book Congressional Government, our 28th president, Woodrow Wilson, famously said that “Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work.”
Spoken like a true political scholar, President Wilson was really on to something! During the work week I spend a great deal of time attending Committee hearing and meetings where we examine, discuss, amend and vote on pending legislation.

As you may be familiar with the legislative process (if not, click here), a bill is sent to committee before it is voted on the House floor, and often we hear from experts and from each other in order to assess the positives and negatives of a bill. Currently I serve on the Agriculture Committee, the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the Science & Technology Committee, where I am chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee.

One of my favorite parts about being a Member of Congress is getting to greet constituents who are visiting Washington DC right before my staff gives them a tour of the Capitol building!