Recently, a colleague of mine and I were sharing stories of our weekend routines after we return home from Washington. My friend shared that his wife usually greets him, happily armed with a hug and a honey-do list carefully printed on a piece of notebook paper…fix a leak in the faucet upstairs, mow the lawn, change a light bulb in that fixture that is always so difficult to unscrew. He acknowledged that the honey-do list had been a faithful part of their marriage from the very beginning. When they were newly married, he used to dread the impending honey-do list. But now, he said, he has come to rely on it as a helpful guide. It shows him exactly what tasks he needs to make the top priorities in order to be the most helpful around the household.

This week, Congress returned to Washington for the first time since the November elections. On the agenda were several organizational meetings and working group sessions designed to have us thinking ahead and preparing for the 112th Congress, which begins in January. One of the primary topics of discussion was what the top priorities of the new Congress should be, with addressing spending, the economy and helping to create jobs for Americans among the top of that list.

The discussions come on the heels of an election where Americans could not have been clearer about their expectations from their federal elected officials – they want a Congress that will listen to their concerns, a Congress that will allow them to remain engaged and informed on decisions being made in Washington, and a government that is not hamstrung with bureaucracy and political posturing. The American people want a government that works for them and is deserving of their trust and pride.

In fact, this is how our government was intended to operate. Our Founding Fathers believed it was necessary to empower individuals to direct our nation through a representative democracy. That is why they established a government of the people, by the people and for the people. They believed that empowerment of the American people would ultimately lead to a more creative, more innovative society. That is why they championed a government that relies on the voices of individuals, families, and businesses.

Much like a honey-do list from a husband or wife, any “to-do” list serves as a helpful guide in prioritizing what needs to be done. Right now, the new Congress is determining its priority list for the year ahead, and it is important that Americans have an opportunity to share in that discussion.

My office works hard to create an atmosphere that is open to the exchanging of ideas, so I can hear directly from constituents and, likewise, so constituents of the Fourth District can make well-informed decisions. My office communicates with our constituents by providing information, but just as important, by listening to them. We host frequent tele-town hall meetings, a forum that allows constituents to create dialogue by asking me questions over the telephone; hold meetings with locality officials each year to discuss issues of importance to the the locality; host regular conference calls with representatives from industries or professions being impacted by impending legislation; and we send weekly email updates that share information on votes I have taken in Congress that week and ask for feedback on those decisions. You can also visit my website or sign up to receive email updates from me on specific issues that are of most concern or interest to you.

As we look ahead to the 112th Congress and establish priorities for the year ahead, I want to hear from you. What do you want to add to Congress’ priority list? What are your top priorities for the new Congress and what specific ideas do you want to see implemented?  Email me here or post your responses on my blog. I look forward to reading your responses as we lay out our plans for the next Congress.