Friends,
Congress has officially reached the time of year referred to as “August Recess,” but – despite what the name implies - this month will be the furthest thing from a vacation.
Until the 1930s, the House and Senate would only stay in session for five or six months – finishing their business in the middle of the summer unless a conflict or war required them to remain in Washington, D.C. However, by the 1960s, legislative sessions were lasting longer and longer. In 1963, the Senate remained in a marathon session from January to December with no breaks longer than the occasional three-day weekend.
Finally, Congress recognized the need for an August recess to offer Members the chance to travel home, address home-state business, and reconnect with their constituents. Since 1971, Congress has used this annual recess for that very purpose, and even early opponents recognized the value. One Senator from Indiana rightly said, “The feedback you get while hitting the fish fries…gives you a totally different feeling than you get in Washington.”
I am taking full advantage of this opportunity to spend the next several weeks traveling across East Texas, visiting each of the seventeen counties in the First District to speak directly with you about what is going on in Washington, D.C. and hear what you would like to see Congress accomplish before the year’s end.
I look forward to seeing many of you on the road, and as always, if there is an issue or concern you’d like to share with me – please do not hesitate to reach out at (202) 225-3035 or send me a message by clicking HERE.
It’s going to be a great month in East Texas.