I Love Congressional Breaks

This congressional break would be the perfect time to hunker down in the office to prepare for many of the upcoming events I have coming up such as the NCAF Legislative Conference in two weeks, a press roll-out of the ExxonMobil grants in Philadelphia and New York in the next three weeks and a big dinner I have coming up with House Democratic leadership on Tuesday. I am working on each of these items and several more this week, but I still take time to go the Hill every day.

Although members of Congress are away this week, I have been able to have several casual meetings with staff on Capitol Hill. When I say “casual” I’m not referring to the dress code, although you can find many chiefs of staff dressed in jeans when Congress is not in session. I am referring to longer-than-usual, no-pressure conversations during which I build upon relationships and learn more about a member’s priorities.

I am still a fellow that likes face-to-face meetings. I feel that my one-on-one contact with members’ offices has served our programs well over the years. Part of NCAF’s effectiveness is that members and staff can put a face and a name that they know and trust with the programs we support.

So, I enjoy congressional breaks, not because I get to sit back and take it easy, but because I find them to be extremely productive times.