What it's like to be a Congressman
Being a United States Congressman is a demanding job, but it's also very rewarding.
I enjoy meeting people and getting a chance to sit down and talk with them. I also enjoy it when I am able to help someone who is having a problem with the federal government get their problem resolved.
Being a Congressman keeps me busy. Whether I'm in Washington or Kansas, my day usually begins with meetings at 8:00 a.m. or earlier and my day will often not end until late in the evening. When I'm in Washington, I'm meeting visitors to my office, attending committee meetings, reading mail from constituents and consulting with my staff regarding bills in Congress. And if those didn't keep me busy enough, I also have my most important duty -- casting votes. Whenever a vote is called, my beeper goes off and I have 15 minutes to get to the Capitol to record my vote. No matter where I am in Washington, I have only 15 minutes to make it to the vote -- which is sometimes difficult because of Washington, D.C.'s traffic congestion!
"He is everywhere. And it's been that way since he took office Jan. 6. Between Washington and Kansas' 3rd District, he's at it six and seven days a week. Been back in the district every weekend but five." Steve Kraske, Kansas City Star, December 19, 1999
The part of my week I most look forward to is the weekend when I am able to return home to Kansas. But my weekends are just as busy as my weekdays. Each weekend when I go home, I like to meet and talk with people to hear what they have to say about important issues. I have monthly Community Office Hours throughout the district. These give people a chance to come talk to me without an appointment. Also, because one of my priorities is education, I've visited almost every school district in my district, talking to kids, parents, teachers and principals about the role the federal government should play in education.