I am pleased to release the 2013 Congressional Calendar for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Part of our goal in scheduling the House is to ensure that we never lose touch with the constituents we each represent while completing our work in Washington. Time spent in the district between Monday and Friday is essential for meeting with small businesses, employees, seniors, veterans, and other local communities during working hours. We will continue to accommodate Members with longer distances to travel home and provide at least one constituent work week each month, with the exception of June.
To make the most of our time in Washington, we will protect each morning for committees to conduct substantive work without interruption and limit floor votes to the afternoons, with the exception of appropriations work. Combined, these reforms have brought increased predictability to Members schedules and efficiency to the committees and floor.