On Friday, the House and Senate released their 2013 calendars for the 113th Congress. All members of Congress will convene on January 3, 2013. The session will begin with the swearing-in of newly elected members, including three new members from Washington State.
In order to make the best use of your time when you come to Washington DC – we would urge you to look at the Congressional schedules to make sure that your Member of Congress will be here when you come visit.
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to meet for 126 days over the next calendar year. House lawmakers will have at least one “constituent work week” each month that will allow them to spend valuable time in their districts. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) highlighted that “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.”
You can find out more about the House and the 2013 calendar here.
The Senate will follow a slightly different schedule, meeting for longer periods of time in Washington DC throughout January and June. Members will have “State Work Periods”, scheduled around federal and religious holidays. During these times, we expect Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to be actively meeting with constituents throughout Washington State.
You can find out more about the Senate and the 2013 calendar here.