Capitol Hill staffers have so many responsibilities. They field calls from constituents. They manage a Member’s busy schedule.
And in one Senate office, they clean the fish tank.
We hear that each week, staffers in Sen. Daniel Inouye’s office have the job of scrubbing a giant fish tank set up in the Hawaii Democrat’s quarters in the Hart Senate Office Building.
While many lawmakers pay tribute to their state with a flag or photos, Inouye gets more real and shows off wildlife from the Aloha State.
The saltwater aquarium, on loan from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is home to traditional Hawaiian reef fish and other aquatic life, according to Inouye spokesman Peter Boylan.
“The fish tank is cleaned by staff, and every three weeks NOAA marine biologist Joseph Farmer comes in to inspect, clean and tend to the fish, as per the agreement between the office and NOAA,” Boylan tells HOH.
Talk about going the extra mile at the office. At least the staffers can add a new skill to their résumés.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson appears at the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church on M Street Northwest for a pre-rally before a march to the White House to protest what is seen as President Barack Obama's lack of action in addressing a variety of problems in black communities.
Roll Call has launched a new feature, Hill Navigator, to advise congressional staffers and would-be staffers on how to manage workplace issues on Capitol Hill. Please send us your questions — anything from office etiquette, to handling awkward moments, to what happens when the work life gets too personal. Submissions will be treated anonymously.
