Brownley was all smiles after learning she got the first pick of vacant House building offices among freshman members.
From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the new members and their aides shuffled through the halls of Cannon and Longworth, knocking on doors to peer into offices that were still occupied either by departing lawmakers or members moving into better accommodations.
Back in the Appropriations hearing room for room selection, most of the incoming lawmakers and their aides remained huddled together up until the moment their names were called, going over floor plans and notes.
Rep.-elect Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., who drew No. 59, said he had four or five office locations picked out that he figured would still be around by the time it was his turn to decide.
But there are always surprises. Rep.-elect Ted Yoho, R-Fla., picked No. 22, which earned him his desired out-of-the-way fifth floor Cannon office that had a balcony. “We’re going to barbecue out there,” he joked.
Brownley’s No. 1 pick was 1019 Longworth, which at 1,045 square feet was among the largest rooms available and would allow her to hire lots of interns, she said.
No. 69, Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., picked the last available room, 427 Cannon.
No. 70, Steve Daines, R-Mont., has to wait a while longer to figure out where he’ll be setting up shop: Depending on who loses the runoff election next week between Louisiana Republican Reps. Jeff Landry and Charles Boustany Jr., he’ll get 206 Cannon or 1431 Longworth.
Rep. Bill Cassidy has his blood drawn by Alesha Barbour during a free hepatitis screening in the Rayburn House Office Building hosted by the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus to recognize "National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day."
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