Word on the Hill: It’s Recess

By Alex Gangitano

Posted February 21, 2017 at 5:00am

Welcome back from the long weekend and happy recess.

How has the 115th Congress affected you so far? We found out in a survey that staffers are sleepier than the were in the last one, and now we want to hear anecdotes about how 2017 is treating you.

Reach out to us to participate at HOH@rollcall.com.

Happening this week …

There are a couple of events happening this week to keep you occupied while you have a lighter schedule. Check back with us daily for additions.

ThursdayNeal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and founder of the Barnard Medical Center, is speaking at the Library of Congress at noon. The event is free, open to the public and a great way to learn about staying healthy this year. It’s part of the LOC’s Office of Health Services and the Library of Congress Professional Association’s “Living Well Brown Bag Series.”

Happy Hour with House Republican Leadership communicators and the Capitol Hill Press Corps at Barrel 613 Pennsylvania Ave. SE at 6 p.m. This event is closed and invite-only.

Overheard

“Clearly, this is not one of those bipartisan, kumbaya moments.”

— Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at a press conference on Friday.

“I’m an old naval flight officer. I’m an old governor. I must be really old.”

— Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., at a press conference on EPA head Scott Pruitt on Friday.

“I’m just trying to stay awake.”

— Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., spotted walking somewhat aimlessly in the Senate basement on Friday, noting that he presided over parts of the late night session.

“It’s a helluva lot better than the campaign.”

— Kennedy commenting on recent Senate tensions.

Burn

What if Senate Ds pulled an all night talkathon to delay confirmation of one of the President’s cabinet picks and nobody noticed? They did.

— JohnCornyn (@JohnCornyn) February 17, 2017

ICYMI: What happened on the Hill last week

The week of Valentine’s Day on the Hill saw senators gushing over actor Ashton Kutcher as he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as lawmakers and staffers playing with puppies and kittens up for adoption. Watch the video.