Research and Background

I hadn't realized how much research a United States Congressman does until the other day. Obviously knowing as much as one can about issues that come to the office is important and the best way to be 'up to speed' on any issue, is to research it.

Luckily there is a resource available to all Members and their staff that is probably the best of it's kind in the world. That is the Library of Congress and it's very talented staff. The other day I was fortunate to be invited to attend a briefing from one of it's Librarians in the Congressional Research Service on how to access resources and services as well as to learn about the Congressional Quarterly.

The Congressional Quarterly is the largest reporting service on Capitol Hill. Known as an objective and politically unbiased source of news and reporting, the CQ, as it's known around the Capitol, is an indispensable tool in conducting research on the issues that come before Congress.

In the coming weeks and months I will be using the CQ and other Library of Congress resources for research and background information for the office. As I learn more, I will report on the extensive efforts that go into research and information gathering for Members of Congress.