[Renee Montagne:] This week in the U.S. Capitol, the House of Representatives takes up a bill to fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. That bill includes money to help public health officials monitor and prepare for a flu pandemic. The House will also be working on legislation you might not expect lawmakers to spend so much time on. NPR's Andrea Seabrook has the story.
[Andrea Seabrook:] The House actually does a lot more than you may hear about. Last week Congress took up these resolutions announced by the House clerks.
[Unidentified Man:] House Resolution 348, resolution congratulating the University of North Carolina men's basketball team.
[Unidentified Woman:] Resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Works Week.
[Unidentified Man:] The goals and ideals of National Charter Schools Week...
[Unidentified Woman:] ...Global Youth Service Days...
[Unidentified Man:] ...National Community College Month...
[Unidentified Woman:] ...Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month...
[Andrea Seabrook:] Oh, and don't forget this one.
[Unidentified Woman:] House Resolution 367: resolution of supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day.
[Andrea Seabrook:] That's right, National Train Day. It was Saturday, by the way.
[Representative Corrine Brown:] But we should celebrate train day every day.
[Andrea Seabrook:] Florida Democrat, Corrine Brown, a sponsor of the National Train Day Resolution. Now lots of lawmakers have favorite causes, usually linked to their districts. But you have to ask, why hold a vote about National Train Day? New York Democrat Louise Slaughter said she knows one reason.
[Representative Louise Slaughter:] Well, I know why we voted on National Train Day, we had to get supplemental budget tomorrow.
[Andrea Seabrook:] Did you get that? The House was voting on Train Day because a committee was considering the Supplemental Funding Bill. Sound like a nonsequitur? Well, it's not. See, the leadership in the House uses those commemorative resolutions to lure lawmakers into Washington, says Slaughter.
[Representative Louise Slaughter:] And it's always been the assumption here, that if you're not having legislative business that everybody will go home, everybody.
[Andrea Seabrook:] And if no one's in Washington, committees can't meet, parties can't caucus, all that business that goes on off the House floor doesn't happen. Of course, not everybody likes this system. Listen to Republican Scott Garrett of New Jersey.
[Representative Scott Garrett:] With all honesty, I would prefer to be back at home, in the district, going to my Rotary Club meeting, my business meeting, my constituent meeting in my office or something like that and then have a few more hours to do that, than to be down here voting on some of these not as important days.
[Andrea Seabrook:] Garrett says a lot of lawmakers get exasperated when they spend more time in a week congratulating sports teams than working on more important bills. Then again, not everyone thinks these resolutions are altogether unimportant. In fact, Oregon Democrat Earl Blumenauer had a change of heart about them.
[Representative Earl Blumenauer:] Before I came here, I was inclined, you know, oh well, this National Pickle Week or whatever, but as I'm here, as I've had a chance myself to offer up some of these elements, you appreciate that this is an important part of the process to a lot of people.
[Andrea Seabrook:] Blumenauer says when big business seems to be all about war and economic meltdown and flu pandemics, it's important for lawmakers to make some elbow room for the smaller things that are a part of American's lives, after all. So perhaps we should put away the snort and wish everyone a happy Train Day. Andrea Seabrook, NPR News, Washington.
[Renee Montagne:] This is NPR News.