Navigating the US Congress

The US Congress consists of two houses – the US Senate (100 members) and the US House of Representatives (435 members). Briefly, Congress is responsible for writing, debating and passing legislation as directed by the US Constitution and then sending it to the President to be signed into law or vetoed. Every regular Congressional Session begins early in an odd-numbered year and ends at the end of the subsequent even-numbered year. (For example, the 112th Congress began in January, 2011.) Thus, any bills not acted on by the end of the second year “die” and must be re-introduced at the beginning of the new session.  Every state has 2 Senators while Representatives in the House are based on population. For much more information visit: www.house.gov or www.senate.gov.

In addition to 2 US Senators, North Carolina currently has 13 Representatives.   They are:

  • Senator Richard Burr  (R )
  • Senator Janet Hagan  (D)
  • Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D)         Dist.  1          
  • Rep. Renee Elmer (R)             Dist.  2
  • Rep. Walter Jones (R )            Dist.  3
  • Rep. David Price (D)                Dist.  4
  • Rep. Virginia Foxx (R )            Dist.  5
  • Rep.  Howard Coble (R )          Dist.  6
  • Rep.  Mike McIntyre (D)           Dist.  7
  • Rep.  Larry Kissel (D)              Dist.  8
  • Rep.  Sue Myrick (R )              Dist.  9
  • Rep.  Patrick McHenry (R )      Dist. 10
  • Rep.  Health Shuler (D)            Dist. 11
  • Rep.  Melvin Watt (D)               Dist. 12
  • Rep.  Brad Miller (D)                 Dist. 13

To see a map of the current NC Congressional Districts, go to:

Current NC Congressional Districts Map

US Senators are elected for 6-year terms, while US Representatives are elected to 2-year terms. They are usually elected in even-numbered years.

Please note that the Congressional Districts will be changing in 2012. (Congressional districts are reviewed and, if needed, modified every 10 years based on US Census reports on population changes.)

Senators and Congressmen are easily accessed at their websites:

www.burr.senate.gov                        www.hagan.senate.gov              

www.butterfield.house.gov                 www.coble.house.gov

www.elmer.house.gov                       www.foxx.house.gov

www.jones.house.gov                       www.kissell.house.gov                                

www.mchenry.house.gov                  www.mcintyre.house.gov                          

www.bradmiller.house.gov                 www.myrick.house.gov                                  

www.price.house.gov                        www.shuler.house.gov                                               

www.watt.house.gov   

If you are not sure who your Congressman is, check the map location listed above, or go to:

http://www.eatright.org/Members/content.aspx?id=8847 and click on Grassroots Manager.

The Grassroots Manager is an important tool available to ADA members.  It was developed to help members become advocates in nutrition and food policy.  It can tell you who your elected officials are as well as keep you updated on current issues related to nutrition and health before the Congress.  By simply following the steps to Take Action on Grassroots Manager, you can easily generate a personal letter to your Congressman or Senator that you can fax, email, or print out and mail.  Contact information is also listed if you need it.  Check it regularly for the latest sample letters and other updates.