What Congress Did on Their Summer Vacation
See what House and Senate members did on their time away from D.C.
— -- It's back to Washington D.C. for Congress. Fresh from their summer vacations, members of the House and Senate have a heavily packed agenda ahead of them.
For five weeks, Congress was out of session and free to return home, however their vacation was still a working vacation.
But here's a snippet of what Congress was up to while they were away from the Capitol.
Braved a New Diet
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker challenged himself to go 10 days without added sugar, bread, pasta and other carb filled foods. Sen. Booker started August 3 and blew well past the 10-day mark, nearly going all month.
“My sugar cravings have all but subsided and I've done away with my late night eating,” Sen. Booker wrote in a post on Instagram. “I so appreciate all the encouragement I've been receiving from folks on this platform and love reading about the experiences of others on the same journey.”
Got in Touch with Nature
Calling it a “hiking town hall,” Rep. Eric Swalwell of California and his constituents got some exercise while talking politics along the Sycamore Grove Park's Regional Trail.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-New Hampshire, and her daughter sought out some adventures. The two zip-lined at Gunstock ski resort in New Hampshire.
Sen. Susan Collins took advantage of Maine's peak blueberry picking season. Wild blueberries are Maine's official state fruit.
Democratic Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota went double kayaking along the Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis.
Double kayaking on Lake of the isles, Calhoun and Cedar is a blast. pic.twitter.com/iHflSWzbIT
— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) August 31, 2015
Rep. Jason Chaffetz snapped this picture of a sunset over his home state of Utah.
It was a Portman family outing to the Edge of Appalachia. Republican Senator Rob Portman brought his family to hike on the edge of his homestate of Ohio.
It wasn't all sunshine and beaches for everyone. Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski spent her Labor Day weekend with the U.S. Coast Guard aboard one of the National Security Cutters.
Traveled to Israel
To prepare themselves for key votes on the Iran nuclear deal this fall, nearly 100 representatives, Democratic and Republican took a trip to Israel.
Republican lawmakers Mimi Walters, Garret Graves and Patrick McHenry all went for a morning run in Jerusalem with the Dome of the Rock in the backdrop.
Prepped for Fall
It seems some want Fall to come quick. Rep. Paul Ryan, a huge Green Bay Packers fan, tweeted this picture.
Attended State Fairs
The Iowa State Fair was a big attraction this summer for politicians, and presidential hopefuls. The fair this year attracted 1 million people over 11 days.
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley posed for a picture in front of the butter cow.
And Iowan representative Steve King ate fried butter - just one of the many fried foods sold the fair.
Celebrity Run-In
Chuck Schumer ran into one of the lead singers of Blue Oyster Cult -- the band known for the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" and the basis for one very unforgettable SNL skit.
Welcomed a New Member To the Family
This adorable baby is Sen. Jeff Flake's grandson, who seems to be following in his grandfather's footsteps.
Made a Random Purchase
Hawaiian Sen. Brian Schatz might have made an impulse buy. The senator tweeted a picture of a life-size cardboard cutout of Michael Jordan riding in his back seat.
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