Rep. Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-S.C.) didn’t waste any time in the new year to disclose that the current 111th Congress would be his last.

Brown’s announcement Monday is a reminder that January in an election year is a popular month for members of Congress to disclose retirement plans. By that point they will have discussed their future plans with family members and close friends over the December holiday season.

In the 2007-08 cycle, seven House members (all Republicans) announced their retirements in January 2008, more than in any other month. They were Reps. John E. Peterson (Pa.), John Doolittle (Calif.), James Walsh (N.Y.), Dave Weldon (Fla.), Ron Lewis (Ky.), Kenny Hulshof (Mo.) and Thomas M. Davis III (Va.)