It’s Tuesday. That means it’s time for another Take Five, HOH’s weekly chance to get to know a member of Congress a little better by asking five fun questions relatively unrelated to their legislative work. This week, freshman Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., a former journalist, talks about his favorite book and shares with us some advice that he received from his parents while growing up.

Q: Which is more fun — being a member of Congress or being a TV reporter?

Q: If you had to choose: Florida weather or Washington weather?
A: Really!? You do realize I live in Southwest Florida, home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, right?

Q: What’s your all-time favorite book — and why?
A: Barry Goldwater’s “The Conscience of a Conservative.” It strikes me that more than 50 years after the publication of this seminal piece of conservative literature, as a party and a nation, we still have much to learn from the book.

Q: What’s your favorite vacation spot outside Florida?
A: Cartagena, Colombia.

Q: What was one piece of inspirational advice you received growing up?
A: I have two pieces of advice from each of my parents that have stuck with me throughout my life. First, my father taught me I can achieve anything if I believe in myself.

Second, when I was young, I dropped a penny on the ground and, as a little punk, I walked away from it. My mother scolded me. In that moment, I learned the value of money and have taken this approach with me to Congress. This has guided me in deciding how to wisely spend the money taxpayers have worked hard for and sacrificed to send to Washington.