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Word on the Hill: Recess Wrap Up

Former vice presidential candidate’s birthday this weekend

Artist Kelsea Ballerini takes a selfie with Rep. Joseph Crowley in Los Angeles on Feb. 11. (Photo courtesy of the Recording Academy)
Artist Kelsea Ballerini takes a selfie with Rep. Joseph Crowley in Los Angeles on Feb. 11. (Photo courtesy of the Recording Academy)

Recess is coming to an end. Members did everything from hosting town halls to traveling overseas and attending CPAC.

One bipartisan group of music lovers kicked off recess a little early with a congressional briefing hosted by The Recording Academy on Feb. 11, during Grammy weekend in Los Angeles.

Reps. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., among others, joined music creators and 2017 Best New Artist nominee, Kelsea Ballerini, to #SupportMusic, an initiative to protect music creators.

The Recording Academy will be coming to D.C. for the annual, “GRAMMYs on the Hill” on April 5 and its Capitol Hill advocacy day on April 6.

Share with us at HOH@rollcall.com what you and your bosses did over recess and watch for further recess coverage.

Staffer shuffle

Sally Canfield is the ONE Campaign’s senior director of government relations. She is the former senior director for international government affairs for AbbVie, a pharmaceutical company, and was previously Sen. Marco Rubio’s deputy chief of staff.

Overheard

“Apparently the Second amendment protects feather dusters.”

— Sen. Ted Cruz at CPAC, criticizing the Fourth Circuit’s ruling on Maryland’s assault weapons ban.

“Let’s all give Congress a big kick in the seat of the pants.” 

— Heritage Foundation president and former GOP Sen. Jim DeMint at CPAC.

“We’re going to raise our hands like big boys and girls.”

-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, chiding a reporter for yelling a question when not called on during the daily press briefing.

“By tomorrow, this will be TPAC when he’s here, no doubt.”

— White House counselor Kellyanne Conway at CPAC, referring to President Donald Trump’s appearance there today.

Happy birthday to…

Saturday

Rep. Bill Flores, R-Texas, 63.

Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., 39.

Sunday

Former vice presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., 59.

What’s going on?

Have any tips, announcements or Hill happenings? Send them to AlexGangitano@cqrollcall.com

John Bennett, Bridget Bowman and Niels Lesniewski contributed to this report.

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