News Home

By Mandy Zatynski
Statesville Record and Landmark

WASHINGTON — Rep. Virginia Foxx arrived at her fifth-floor office a little later than usual on Tuesday morning. She had good reason. She came from an appointment, where she learned she would have to undergo surgery to repair the wrist she broke when she tripped on the sidewalk last week.

But to her, it was more of a nuisance. At almost 9:30 a.m., Foxx, R-N.C. 5th, was two hours later than her typical arrival and had a committee meeting in one hour. Outside her office, two students sat, waiting for their scheduled meeting with the representative. The two rising high school seniors that stopped by her office Tuesday morning expressed concerns about federal TRIO programs, an education outreach initiative.

They didn’t think Foxx supported them because she had called for more accountability in those programs. It didn’t help that the proposed House budget freezes funding for TRIO.

“I’ve always been in support,” Foxx said, explaining that she requested more accountability so it would be easier to justify the importance of the program.

Just in case her support faltered, one of the students emphasized how the TRIO’s Upward Bound program helped her succeed. As one of 10 siblings, she was the first of her family to take advanced placement courses and make college plans.

Meeting with constituents, young and old, is something Foxx takes to heart. She personally responds to her e-mails and letters, which often keeps her in the office past midnight, she said.

“What motivates me is getting results for constituents. It’s the encouragement to keep working,” she said. “I know we can get things done.”

As the daughter of parents who never went to high school, Foxx, 62, said it is her way of giving back — a simple thanks for the opportunities she’s had.

“It never occurred to me when I was growing up that I could be in Congress,” she said. “For me to be here is a testament to the system. I can’t think of any country in the world where someone with my background could be a member of Congress. So it’s important we maintain the system because it provides these opportunities to people.”

As Foxx left her office, headed to the Education and Workforce Committee meeting, a staff member reminded her that another group of students was scheduled to arrive in about 30 minutes.

Because constituents schedule months in advance and committee meetings often are not finalized until just days before, Foxx’s appointments often conflict. In those cases, she just slides into the hall, meets her visitors for a few moments and returns to work.

She squeezes as much work as possible into every minute, her spokeswoman Amy Auth said.

During House votes, when members are allowed 15 minutes to cast their vote in case they’re running late, Foxx sneaks into the back Cloak Room, where she can return phone calls and e-mails, in those few extra minutes, Auth said.

On Tuesday morning though, Foxx had one too many unexpected conflicts. The education committee – where she ducked under her desk at one point to take a call – recessed, so members could return to the floor of the House chamber to vote on a bill for emergency military funding.

The second group of students, who won an essay contest, was waiting in the hallway.

“Where are you going next? What time to you have to be there?” Foxx asked the students.

They had less than 30 minutes, but Foxx said, “Come on,” and moved toward the stairs with the students trailing behind.

During the tram ride through underground tunnels – although Foxx said she tries to walk outside as much as possible – to the House chamber, those students also tapped their representative for opinions – this time, about immigration.

“… They should go home and get in line to be a citizen,” she told them.

With time running out – both for the students and Foxx, who had to be in the House chamber – she still wanted to make one more stop.

“Let’s go to the gallery,” she said, referring to the seating for special guests and tour groups above the House chamber that often requires waiting in line and walking through metal detectors.

When her legislative aide waffled and mentioned the time, she dismissed it – and even gathered for a group picture before she got everybody up one floor and inside.

“She’s spunky. She’s very spunky,” one student told her classmates.

Foxx briefed the students on the House chamber before they scurried to their next appointment and she rushed downstairs to vote – which she did, in favor of a $94.5 billion measure that funds military operations and hurricane recovery.

When other House members moved on to other business, Foxx stuck around to give her one-minute speech. It is time afforded to members to talk about whatever they wish, although parties tend to unite the themes of their messages.

She praised the passage of the emergency funding measure, which she said showed the representatives’ fiscal discipline.

A persistent speaker and often-seen congresswoman on the floor, Foxx is among those who have given the most one-minute speeches, spokeswoman Auth said.

“It’s a contribution I can make to our conference – to help promote issues we’re concerned about,” Foxx said. “As a freshman member … it’s an important way for me to be a part of the team.”

Freshman or not, she carries herself like a pro – moving from one committee meeting to the next, all the while addressing constituents’ and her colleague’s needs in between.

Not much slows her down.

She laughed when she recalled the time when protesters crowded the steps of the Cannon Building, where her office is located. In order to by-pass the protesters and get to the Capitol Building in time to vote, Foxx leaped off the nearly 5-foot side ledge.

So the broken wrist just is something extra to carry around, despite Auth’s concerns about scheduling particular events that might require her to use it.

“I have my right arm,” Foxx told her, matter of factly, swinging it in the air.