WASHINGTON — She hasn’t even been sworn in yet, but Congresswoman-Elect Tulsi Gabbard is already trying to get comfortable in Congress.
This week is orientation for newly elected members, so Gabbard and dozens of her soon-to-be colleagues — all members of the class of the 113th Congress — are getting an introduction on what they can expect when they join the ranks of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Everything from figuring out where to go in the building to very important and in-depth briefings on ethics,” Gabbard said Thursday when asked what she’s been told so far.
“I’m taking every opportunity to meet both with our Democratic colleagues, our fellow new member-elects, as well as on the Republican side, so there have been a number of occasions to introduce ourselves to each other and get to know each other,” she said. “What I have found very refreshing and exciting has been how happy everyone is to be here, how ready everyone is to get to work, and really come in with a new approach to getting things done and working together.”
During the interview — in a hallway in the recesses of the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center here — former Speaker and current Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi walked by and said hello. She thanked Gabbard for making remarks at a dinner at Statuary Hall in the Capitol.
The 113th Congress will be the most diverse in the nation’s history, but Gabbard, who grew up in Hawaii, said “it’s not anything that we’re not accustomed to.”
Wearing a trademark red blazer that she wore in the class photo taken Thursday morning, Gabbard said the group shot shows “we still have a lot of diversity to bring to the Congress.”
She was flanked during the interview by Amy Asselbaye, who will serve as her Hawaii-based chief of staff. (Gabbard hasn’t yet picked a Washington chief, she said.)
Asselbaye’s name should be a familiar one to close watchers of Hawaii politics. She worked for then-U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie for nearly two decades, rising to be his chief of staff. She had been primarily in his Hawaii office for most of the last decade, and then helped run Abercrombie’s campaign for governor. After he won, Asselbaye served as his first chief of staff in the Hawaii Capitol before being ousted about a year ago.
Asselbaye isn’t Gabbard’s only Abercrombie connection.
Abercrombie himself was traveling on the East Coast this week, leaving Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz in charge. The itinerary included a sit-down with Pelosi, his old boss, as well as meetings with the Council of Governors and members of the Armed Services Committee “to discuss the current and future status of Hawaii’s military forces,” according to his administration.
He made time to headline a $1,500-per-person breakfast fundraiser on Gabbard’s behalf Wednesday morning. She explained Thursday that the event was held to help her recoup the money she spent during her matchup against Mufi Hannemann.
“I have primary debt, so I’m trying to get some help to recover my primary debt,” she said. “I sold a whole bunch of stuff and loaned and credit cards and anything that I could do.”
Gabbard said she’s had “very full, very productive days” this week in Washington that included a surprise visit from Vice President Joe Biden and a late-night candlelight tour of the Capitol by Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer.
“It was actually very inspiring from him as well as the tour guides the history of this place, and who came before us and what they accomplished,” she said. “Even after all these years, there was so much passion and excitement in their voice as we walked through the Capitol.”
Gabbard hasn’t picked an office yet — a lottery for new members will be held later this month — and has not yet chosen a place to live, but knows she will not be sleeping in her office. She returns to Hawaii Saturday and will be back in Washington after Thanksgiving.
