Letter from Congressman McIntyre

  • Dear Young Person,

    Thank you for your interest in my responsibilities as your Congressman. As the son of a city councilman who was active in local and the state political campaigns, and having been student body president of my high school, I developed a keen interest in politics and public service. As a high school student, I was selected to participate in Washington Workshops, a program designed to educate students about our federal government, and I also served as an intern for U.S. Congressman Charlie Rose, my predecessor. After high school, I was fortunate enough to be accepted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar, where I received my undergraduate degree in political science and later my law degree. These seven years prepared me for practicing law in my hometown of Lumberton for the next 15 years.

    One of the best things about being a Congressman is that I meet new people every day. I usually have many meetings with people who are concerned about certain issues. They come to my office to express their concerns and discuss possible solutions to the problems that face our country. Meeting with citizens helps me understand what the residents of the Seventh Congressional District and North Carolina think about a particular matter so that I best know their concerns prior to voting on an issue.

    In addition, I discuss the problems of our country with other representatives in meetings and on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Each Member of Congress serves on different committees which study and review specific issues in-depth. The committees report their findings to the rest of the House of Representatives so that we will all be well-informed. I am a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on the Armed Services. I also serve as the Co-Chairman of three different groups, the Rural Health Care Coalition, the Congressional Task Force on Fatherhood, and the Democratic Task Force on Children.

    Members of Congress also propose solutions to issues called "bills." In the House, representatives make speeches to express what the people of their district believe about an issue. After we debate the bills, we will vote on them. If a bill receives a majority of votes, it is sent to the Senate. A bill must pass both the House and the Senate before it is sent to the President. Once the president signs the bill, it becomes law.

    When Congress is in session, I travel to North Carolina almost every weekend to visit with my family, and the people of our district. I visit schools, churches, and other organizations to listen to the concerns of North Carolinians. This allows me the opportunity to hear directly from my constituents and make decisions that best represent the views of the Seventh District.

    I hope this letter helps you to better understand more about my job and how our federal government works. Please contact my office if you or your class come to Washington. I would be very happy to meet with you, and I am sure you would enjoy seeing our government at work in the U.S. Capitol. Please keep me in your prayers that we in Congress may have wisdom to do what is best for America.

    Sincerely,

    Mike McIntyre
    Member of Congress

     

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