Q: What should I visit when I come to Washington D.C.?
A: A visit to Washington D.C. is a once in a lifetime experience. Washington D.C. is our nation’s capital, the seat of our federal government, and home to many cherished memorials and historical relics. Millions of Americans and thousands of Iowans visit Washington each year. Some of the most popular sights center around the function of government including the Capitol Building and the White House. The National Mall is also popular with the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. Just across the Tidal Basin you can find the Jefferson Memorial. The Tidal Basin itself becomes an attraction each spring when the cherry blossoms bloom and the annual Cherry Blossom Festival begins. The Smithsonian museums that line our National Mall provide an educational experience unlike any other. These museums hold millions of artifacts important to our history and culture. Some of the most famous exhibits include the original Star Spangled Banner Flag, the Hope Diamond, and the collections at National Art Gallery. Both the Natural History Museum and the Air and Space Museum are popular with children. Other than the memorials on the National Mall and the Smithsonian museums, visitors often pay their respects to the brave men and women of our military buried at Arlington National Cemetery. These are just a few of the hundreds of attractions located in Washington D.C. For more information, contact my office and request a “Welcome to Washington” booklet.
Q: What does your office do for Iowans visiting Washington, DC?
A: As part of my constituent services, my office provides tours of the Capitol building every weekday at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The tour includes passes to the visitor’s galleries in the chambers of the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, so Iowans can witness the legislative debates and votes. My office also arranges tours of the White House, Kennedy Center, Bureau of Engraving and National Cathedral. The White House requires security information for each visitor and is often one of the first tours to fill up. There are a limited number of tickets for each of these destinations, so notifying my office as far in advance as possible will increase the likelihood of securing tours. I also schedule appointments with Iowans who are in Washington. Each day that the Senate is in session, I reserve the time from 3 to 5 p.m. for constituent meetings. I look forward to talking with student groups, families and advocates from Iowa each afternoon. To book tours or schedule an appointment with me, please visit my website, www.grassley.senate.gov and click Constituent Services then Scheduling Requests. I look forward to hearing from you and working to help make your visit to D.C. a memorable one.