The Congress of the United States represents the legislative branch of the federal government. It consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

U.S. Senators

The United States Senate is composed of two Senators from each state, each of whom serves for a term of six years. Originally, according to the Constitution, they were to be chosen by the respective state legislatures. The 17th Amendment to the Constitution, adopted in 1913, changed that to provide that "Senators from each State" would be "elected by the people thereof".

Visit the U.S. Senate's web site.

Rick Santorum

• Elected 1994; term expires 2000.
• Washington, D.C. address/phone:
  • 120 Russell Building
  • Washington, DC 20510
  • 202-224-6324   Fax: 202-228-0604
• Local office/phone:
  • Widener Building
  • One South Penn Square, Suite 960
  • Philadelphia, PA 19107
  • 215-864-6900   Fax: 215-864-6910
• Due to spam problems, the Senator no longer has a direct email address; you have to use the form on his web site.
• World Wide Web: http://www.senate.gov/~santorum/
• Committees:
  • Armed Services
  • Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
  • Rules and Administration
  • Special Committee on Aging

Arlen Specter

• Elected 1980; term expires 2004.
• Washington, D.C. office/phone:
  • 711 Hart Building
  • Washington, D.C. 20510
  • 202-224-4254   Fax: 202-228-1229
• Local office/phone:
  • Federal Building, Roome 9456
  • 600 Arch St.
  • Philadelphia, PA 19106
  • 215-597-7200   Fax: 215-597-0406
• senator_specter@specter.senate.gov
• World Wide Web: http://www.senate.gov/~specter/
• Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Governmental Affairs
  • Judiciary
  • Veterans' Affairs (Chairman)

U.S. Representatives

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives serve for a term of two years. The number of members elected from each state is determined by the population of that state relative to the total population of the country, with the proviso that each state must be allocated at least one member. Within a state, "districts" of essentially equal-sized populations are assigned so that the people residing there may select their own representative.

Visit the U.S. House of Representatives' web site.

Curt Weldon - 7th District, Pennsylvania

• Member since 1/3/87; term expires 2000.
• Washington, D.C. address/phone:
  • 2452 Rayburn House Office Building
  • Washington, DC 20515
  • 202-225-2011   Fax: 202-225-8137
• Chester County office/phones:
  • 30 South Valley Road, Suite 212
  • Paoli, PA 19312
  • 610-640-9064   Fax: 215-596-4665
• curtpa07@mail.house.gov
• World Wide Web: http://www.house.gov/curtweldon/
• Congressional Committee Assignments:
  • House National Security Committee
    • Research and Development Subcommittee, Chairman
    • Readiness Subcommittee
    • Merchant Marine Panel
  • House Science Committee
    • Energy and Environment Subcommittee
    • Basic Research Subcommittee
  • Migratory Bird Conservation Commission
  • Republican Policy Committee

Joseph R. Pitts - 16th District, Pennsylvania

• Member since 1997; term expires 2000.
• Washington, D.C. address/phone:
  • 504 Cannon House Office Building
  • Washington, DC 20515-3816
  • 202-225-2411   Fax: 202-225-2013
• Chester County offices:
  • Kennett Square office/phones:
    • P.O. Box 837
    • Unionville, PA 19375
    • 610-444-4581 610-429-1540   Fax: 610-444-5750
  • Downingtown office/phones:
    • 36 W. Lancaster Ave.
    • Downingtown, PA 19335-0837
    • 610-518-5823   Fax: 610-518-5924
• pitts.pa16@mail.house.gov
• World Wide Web: http://www.house.gov/pitts/