Ten retiring senators and representatives: Here’s what would surprise Americans about Congress.

Something that I find interesting but concerning is that there are so many members of Congress who sought the office for the purpose of notoriety and celebrity, as opposed to being guided by principles and by the purpose of making sure this government is working for everybody.

We just have a lot more performative folks hanging out here than we do purpose-driven people. Constituents hear the message that the member of Congress is crafting for them to hear; but I watch the work that they do (or do not do) that may relate to the issues that they’re talking about.

I also think many Americans would be so surprised to know that there are so many people who don’t agree with what the president is doing but don’t have the courage to speak up and to speak out on behalf of the needs of their constituents.

Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman represents New Jersey’s 12th District. (As told to Anusha Mathur of NOTUS Perspectives.)

One thing that might surprise people is how much of the work we do in Congress starts with conversations back home. Some of the most meaningful legislation I’ve introduced came from constituents who walked into my office and shared their stories. Whether it’s a veteran fighting for better care, a family impacted by Alzheimer’s, small business owners trying to grow or advocates working to protect animals, those conversations matter. That’s what inspired legislation like the ASAP Act to expand early Alzheimer’s detection, the Thin Blue Line Act to protect law enforcement, the American Innovation Act to support entrepreneurs and the SAFE Act to end horse slaughter. At the end of the day, good policy starts with listening, and the voices of my constituents have shaped everything I’ve done in Congress.

Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan represents Florida’s 16th District.

There’s a big misconception about some of the financial benefits of being in the House of Representatives. I serve on Appropriations and lots of people have told me: Oh, you get a percentage of everything you appropriate, don’t you? I’ve had numerous people tell me that they believe that once you’re elected, you get a congressman’s salary for the rest of your life, which is not the case. And the pay — I can’t complain because it’s not terrible pay, but it’s certainly not what a lot of people believe it to be.

So I guess what would surprise people is the motivation of why we do it. The vast majority of members of Congress are working as hard as they can behind the scenes, doing things that they believe in, trying to improve our country and the life of the American people. There are really good people, on both sides of the aisle — Republicans and Democrats.

We don’t get paid nearly enough to endure some of the things that we have to go through. The campaigns themselves are a lot of work. They truly are. The congressional calendar is: early in the morning till late at night, committee hearings and votes and meetings and travel.

You’ve got really talented individuals here, whether it’s sports or music or engineers or doctors or attorneys or even farmers. There’s a lot of people who are really good at whatever it is they do in their regular life, and I just appreciate the fact that many of them give up that life in order to serve their country.

Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse represents Washington’s 4th District. (As told to Anusha Mathur of NOTUS Perspectives.)

There’s actually more bipartisanship than most people realize. It’s the two extremes where a lot of the problems come from. Most members of Congress — Democrats and Republicans — come to D.C., they want to get their work done, and then they want to go home to their districts. And they get along pretty well. But most Americans don’t know about this because you never hear about the successes. All you hear about are the failures.

Republican Rep. Sam Graves represents Missouri’s 6th District. (As told to Anusha Mathur of NOTUS Perspectives.)

I didn’t expect to see one whole party give up its constitutional authority, established in Article I, in the unconditional service of an authoritarian president. This is so unpatriotic and disappointing.

Democratic Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García represents Illinois’ 4th District.

Congress is not always the toxic and polarizing place that Americans might believe it to be. Behind the scenes, there are still Republicans and Democrats working together to pass legislation that is making a difference in communities across America.

Unfortunately, the American people typically don’t hear about the bipartisan progress we’re making. That’s because too often, the loudest, most vitriolic voices get the headlines today. But that’s never been what success looks like to me.

My focus has always been on getting things done in Congress, and to do that, you need support from lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. That’s why I’ve prioritized forming relationships with all of my colleagues. When you have real conversations, you build trust and find common ground on issues that our constituents care about.

This approach helped me to be recognized as the most effective senator by the Center for Effective Lawmaking three Congresses in a row. I was also proud to pass more bills into law in the 117th Congress than any senator in more than 40 years. With faith in our democratic institutions at an all-time low, I want Americans to know there are still folks who care more about making progress than making headlines.

Democratic Sen. Gary Peters represents Michigan.

I’ve been a member of Congress for nearly six years. What I’ve discovered is that there is no lack of self-confidence here in Washington. Everyone has the answers to the ills of our country, but the answers vary, and they’re all different. That’s why very little can get done.

Republican Rep. Troy E. Nehls represents Texas’ 22nd District.

I think most Americans would be surprised to find that Congress isn’t all yelling and finger-pointing. When the mics and cameras turn off, we actually can hold civil discussions across the aisle.

Another lesson that may seem obvious, but feels overwhelming in person, is just how much history exists in every crevice of this institution. I’m reminded of this every time a visitor to my office sits across from my desk in a chair that once belonged to Gerald Ford, for whom my father worked. There’s nothing particularly remarkable about the chair — it serves the same function in my office that it did in President Ford’s — but it’s an example of the history present in every room and in every act of Congress. I don’t think many people fully appreciate how historic our government truly is. We have perhaps the oldest democracy in the world; it is something to value and protect with tender care.

These two lessons are deeply intertwined. Our ability to maintain civility is what has allowed Congress to endure and build such a rich history. I am honored to have played a role in it, and I leave confident in passing the torch to the next generation of leaders who will continue to defend and preserve our democracy.

Republican Rep. Neal P. Dunn represents Florida’s 2nd District.

I’m sitting in my office right now and I can picture it: times when members, both Republicans and Democrats, would come here and we’d have conversations about what we were interested in. Sometimes, it would be things we didn’t agree on, but it was easy for us to meet and talk.

For most of my time in the Congress, we were able to work together and get things done. And it was, by and large, really pleasant to be able to work with our colleagues. Now, it’s so different. The hostility that is there, so loud and clear from Trump himself and his buddies, makes it much more difficult to work together. In fact, I would say it’s almost impossible to just work together now.

So I think we’re heading into a new phase, and I think regardless of whether it’s the Republicans or the Democrats, I think there’s going to be more working together than there has been recently, and that things are going to be improved — and I sure hope so for the new members. I believe that it is going to happen.

Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky represents Illinois’ 9th District. (As told to Anusha Mathur of NOTUS Perspectives.)

The Senate still has brass spittoons on the Senate floor — thank God no one uses them.

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin represents Illinois.