The roommates work and live in Washington during the week and commute to their home states and families on weekends.

VOA: standard.2010.08.07

"My roommates were a source of great comfort and support to me during this time of great loss."

VOA: standard.2010.08.07

At the end of July, the roommates said goodbye, as they started summer recess and headed back to their home states to gear up for the fall re-election campaign.

VOA: standard.2010.08.07

All three roommates are up for reelection in the fall, but Melissa Bean says even if one or more of them were to lose, that would not affect their friendship.

VOA: standard.2010.08.07

Carolyn Maloney has grown children. Wasserman Schultz says the greatest bonus of having roommates is the friendship - and a warm environment to go back to at the end of the day.

VOA: standard.2010.08.07

So I looked for two roommates that were compatible and found Debbie Wasserman Shultz from Florida,from the South, and Melissa Bean from the West, from Illinois, and I am from the East,New York, so we are from different sections of the country, but we were all mothers and had been elected officials and have a great deal in common."

VOA: standard.2010.08.07