On near permanent vacation. They are on Christmas break from late October until at least late January. Then they mill around Washington until Martin Luther King day, when they take another break until after President's Day. Then they come back to Washington, where they mill about some more until a week or so before Easter. They come back about a week or so after Easter and, you guessed it, mill about again until about a week or two before Memorial Day, when they are off until about a week or two after Memorial Day.
And so it goes for each holiday, and for the summer break. In election years (every other year for House members), they go home to campaign as often as possible, and adjourn for the Christmas/New Year's break as early as possible — late September if they can manage it.
The damage they do to the rest of us is done in between vacations.
Henry Hyde's committee is investigating and hearings begin next week.