An orientation program for newly elected members of the U.S. House has been an eye-opening experience for Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta.

With the first three days of the weeklong program packed with conferences and receptions, the 11th District congressman-elect realizes he has a lot to learn.

“It’s been like taking a drink of water out of a fire hose,” Barletta said during a late Wednesday phone interview. “That’s how much information they’ve been pouring on us here.”

Since Monday, Barletta said he and about 86 other newly elected Congress members had their schedules packed with conferences on just about every aspect of the post.

Sessions focused on ethics, how new members can establish offices in Washington and throughout their respective districts, payroll, hiring policies and budgeting.

On Wednesday, the freshman class of congressional members was taken to the floor of the Capitol and learned about voting cards and related procedures.

Meetings ran throughout the day, which typically started around 7:30 a.m. On Wednesday, for example, Barletta’s day ended at 10:15 p.m. with a reception.

“You name it – every aspect of what we’re going to experience here in Congress – they’ve had conferences on it,” Barletta said. “It’s so much (information) that it’s impossible for everybody to actually comprehend everything. It was quite an experience. This has been the largest class, I believe, in 70 years.”