Various long-term care operators around the country are taking advantage of the July 4 holiday weekend to line up visits for their respective lawmakers.

Provider associations and lobbyists continually urge providers to invite their government representatives to visit, to see quality care up close. The July 4 weekend — among other times lawmakers are in their home districts rather than Washington — is an especially good time to set up or host visits.

The Senate is off from today through Tuesday, while the House is already a day into its break and returns to work Tuesday. Both chambers then will be in summer recess from July 16-Sept. 5.