POPVOX Foundation welcomes new fellows
POPVOX Foundation welcomes new fellows
POPVOX Foundation is honored to welcome two new fellows — Beatriz Rey and Lauren Kirk — who bring international and local perspectives on government innovation and civic engagement.
Recommendations for a more constituent-friendly Congress
Earlier this month, I had the top-of-the-bucket-list chance to testify at a House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress on constituent services, and building a more customer-friendly Congress (video and transcript available here). As a former caseworker, it meant so much to be asked to come to DC to talk about casework, and share a starting-point vision for how Congress can capture the potential inherent in casework, and the expertise and talents of caseworkers across the country. The hearing covered so much ground, and it still only managed to scratch the surface of what’s possible and needed to push casework into the 21st century.
Wrapping Up your Congressional Internship
As many summer internships enter their final weeks, now is a good time to start preparing for the transition, and to get the most out of your experience!
POPVOX FOUNDATION, FIRST BRANCH INTERN PROJECT HOST FIRST IN-PERSON “INTERNAPALOOZA”
The POPVOX Foundation and the organizations of the First Branch Intern Project hosted the first in-person “Internapalooza,” orientation and welcome event for the Summer class of Congressional interns, in collaboration with the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (aka “ModCom”), June 16-17, 2022.
Supporting the Capitol Hill community
In January 2021, we joined organizations across the partisan spectrum in the #CapitolStrong effort to recognize and support those who work in Congress in the aftermath of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. We hold those members of the Capitol Hill community in our thoughts today.
Fresh Eyes on Congressional Modernization
POPVOX Foundation research intern, Ian Chenoweth, is helping to launch a new “LegisTech”* series on legislative technology, with reviews and updates on new tools in use in the U.S. House of Representatives.
One of my first projects as a POPVOX Foundation summer intern was to research some of the new technology Congress has developed and deployed since the beginning of the pandemic. These include: the eHopper in the House of Representatives, Quill in both the House and Senate, and several others.
POPVOX Foundation welcomes Senior Fellow, Nicole Tisdale
POPVOX Foundation is pleased to welcome Nicole Tisdale as a senior fellow.
Nicole is the founder of Advocacy Blueprints, a training and consulting firm that empowers communities to create change. She recently served in the Biden Administration as a senior advisor for the National Security Council, leading the NSC’s legislative and oversight portfolios on cybersecurity, intelligence, disinformation, counterterrorism, election security, and foreign policy for the western hemisphere. She also served on the 2020 Biden Presidential Transition Team and has over a decade of experience working in Congress.
What to Expect in Your Congressional Internship
Getting ready to land in DC, but missed our pre-arrival webinar? No worries! We’ve rounded up some of the top tips and takeaways from the First Branch Intern Project’s May 21 “Know Before You Go” webinar to put your mind at ease.
Reporting on Earmarks: Resources for Journalists
The return of “earmarks” or Member-Directed Spending requests in 2021 was a significant change for the annual appropriations cycle. In this guide, we cover the basics of the reformed ‘earmark’ programs, including some common misconceptions, and examples of earmarks coverage from around the country.
House vs. Senate Earmark Accounts FY23
Last year, the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations announced the return of Member-Directed Spending, also known as “earmarks.” In the FY22 appropriations cycle, differences between the House and Senate processes, including mismatched eligible spending accounts, were some of the biggest unanswered questions of the reinstated process. This year, while there are still some discrepancies, the lists of eligible accounts in the House and Senate are very similar. We have provided a list below.
Earmarks word for FY23: “executability”
On March 31, POPVOX Foundation joined Bipartisan Policy Center and the Black Women’s Congressional Alliance to host a staff information-sharing session in collaboration with the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
Eligible Accounts for Earmark Funding
Eligible account descriptions and sample projects for FY22 Member Directed Spending (“earmarks”).
Three recommendations for modernizing district office operations
District office modernization presents an opportunity to improve the accuracy and speed of information provided to constituents about their rights and responsibilities with the Federal government. When problems do arise, a House-wide casework analytics and tagging system can provide the basis for active oversight or legislative action to improve the civic experience. Furthermore, the insights and perspectives of district staff are a largely untapped resource for institutional improvements and providing greater opportunities for connection, collaboration, and information-sharing could bring significant benefit for each of the 441 offices in the House.
POPVOX FOUNDATION, FIRST BRANCH INTERN PROJECT HOST SECOND “INTERNAPALOOZA”
The POPVOX Foundation and the organizations of the First Branch Intern Project hosted the second “Internapalooza,” in collaboration with the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (aka “ModCom”) on January 13-21st.
Statement on House “ModCom” recommendations to strengthen Legislative Branch capacity and effectiveness through collaboration, expertise, technology and data
We congratulate Chair Kilmer, Vice Chair Timmons, and all of the Members of the House Select Committee on Modernization on the approval of new recommendations to strengthen Legislative Branch capacity and effectiveness through collaboration, expertise, technology and data.
Leaving the Hill Part II: Landing on Your Feet
You’ve decided—for whatever reasons, and in whatever circumstances — that it is time to move on from Congress.
This article addresses the nuts and bolts of how to leave smart, what to expect when you do, and four steps in your transition.
POPVOX FOUNDATION, FIRST BRANCH INTERN PROJECT HOST “INTERNAPALOOZA”
The POPVOX Foundation and the organizations of the First Branch Intern Project hosted the first-ever “Internapalooza,” in collaboration with the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (aka “ModCom”) on September 9-10. Over 280 current and prospective interns attended virtual sessions designed to familiarize them with Congress and give them skills to succeed in their internship and beyond.
This National Intern Day: Announcing ‘Intern-a-Palooza!’
This National Intern Day, the POPVOX Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the Fall 2021 Intern Orientation, also known as Intern-a-Palooza! This two-day free orientation and welcome event for Congressional interns is hosted by the POPVOX Foundation and organizations involved in the First Branch Intern Project, in collaboration with the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. The event is intended to provide a warm welcome and words of advice to all Congressional interns—remote, DC, District, and prospective interns considering a future application—as they kick off their internships.
Statement on House “ModCom” first 20 recommendations of the 117th Congress
We congratulate Chair Kilmer, Vice Chair Timmons, and all of the Members of the House Select Committee on Modernization on the approval of the first 20 recommendations of the 117th Congress.
It’s Not Just Roads and Bridges: Our “Civic Infrastructure” is Crumbling, and Here’s How to Fix It
The signs of a broader decay in our public information ecosystem are everywhere: disappearing local news coverage, a lack of trust in our elections and political processes, lackluster government service delivery as illustrated with chaotic vaccine signup systems, rampant scams that make it difficult for the average American to tell legitimate government communications from phishing attacks. Our “civic infrastructure” is depleted, underfunded, and inadequate for a 21st-century democracy.