Future-Proofing Congress
Welcome to the inaugural edition of POPVOX Foundation’s “Future-Proofing Congress,” a new monthly newsletter created for the busy Congressional staffer to keep you updated (and inspired!) about operational improvements and new resources on and off the Hill to make your job easier. Taking its cue from the new Future-Proofing Congress report, the newsletter will emphasize new tech tools, professional development opportunities, and constituent engagement initiatives.
What’s in the name “future-proofing?” Much of the work of the past five years — especially in the House — has happened under the banner of “modernization.” The Future-Proofing Congress report acknowledges those efforts and emphasizes that “modern” is not a destination to be reached, but an approach to be embraced to ensure that Congress continues to experiment, learn, and continuously improve to better serve constituents and keep pace with a rapidly changing world. This is even more important in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the Chevron doctrine. As our Executive Director Marci Harris wrote in our announcement post: “Congress must capitalize on this capacity-building renaissance so it can exercise its Article One responsibilities.”
In this month’s edition, we’re covering:
The HIRO Provides Support for Congressional Interns
Capacity Corner: Chevron Changes 101 — What it Means for Your Job Now
The Latest on AI on Capitol Hill
Sample AI Prompts to Integrate GenAI into Your Workflows
Security Tip of the Month
The Comparative View: Inspiration from Parliaments Around the World
Stay in the Game (self-care tips to prevent burnout)
We are always here for questions, comments, and suggestions. Feel free to reach out by replying to this email. And if you find the newsletter useful, we’d appreciate it if you forwarded it to a colleague. (Thanks in advance for doing that!)
Warmly,
Aubrey Wilson
Director of Government Innovation
Taylor J. Swift
Director of Government Capacity
About POPVOX Foundation
POPVOX Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to inform and empower people and make government work better for everyone. POPVOX Foundation is focused on ensuring that democratic institutions are equipped to address the “pacing problem” — the gap between emerging technologies and governance.
The HIRO Provides Support for Congressional Interns
By supporting core services and serving as a talent pipeline, interns are crucial to the House's functioning. However, Congress lacked a dedicated office to oversee internship onboarding, best practice guidance, and networking events. In response, ModCom hosted discussions and hearings in 2021 and 2022, leading to recommendations for a dedicated internship office. House appropriators took this recommendation – along with outside civil society advocacy – seriously and authored a feasibility study in FY22 and then allocated $350,000 in FY23 for the creation of such an office.
As a result, the House Intern Resource Office (HIRO) launched online in 2023, with its web portal receiving the most clicks of any website ever for a CAO site. The physical office was officially established in early summer 2024, and held its first House-wide onboarding event for interns, “The Capitol Intern Summit,” on June 7. The inaugural event provided opportunities for networking, community building, and professional development with hundreds of interns from various Congressional offices from both chambers participating. Notably, in its latest Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, the Senate recommended to establish its own version of HIRO.
Has your office taken advantage of HIRO? How about your interns? Please let us know by replying!
Chevron Changes 101: What it Means for Your Job Now
The Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision that overturned the “Chevron doctrine” has immediate and lasting ramifications for Congress. Simply put, it will require increased Congressional capacity. That’s because the decision compels Congress to be clearer in defining intent in statutes and to be more proactive as new issues arise, rather than depending on federal agencies to respond. Otherwise, questions about intent will be left to the courts to address.
Here’s the good news: Congress is well-positioned to reassert its legislative authority effectively due to recent modernization efforts. To keep that momentum going, POPVOX Foundation recently submitted testimony to the Committee on House Administration for its hearing on Congress post-Chevron that encourages more investment in the First Branch’s people, technology, and processes to ensure it can meet these new challenges head-on.
ICYMI review a video and slides from a recent staffer webinar on post-Chevron legislative drafting, oversight practices, and collaboration with regulatory agencies.
Chevron Changes 101: What it Means for Your Job Now
Watch a recording of our webinar designed to help Congressional staff gain a clear understanding of the recent Loper Bright decision that overturned the “Chevron doctrine.”
AI on the Hill
In recent months, the newsiness of GenAI has seemed to run its course (for now) and begs the question: now what? Although policy deliberations on the future of regulating this emerging tech on the federal level aren’t likely to take shape this Congress, the institution’s internal approach to experimenting, learning, and benefiting from GenAI’s efficiencies is continuing to take shape.
The House and Senate have both issued internal guidance for use of this technology and Member offices have the authority to set internal use guidelines to foster responsible innovation. Across the Legislative branch, pilot projects have already taken shape and are being reported quarterly to the Committee on House Administration.
The remainder of August recess may just be the perfect opportunity for Congressional staff to set time aside to get familiar with either the House or Senate approved platforms. The hands-on experience with this emerging technology will no doubt be a value-add as staff prepare for what few doubt to be a policy focus of the 119th Congress.
Sample AI Prompts for Congressional Staffers
Check out these tips and sample prompts, created in collaboration with our friends at Foundation for American Innovation, that showcase just how helpful GenAI tools can be for Congressional staff. Whether you're a staff assistant, legislative correspondent, or legislative director, learn what these tools can do for you and your office.
Security Tip(s) of the Month
With the August district work period in full swing, lawmakers are back home and district offices are flooded with meetings, visitors, and events. Following last month’s assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, the safety and security of Members, their families, and their staff is at the top of everyone’s minds.
According to Axios, “Capitol Police opened 8,008 threat assessment cases in 2023…an increase of more than 500 over 2022.” Multiple district offices have been attacked or vandalized in the last year. This violence highlights the importance of providing resources and solutions that keep Members and staff safe and secure.
Follow these tips from current Congressional staff and bookmark these House resources that can help your teams stay prepared.
Staying Safe as A Congressional Staffer – Best Practices
For the district work period, POPVOX Foundation has compiled some best practices informed by current Congressional staff to ensure the safety and security of Congressional teams.
The Comparative View - Inspiration from Parliaments Around the World
Once a year, Senators in Kenya relocate from the capital of Nairobi to legislate from one of the country's 47 counties. The project, which is called “Senate Mashinani,” promotes the work of the Senate and creates opportunities for public engagement with local legislators and the public. While Senators keep their regular schedule outside of the capital, floor and committee activities highlight the interests of the host counties, and citizens are invited to interact with committees. What does this mean in practice? In one of the counties, the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries held public and stakeholders’ meetings to discuss issues regarding mung beans, which led to the proposal of the “Mung Beans Bill.” The bill was approved by the Senate and has been referred to the National Assembly for consideration.
For more news on international legislative experiences, please subscribe to our Modern Parliament (“ModParl”) newsletter.
Senate Mashinani: Bringing Senators to Kenya’s Counties
In Kenya, during a “Senate Mashinani,” the entire Kenyan Senate relocates from the capitol in Nairobi to legislate from one of the country’s 47 counties, a reminder that often the most effective way for lawmakers to connect with the people they serve is to meet them — literally — where they are.
Stay in the Game
You might not expect self-care to be a topic of a newsletter about Congress, but a functioning Congress requires happy, healthy staff.
This month’s tip is to change up your environment and see how it may change your perspective. Take a leisurely lunchtime walk to the US Botanic Gardens and give your right brain a chance to dominate. You might be surprised by the creative ideas you get! You could also venture to the new staff-only coworking spaces on the 4th floor in Cannon.
Do you have a favorite self-care tip you’d like to share? Email us!
Shout Outs & Events
Kudos to the House on completing 71 ModCom recommendations, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Congressional Modernization Tracker.
Modernization savings win! CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 7592, a bill that directs the Librarian of Congress to make the Annotated Constitution available in digital format, would reduce the agency’s operating costs by $4 million over the 2025-2029 period.
Have you checked out the newly opened second staff collaboration space at 447 Cannon yet?
Congratulations to Jen Daulby on her appointment as the incoming CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation starting Sept. 3. Daulby previously served as chief of staff to Rep. Rodney Davis [R-IL] and as his minority staff director on the Committee on House Administration.
Save the Date: September 19, 2024 from 1-6 PM for the Congressional Hackathon 6.0 at the Capitol Visitor Center.
In "Renovating the People's House," our friends at Foundation for American Innovation and American Governance Institute offer recommendations for reforming the House's rules for the 119th Congress.
Congratulations to the US Digital Service for 10 years of improving Executive branch innovation and public engagement!
Survey
You are the engine that makes Congress run, so it’s important that you are kept in the loop and have space to share your feedback. We want the Future-Proofing Congress newsletter to be one of your top trusted sources of information for those in Congress about Congress.
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