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It was June, we were going to work, to restaurants and happy hours, without masks. We thought we had made it. The masks had come off, the parties had started and things were getting back to normal. And then the delta variant hit, combined with significant portions of the country with low vaccination rates, and the party ended. As much as Members of Congress and managers may WANT to get back to normal, the coronavirus has different plans. Dozens of major companies in the U.S. changed their policies last week, moving back to remote work, for the safety of their employees. CMF has this tough message to Congress: you need to do the same for the sake of your employees.

The recommendations approved today by the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress are by far the most sweeping and comprehensive steps the House could take to enhance staff professional development, attract and retain a high-quality workforce, and modernize the Capitol Hill campus to be accessible to more Americans. It's almost breathtaking how far and fast this committee has come in such a short period of time, perfectly assessing the needs of the House and recommending a constructive course of action.

Washington, D.C. — The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) is excited to work with the Alliance for Congress, a new entity of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more effective government. CMF will join them and other allies in a united, persistent push to strengthen Congress and make it a more productive, diverse body.

The Congressional Management Foundation heartily applauds the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch for developing legislation that increases Member’s Representational Allowances by 21%. This is a critical step toward renewing Congress’ capacity to fully perform its role in our representative democracy.

It's no surprise that a recent survey found that the majority of trade associations feel advocacy is an extremely or very important priority. What IS surprising is that the majority of respondents also believe their organization executes advocacy efforts very well. In examining CMF's research with congressional staff on THEIR perceptions of advocacy, there is clearly a disconnect between the two sides of these public policy efforts. But here's a way to verify whether YOUR organization is truly effective.

This webinar, hosted by CMF and SHRM as part of the "Life in Congress project," featured two special guests, Dr. Sahar Yousef and Professor Lucas Miller of the Becoming Superhuman Lab, who offered data-driven guidance and tips on beating burnout and improving your remote work. As a bonus, all attendees received exclusive access to their simple, 3-minute tool to assess your burnout risk!

We heartily applaud the Committee's interest and exploration of this topic and hope CMF can contribute to the creation and implementation of Committee recommendations that will improve the professional development of congressional staff, increase job retention among staff, and enhance the congressional work environment to reinforce Congress as a viable, long-term career for dedicated public servants, as opposed to a stepping stone to better paying jobs in Washington and throughout the country.

This webinar, hosted by CMF and SHRM as part of the "Life in Congress project," featured two special guests who shared personal safety tips, strategies, and best practices to help staff manage the challenges faced in today's climate. If you're concerned about going back into the office or accompanying the Member/Senator to events, this program will teach you how preparation and awareness can help lessen your anxiety and stress. Watch the recording >>

The fact that voters would support Members' decisions when they are confident Members are acting on what they thought best – not on outside influence – raised questions for us about how to build that confidence. We tried to better understand how Senators and Representatives can convey accountability to their constituents.

The Congressional Management Foundation heartily applauds the House Appropriations Committee for taking an important step toward making Congress more transparent and accountable to the People it serves. The decision to consolidate all Community Funded Projects (CFP’s) requests in one accessible online table builds on the critical recommendations by the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress to restore local input into federal funding decisions.