Fixing Congress

Congressional Capacity & Operations

In order to fix the structural issues with the legislative branch, Congress must have the right tools for the job. From recruitment, staffing, and training to budget and emergency preparedness, we are working to build a more efficient, responsive, and responsible Congress to better serve the American people.

Featured Work

Reports

The Road to Fair Pay

Why fair pay for congressional staffers matters for representative democracy...

Introduction Experienced congressional staffers are vital for the functioning of Congress, but for too long, Americans from all social and economic backgrounds haven’t been able to equally serve in these…

Reports

Fair Pay

Why Congress Needs to Invest in Junior Staff...

Legislative staff are crucial to the daily operations of Congress, both on Capitol Hill and in district offices. Congressional staffers help craft policy, advance legislation, and handle inquiries from constituents…

Sign-on letters

Former members of Congress applaud House of Representatives for continuing to invest in our nation’s legislative branch

Today, 40 former members of Congress from Issue One’s bipartisan ReFormers Caucus commended the House of Representatives for continuing to invest in our nation’s legislative branch. In a letter addressed…

Legislation & policy analysis

Senate increases access to sensitive information, a move called for by Issue One

Each senator will now be allowed to designate one aide in their office to receive top secret or sensitive compartmented information (TS/SCI) clearance. This policy change was announced by Majority…

Legislation & policy analysis

Issue One applauds the HSGAC Committee for advancement of key congressional modernization bills

Today, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Committee favorably reported out a series of bills that will make Congress more transparent and accountable to their constituents. An amended…

Podcast episodes

Swamp Stories Episode 32: The Other 97% of Congress

Much of the time when we talk and think about Congress, we don’t consider all the work that happens behind the scenes. Without the congressional staffers who constitute 97%…

Legislation & policy analysis

FY22 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill a step forward but misses key opportunities to strengthen the Senate

This week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations released its fiscal year (FY) 2022 Legislative Branch funding bill. This appropriations package includes the items approved by the House in H.R.…

Sign-on letters

Issue One, joined by former members and leading organizations, calls on Congress to address vulnerabilities and ensure continuity of all three branches

Issue One today sent a letter to congressional leadership calling on Congress to address the urgent and dangerous vulnerabilities to the continuity of all three branches of government. Following the…

Press releases

Issue One joins coalition to support the Capitol Hill community

Issue One joined leading civil society groups last week to launch CapitolStrong, an initiative to support and recognize the congressional and service staff working in the U.S. Capitol, and to…

Op-eds

Roll Call: Why the ‘virtue signaling’ of unspent congressional office funds hurts constituents

By Executive Director Meredith McGehee and Legislative Affairs Associate Jamie Neikrie

Featured Press

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Roll Call: Nearly 8 percent of Senate aides make less than a living wage, report finds

Issue One's "The Road to Fair Pay" report cited...

Roll Call: Shutdowns of the past were ‘emotional,’ ‘terrible’ for Hill staffers

Cites Issue One's "Fair Pay" report...

Fox News: Issue One CEO Nick Penniman discusses congressional staff pay

Christian Science Monitor: Who’s crafting public policy? A push to diversify Capitol Hill staff.

The Latest on Congressional Capacity & Operations

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Apr 10, 2020

Testimonies & comments

In new Senate testimony, Issue One urges senators to boost congressional capacity

Issue One Executive Director Meredith McGehee submitted written testimony on Thursday in support of boosting congressional capacity to the Senate Appropriations Committee’s legislative branch subcommittee. McGehee recommended measures to improve…

Mar 02, 2020

Testimonies & comments

Issue One Testimony in Support of Modernizing Congress & FY21 Budget

Testimony from: Meredith McGehee, Executive Director, Issue One Before the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch of the House Committee on Appropriations March 4, 2020 (Download.) Chairman Ryan, Ranking Member Herrera Beutler,…