Issue One Legislative Director Elise Wirkus named a top grassroots lobbyists of 2021

Issue One’s Legislative Director Elise Wirkus has been recognized as one of the top grassroots lobbyists in Washington, D.C., by The Hill in its annual list of individuals who “wielded their connections and knowledge most effectively” to deliver results “in the halls of Congress and the administration.”

This is Wirkus’ second consecutive appearance on the list.

Throughout 2021, Wirkus and Issue One have worked hard to strengthen American democracy and fix our broken political system.

Wirkus and the Issue One team pushed for an independent commission to investigate the January 6th attack on the Capitol, which received strong bipartisan support in Congress, and championed landmark legislation such as the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore the bipartisan Voting Rights Act of 1965 and affirm every Americans’ freedom to vote regardless of political ideology, ZIP code, skin color, or gender.

Wirkus has also argued for key reforms to modernize the Electoral Count Act (ECA), a 19th century law which took center stage on January 6, 2021, and provides the legal framework for casting and counting electoral votes for president and vice president. In an op-ed published by The Hill earlier this year, Wirkus explained that by addressing multiple weaknesses identified in the law to ensure that both parties understand their role in counting the slates of electors in the future, Congress can help avoid a constitutional crisis in 2025 and beyond.

Additionally, Issue One has been a leading voice in the effort to modernize Congress and make the institution more functional, accessible, transparent, representative, and technologically adept. Issue One has pushed for important bipartisan reforms endorsed by the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress and implemented by the House of Representatives, including the creation of a human resources hub for staff, the permanent establishment of the House Office of Diversity & Inclusion, and decoupling staff pay from member pay.

Issue One has also continued to defend the legitimacy of our elections and advocate for sweeping reforms to fix our broken political system through our work with the bipartisan National Council on Election Integrity and ReFormers Caucus, bringing together former members of Congress, Cabinet secretaries, military leaders, and government officials.