Lawmakers salute staffers keeping Capitol Hill afloat: ‘Everything is grit and hard work’

A bipartisan group of lawmakers highlighted the integral role of staffers in the daily functions of Congress on Thursday at The Hill’s annual Notable Staffers event .

Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.), honored their staffers, who were all featured on this year’s list of the legislative branch’s top aides.

During the panel, moderated by The Hill’s Julia Manchester, the lawmakers said staffers work hard to achieve bipartisan success by reaching consensus between stakeholders and getting bills across the finish line.

“Everything is grit and hard work and making yourself indispensable and doing things that other people won’t do,” Booker said.

Booker added that the ideal character of a staffer isn’t someone with an “entitled” Ivy League degree, but someone who is going to work hard and distinguish themselves through their efforts.

“When you have a staffer that significant, and who goes home at night and studies to expand the knowledge that he makes available to all of us is truly amazing,” Lummis said of her staffer Chris Land, whom she touted as having an integral hand in crafting the bipartisan Clarity Act regulating the crypto industry.

Scott, who was there to honor his staffer Carrie Hughes — the health and human services director for the House Education and the Workforce Committee — said passing legislation requires speaking to different factions and growing a consensus, which relies on staffers’ good relationships on both sides of the aisle.

“You have to have people that can get along with people to put together the best coalition you can to get your legislation passed,” Scott said. “Because ultimately you can have nice legislation, but if too many people are opposing it, it won’t pass.”

Raskin — who applauded Nelly Decker, communications director for House Judiciary Committee Democrats — said the culture of a good Congress is shaped by staffers. He said members often rely on their staffers to interface with other offices on official business so they can retain their good relationship with other members.

“The people in the office really come to represent, both literally and metaphorically, the member, and they protect us a lot,” Raskin said.

Booker also highlighted that diversity among staff matters can contribute to members’ support for important bills. Booker said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) once told him that he was signing on to his bill funding sickle cell disease research because the Black members of his staff insisted. Sickle cell disease disproportionately affects Black Americans.

He noted, however, that Congress has to do more to bring in talent from all corners of America.

“Congress has got to do a lot more to pull the talent from America and present opportunities for America for people who don’t normally serve on the Hill,” Booker said. “That will make this Capitol be far better in doing its job for the American people.”