Carrie Hughes: Health and human services director, House Education and the Workforce Committee

Carrie Hughes knows she is somewhat of a rarity on Capitol Hill.

Her first job as a congressional aide was in the office of Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.). Eighteen years later, he’s the only member she has worked for.

Hughes started in Scott’s personal office and now serves as the director of Health and Human Services for the House Education and the Workforce Committee, where Scott is the ranking member.

“I do know and remember and have lived through some fights that rear their heads again,” Hughes said.

Those fights may look slightly different, she added, “but having the historical knowledge and having been through it before, I think can be very helpful.”

Hughes said she takes pride in working for a committee that has a tangible impact on people’s lives on issues like job-based health insurance, school meals and family violence prevention.

“I just feel like a lot of our work is really kind of doing good things for people to make their lives better and easier, and that’s, I think, as rewarding as it can get,” Hughes said.

Still, Hughes lamented the broad changes in political dynamics over the years that have made it more difficult for lawmakers to want to form consensus.

“I think there are instances where issues could be bipartisan, and should be bipartisan, and historically have been bipartisan, but there’s just not as much interest in that because it’s not as expeditious or convenient,” Hughes said. “I think that there’s been a lot more of [the majority] is just rowing in the direction that [President] Trump says … and there’s not a lot of room for debate.”

As a veteran Democratic healthcare staffer, Hughes spent years fighting to preserve the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which limited how much else the committee could accomplish. The current focus on affordability finally gives an opportunity to move past the ACA battles.

“I think affordability is always going to be on people’s minds, but we definitely have a little bit more vocal interest in that area from our members,” Hughes said.

“We were just kind of in this cycle of protecting and then repealing, then protecting and repealing. Where I think we all are looking forward to are opportunities to really build on the progress we’ve made and make things better for workers.”