Director’s Desk
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | December 12, 2024
Dear Friends, The transition between one Congress and the next is always a fascinating time, full of not only the annual pile-up of must-pass items but also the moves and machinations of new members, new leaders, and sometimes new majorities seeking to make their mark on a new Congress. Things are playing out fairly predictably
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | November 7, 2024
Dear Friends, Election Day 2024 is behind us, but it leaves in its wake one big immediate-term question (who will control the House?) and a long list of others that will take months and years to answer. One thing we do know is the lame duck session begins next Tuesday, and it should be
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | October 3, 2024
Dear Friends, In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating toll on the southeastern US, I want to first express my hope that all of you and your loved ones are out of harm’s way. The damage is hard to fathom. As federal resources continue to surge toward areas in need, many members of Congress have
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | September 5, 2024
Dear Friends, It never fails: September arrives and finds me utterly baffled that summer could have flown by so quickly. I hope you managed to wring lots of fun, sun and relaxation out of this one. Of course, summer isn’t quite over for Congress, which returns next week for a short stretch before disbanding again
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | July 25, 2024
Dear Friends, It feels like we’ve said “unprecedented” so often recently, it’s starting to lose its meaning. But there is really no other way to describe the past few weeks (and indeed, months and even years). July is typically a busy time on Capitol Hill, but not usually for the reasons we have seen this
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | June 24, 2024
Dear Friends, While the upcoming presidential debate might be grabbing headlines this week, there’s also a flurry of activity on the House side of the Capitol as members seek progress on spending bills before heading home for a 4th of July recess. If all goes according to plan (never a guarantee!), we will
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | April 15, 2024
Dear Friends, With FY2024 funding bills finally off the to-do list, the House and Senate have a bit more bandwidth to focus on other priorities. But even as I write this, events are overtaking the chambers’ planned schedules. Following Iran’s weekend attack on Israel in retaliation for a recent strike, it appears the House
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | March 12, 2024
Dear Friends, “It’s a huge month for appropriations” isn’t always something we say about March, but nothing is normal on the Hill these days. Now that six FY24 funding bills have finally reached the President’s desk, we look to the next (partial) shutdown deadline ten days away. With huge, complicated bills like Defense and
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | February 5, 2024
Dear Friends, The biggest news on Capitol Hill this week will be the bipartisan immigration deal reached by Senate negotiators. Surprising no one, it has already produced turmoil in both chambers. Many Senate Republicans, as well as a few Democrats, have signaled their opposition, and House Republicans have promised the bill will never
Director’s Desk
Dear Friends, Happy New Year! We hope you had a restful and joyful holiday season. As we all get back to our work and routines, Congress joins the party this week with both chambers returning to a long and urgent to-do list – which is strikingly similar to last month’s. Read on for a great