Navigating the Intersection of Policy, Procedure, and Politics
Can you walk us through your career path and the steps that led you to your current role as a Senior Legislative Assistant?
I interned for the Committee during my senior year of college. Immediately after graduation, I worked at a financial services firm in Chicago, where I also interned. I kept in touch with Committee staff, so when a position became available, I went for it. I returned to the Committee in a dual role as Staff Assistant and Assistant to the General Counsel. About a year in, I ascended into the role of Clerk for the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures and continued in my role as Assistant to the GC. When the House flipped in 2022, I became a legislative assistant for the full Committee.
Which policy areas or legislative issues are you most passionate about within the committee’s scope, and how do you stay informed and engaged in those specific areas?
The Child Tax Credit. The change in child poverty we saw in 2021 was remarkable and proves how much our work matters. I read everything and talk to everybody, which is how I’ve approached revenue measures generally. Especially if you’re new to a policy area: ask questions, use the myriad resources available to you, and try to get along with everyone.
Can you describe a challenging or rewarding project you’ve worked on as a committee staffer that significantly impacted your professional growth? How did you navigate the challenges, and what did you learn from the experience?
The very first markup I experienced as a full-time staffer, after Views and Estimates, was Build Back Better, which was unquestionably the most monumental piece of legislation in the 117th Congress. It was baptism by fire. My role was to assist with operations and procedure, which was unique for everyone involved because it was reconciliation, and we were marking up committee prints as opposed to bills. The markup was also hybrid, which, to put it lightly, was no picnic. I attribute the success of that markup to the sheer competence and teamwork of our members and staff, and I learned that working in the House means all hands-on deck.
Identify your strengths and demonstrate that those strengths are essential to the committee.
In your view, what sets working on a congressional committee apart as a unique experience on Capitol Hill, and how do you navigate the specific challenges that come with it in your daily work?
Committees operate at the intersection of policy, procedure, and politics. It requires understanding policy at a microscopic level and still seeing the forest for the trees, all while maneuvering the rules and navigating member priorities. There’s so much coordinating happening at all times, which lends itself to jumping in with past experiences and always learning.
Word association, what is the first word that comes to mind for each of these?
Policy – learn
Networking – essential
Writing Skills – asset
Working on the Hill – different
Leadership Connect – amazing!
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