We, as former members of Congress, know better than anyone that Congress is broken. Partisanship and outdated procedures have made it a legislative body far different from what our Founding Fathers envisioned. Congress no longer functions in a way that allows our representatives to come together and create policies that will protect, uplift and invest in this great nation.
At its core, Congress is still the world’s greatest example of representative democracy, embodying our most fundamental constitutional principles, but it has many inherent challenges.
Many point to polarization as a leading cause for the issues that plague today’s Congress. However, it is vital to note that much of Congress’ dysfunction lies in the decades-old practices and structures that fail to consider the modern political environment. Which begs the question, how can we as constituents expect our elected officials to succeed on our behalf today while operating in a system last reformed when President Clinton or, even worse, President Nixon was in office?
Luckily, there is a path forward. Last Congress, the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress worked hard to identify 97 bipartisan reforms that encourage civility, boost congressional capacity and increase efficiency. Nearly half of these proposals were enacted last Congress through hard work and consensus-building across our political spectrum.
However, several important reforms still require action, including one we believe is essential to the continued success of our democracy: recruiting, developing and retaining top-notch Congressional staff.
No matter what you do for a living, you understand that organizational success starts with the team around you. From our experience, we know that congressional aides are what enable the Capitol to function. They help members understand the complex issues they vote on, keep them connected with their constituents, and maximize their productivity in Washington, D.C., and their districts.
These staffers are a cross-section of this country’s best and brightest, yet they make a fraction of what their peers earn in the private sector and have less favorable benefits.
In a city with one of the highest costs of living in the country, the pay alone often sidelines many prospective staffers, particularly those of underrepresented backgrounds, whose voices are needed to help craft forward-thinking policies that move this country in the right direction.
Whether as a member or a staffer, working on Capitol Hill is a public service and inevitably comes with sacrifice, including a lower salary than the private sector. However, the current Congress doesn’t just ask for sacrifice; it asks for almost the impossible. It asks staff members, whether in Washington or at a district office, to ignore student loan debt, put off starting a family, or be priced out of the housing market. It asks interns to come to D.C. and assume all the costs of volunteering for a congressional office.
Because of this, staffers have little incentive to grow old in their jobs and, on average, leave public service after less than three years. As they exit, they take institutional knowledge, legislative experience on specific issues, and collegial relationships with other offices of both parties.
The Select Committee has been tapped to continue its efforts under the pragmatic, reform-minded leadership of U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Washington, and William Timmons, R-South Carolina, and will be examining this issue specifically.
As those who arguably understand Congress the best, we strongly believe that reforms aimed at recruiting and retaining outstanding public servants are vital to our democracy. Republican and Democrat, let’s stand together to do what is right and clearly in our national interest.
Republican Zach Wamp, a business consultant, represented Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District from 1995 to 2011; Democrat Elizabeth Esty represented Connecticut’s 5th District from 2013 to 2019; and Republican Tom Graves represented Georgia’s 14th District from 2010 to 2020.