How the House quietly built a training revolution for its staff

If a new legislative director started her new job 10 years ago and wanted some training in her new position, she was pretty much out of luck. The only training the House of Representatives offered back then was some basic software modules or possibly some topic-specific briefings presented by outside nonprofits.

My own experience was similar, starting as a press secretary in the late 1980s and a chief of staff in the late 1990s. You could network with other more experienced staffers, but that was about all there was.

This challenge goes beyond just satisfying the professional development needs of individual staffers. Since each congressional office is like its own “small business,” a better trained employee — whatever job they hold — results in a better outcome for their constituents.

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