How Heritage Reaches Members of Congress and Capitol Hill Staff

March 19, 2013

Madison Fellows are Capitol Hill staffers selected to attend exclusive Heritage Foundation briefings.

For many members of Congress and Capitol Hill staffers, their first introduction to The Heritage Foundation is through our Government Studies department.

Headed by Capitol Hill veterans Mike Franc and Dani Doane, Government Studies coordinates Heritage’s outreach to Congress, one of the most important audiences for our research.

Just last month, more than 60 members of Congress attended weekly Heritage-sponsored events and meetings. And hundreds of Congressional staffers attended Heritage training sessions, luncheons and briefings. This is made possible by Heritage’s proximity to the Capitol, which allows legislators and their staff to participate regularly in our events.

In all, Heritage hosted 63 separate events for lawmakers and Capitol Hill staff in February. This fits into a broader strategy of innovative outreach to Capitol Hill:

71 lawmakers attended our annual Conservative Members Retreat. This two-day event gave Heritage experts the opportunity to brief lawmakers directly on critical issues like cutting spending, national security, and the future of the conservative movement.
More than 100 Capitol Hill staffers regularly attend exclusive training seminars known as the Heritage Congressional Fellows program, to educate the next generation of conservative leaders.
We also had 24 senior-level staffers attend the Madison Fellows one-day colloquium bringing the total number of program participants to 160 staffers.
Working with a coalition of other conservative organizations, Heritage recently hosted the launch party for Insight, a new effort to reach out to the growing number of conservative African American and Latino Hill staff. 150 staff were in attendance for this event.

All this is in addition to our regular contact with decision makers. We routinely pass along Heritage policy analysis and research to key Congressional offices to ensure they have the facts on critical debates.

What techniques would you use to make sure lawmakers have access to Heritage’s conservative research?

Comments (8)

Steve Fifer - March 19, 2013

How often and how many democratic members of the House and the Senate and their staffers attend these Heritage events? Or do they choose to not attend and thus remain uninformed of other perspectives?

Henry L. Copeland - March 19, 2013

Any and all very top level executives when moving into a new job/corporation identifies his staff members; adds, changes, and deletes some. For example, a new conservative president could say ‘I don’t need an education cabinet member’, and etc.for others. I’d like to see Heritage take a shot at identifying/recommending a president’s cabinet.

Gaylon - March 19, 2013

I just wanted to see if Heritage had a comment on Sen. Rand Paul’s remarks today to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce regarding immigration. It’s appalling that he is supporting amnesty for the illegals that are already in the U.S. While he did not mention a path to citizenship, he did give a path to work visa’s so they can remain in their jobs legally after obtaining those jobs illegally. No one in D.C. seems to give a damn about the 20+ million unemployed Americans. I’ve called both my senators and my congressman and no one has had a comment. I know it’s just a short time since Sen. Paul’s comments, but someone needs to speak up now about this nonsense. I’d like to know Heritage’s position on Sen. Paul’s remarks.

Ron Baklarz - March 19, 2013

No holds barred; no blinders on. Straight talk!

John Heil - March 19, 2013

now that heritage has an audience with congress, i would recommend that heritage provide them a list of meaningless expenses that have passed thru congrss. these projects add up to millions and would greatly benefit america if they were cancelled rather than the sequestration priority listings.

George Warren - March 20, 2013

One Technique to get Congressional Lawmakers and Staffers to get them to access Heritage’s conservative research is to send a letter, E-mail or have Mr. Jim DeMint personally call them (lawmakers and staffers) to a very important meeting of how most American are not happy with President Obama and United States Congress. Tell just enough to want them to respond. Curiosity will get the best of them, George W,

renna - March 20, 2013

Goes it really matter who goes to washington! these people do not work for the people they work for themselfs they get richer we get poorer not even god can save us now mother of twin girls

Mistake, first sentence I used wrong word HOW, it should had been WHY most Americans…
Sorry used wrong word (how), GEORGE W.