A bipartisan group of lawmakers gathered on Thursday, September 17, 2026, to recognize the contributions of congressional aides during The Hill’s fourth annual Notable Staffers event. Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.), participated in a panel discussion moderated by Julia Manchester to highlight the roles staffers play in the 119th Congress. The event coincided with the release of a list featuring 25 aides identified by the publication as notable.
The lawmakers described the daily operations of Congress as dependent on the efforts of staffers who draft legislation, manage constituent services, and communicate with stakeholders. Booker stated that the work requires "grit" and distinguishes those who make themselves "indispensable" through effort rather than academic credentials alone. Raskin noted that staffers often act as intermediaries between offices, allowing members of Congress to maintain professional relationships with their colleagues while aides handle official business.
Specific staffers recognized during the event included Chris Land, an aide to Lummis who assisted in drafting the bipartisan Clarity Act for cryptocurrency regulation, and Carrie Hughes, the health and human services director for the House Education and the Workforce Committee. Scott noted that Hughes’s role involves building consensus among different factions to ensure legislation can pass. Raskin recognized Nelly Decker, the communications director for House Judiciary Committee Democrats, for her role in shaping the culture of the office.
The recognition affects the more than 12,000 staffers currently employed within the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. These individuals, who serve as authors of federal legislation and managers of constituent outreach, operate the daily functions of the legislative branch for approximately 330 million Americans. While the members of Congress cast the final votes, the technical language of laws—such as the Clarity Act mentioned by Lummis—is produced by these aides.
Booker noted that Congress needs to do more to recruit talent from "all corners of America." He cited an example where diversity among Senate staff influenced policy; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) reportedly co-sponsored sickle cell disease research funding after Black staffers advocated for the bill. As sickle cell disease disproportionately affects Black Americans, Booker indicated that staff diversity can result in changes to which health care priorities receive federal attention.
For the average citizen, the work of these staffers is most visible in the processing of constituent services. A person’s ability to resolve issues with federal agencies often depends on the work of these aides. The event publicizes the identities of top-level advisors who typically work out of the public eye. Moving forward, the recognized staffers will continue their roles in the 119th Congress as they navigate legislative deadlines and committee hearings.
The list of 25 staffers was published by September 15, 2026, and the recognition event took place on September 17. The Hill released video coverage of the panel discussion on September 18, 2026.