John,

In recent years, congressional approval ratings have hovered at all-time lows, and Congress has developed a well-earned reputation for partisan gridlock. Last year, in an attempt to right the course, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (SCMC) was created with a mission to make the legislative branch more effective and efficient.

In their first year, the committee, split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, unanimously passed 45 bipartisan recommendations to improve Congress and bring it into the 21st century. And, in March, the House passed legislation that included nearly 30 of the SCMC’s recommendations.

It’s safe to say that the select committee is one of the few bright spots in Washington and a truly bipartisan effort to make Congress more functional and responsive to the American people.

The latest episode of our Swamp Stories podcast takes listeners behind the scenes and gives an up-close look at the origin story of the select committee by talking to folks from dedicated political reform groups who helped shape the idea of the committee, as well as a few of the members of Congress on the committee about the critical work they’re doing to make Washington less swampy.

Listen to the new Swamp Stories episode to learn more about the people and groups “Fixing the People’s House.”

Happy listening,

Ethan Rome
Chief of Communications and Strategic Initiatives, Issue One