Who is in charge of the Library of Congress: Congress or the president? Until recently, the settled answer in Washington was that the world’s largest library was, as its name states, a legislative branch agency…. (Read more)
Good luck to the Congressional Research ...
Last week, the Library of Congress made an important announcement: The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is getting a new director. Karen Donfried will begin her 10-year term on Sept. 23. She takes over for interim director Robert Newlen, who has led the agency since July 2023. Little known off Capitol Hill, CRS is a hugely important […]
It’s time for Congress to help the Congr
During my two decades in Washington, D.C., I have met innumerable current and former Hill staffers. When I mention that I worked for more than a decade at the Congressional Research Service (CRS), I almost inevitably get an ebullient response. “Oh, I love CRS. They have saved my bacon so many times.” These Hill veterans are […]
Testimony on the Modernization of the Co...
Below you will find my spoken testimony, which is not identical to my lengthier writtten testimony, and my responses to questions.
The Congressional Research Service’s evo
Note: This presentation was delivered at the Oversight Summit convened by the Project on Government Oversight on November 16, 2018. My topic is the Congressional Research Service, which aides oversight in various ways. As a preface I should note that I worked at the CRS from 2003-2014 as a nonpartisan analyst and acting research manager. […]
Written testimony on public access to Co...
Thank you, Chairman Ryan, Ranking Member Beutler and members of the Legislative Branch Appropriations subcommittee for holding this open hearing. This is the third consecutive year the subcommittee has held a public hearing, which is a wonderful and remarkable achievement. All of us who have participated previously and are submitting testimony today are very grateful. […]