At The Hill's annual Notable Staffers event, a bipartisan group of lawmakers took the stage to celebrate the often-overlooked aides who keep Congress operational, describing them as the backbone of legislative progress. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.), saluted their senior staffers who made this year's list of top Capitol Hill aides.
Moderated by The Hill's Julia Manchester, the panel highlighted how staffers are instrumental in bridging partisan divides and advancing bills through negotiation and persistence. Senator Booker captured the sentiment, saying, "Everything is grit and hard work and making yourself indispensable and doing things that other people won't do." He emphasized that the most effective staffers aren't necessarily those with prestigious credentials, but those who earn their place through dedication and effort.
Lummis praised her staffer Chris Land for his key role in crafting the bipartisan CLARITY Act, which aims to regulate the crypto industry. "When you have a staffer that significant, and who goes home at night and studies to expand the knowledge that he makes available to all of us is truly amazing," she remarked, underscoring the depth of commitment required for complex policy work.
Rep. Scott, honoring Carrie Hughs, his health and human services director on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, stressed that passing legislation demands building coalitions across factions. "You have to have people that can get along with people to put together the best coalition you can to get your legislation passed," Scott said. "Cause ultimately you can have nice legislation but if too many people are opposing it, won't pass."
Raskin, who recognized Nellie Decker, communications director for House Judiciary Committee Democrats, noted that staffers shape the culture of a congressional office and serve as the face of members in official interactions. "The people in the office really come to represent, both literally and metaphorically, the member and they protect us a lot," he said, emphasizing the trust lawmakers place in their teams.
Booker also highlighted how staff diversity can influence legislative priorities. He recounted that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) once told him he would co-sponsor a bill funding sickle cell disease research because Black members of his staff insisted—a condition that disproportionately affects Black Americans. This anecdote illustrated how staff perspectives can drive policy outcomes.
However, Booker acknowledged that Congress must broaden its recruitment efforts to tap talent from all parts of the country. "Congress has got to do a lot more to pull the talent from America and present opportunities for America for people who don't normally serve on the Hill," he said. "That will make this Capitol be far better in doing its job for the American people."
The event underscored the critical, often invisible work of congressional staffers, whose efforts are essential to the legislative process. As lawmakers continue to navigate a polarized environment, the role of these aides in fostering bipartisan cooperation remains more important than ever. For more on the honorees, see the full list of 2026 Notable Staffers. Meanwhile, the push for bipartisan solutions continues on issues like artificial intelligence policy and data center regulation, where staffers are likely playing a behind-the-scenes role.
