▶ 0:09:41The subcommittee will come to order. Uh the subject of today's hearing is the fiscal year 2026 request for the Stennis Center uh for Public Service, the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, and Congressional Office for International Leadership. I'd like to thank ranking member Espot, the committee members, and our agency executive directors for being here this morning.
▶ 0:10:03While our smaller agencies do not traditionally testify every budget cycle, we wanted to invite you back to provide an introduction uh to the work you do and the work you and your teams do for the new members of our subcommittee. The Stennis Center for Public Service, while being the oldest of the three agencies here today, continues to submit a flat funding request for $430,000 for fiscal year 2026.
▶ 0:10:28The Office of Congressional Workplace Rights requests 8.6 million, an increase of nearly 5.5%. And finally, the Congressional Office for International Leadership's fiscal year 2026 request is 7.2 million, a 20% increase. I look forward to your testimony and I now yield to ranking member Espott, Mr. Espott for his opening remarks. Thank you, uh, Chairman Balado, uh, Miss, uh, Sergis, Dr. Pug, and Mr. Crane. Thank you all for testifying today.
▶ 0:10:58on behalf of your respective agencies. Your agencies continue to play a vital role in advancing workplace rights and providing future leaders with tools uh the tools that are required really to develop and support democracy across the world.
▶ 0:11:15As the first uh Dominican American to serve in Congress, I understand and continue to be encouraged by the international outreach of CO uh to share accountable governance and citizenship uh diplomacy. Now more than ever, I believe that it is vital to maintain our connection with global partners to exchange best practices.
▶ 0:11:38As uh General Maddox once told the current president, if we don't spend money on countries across the world, we're going to need to buy more bullets. And so we don't want to buy more bullets. We want to make sure that we uh encourage democracy across the world. Uh and the Stennis Center also has been instrumental in connecting new generations to the public service workplace. So, thank you so much for being here and I look forward to your testimony.
▶ 0:12:10Thank you, Mr. Espot. Uh Dr. Pew, uh your full testimony has been submitted for the record and you are now recognized uh to provide a summary of your written uh testimony. Good morning, Chairman Felo, Ranking Member Espayat, and members of the subcommittee. I am Brian Pew, the executive director of the Stenis Center for Public Service Training and Development, and I am honored to speak to you today about the Stenis C Center's 430,000 appropriations request um that funds our congressional programs.
▶ 0:12:41The Stenis Center was established in 1988 with the statutory mission to one promote public service to young people and to get them interested in a career in public service, two to provide training and professional development opportunities to state and local elected officials and their staff. And three, to provide training and professional development opportunities to congressional staff. We are overseen a Okay, sorry about that.
▶ 0:13:06We are overseen by a board of trustees that are requested by law to be appointed by house and senate leadership. Our programs that meet the third prong of our mission are known as our congressional programs. Because the stenis center is requested for expenses related to these programs, I will focus on discussing those. The congressional programs consist of the following. The stenis congressional staff fellows program, emerging leaders program, and the stenis program for congressional The Stenis Center is requesting level funding, which is 430,000.
▶ 0:13:36The Stenis Center strives to present the highest quality programs for congressional staff at the lowest possible cost. The center has been operating on the same funding level for multiple years now. The appropriation request for FY26 is essential to enable the Stenis Center to continue to provide training and development opportunities to congressional staff as mandated by its authorizing legislation. Without the appropriation, the highly successful congressional programs would be severe severely reduced if not eliminated.
▶ 0:14:06As I noted, the Senate center is requesting level funding. The Senate Center center has been able to keep level funding despite increased costs because of two main strategies. The first strategy has been consistent to consistently evaluate ways that we can save money without substantially impacting impacting the quality of the programs. The money saved can then be used in other ways that improve our programs or offset rising costs. One of my proudest cost-saving measures has been our recent move to the Library of Congress.
▶ 0:14:36At the beginning of the 25 fiscal year, the Stenis Center moved from a lease space in a private office building to the Adams building at the Library of Congress. If you factor in the savings from services such as utilities and parking, the total yearly saving is almost $50,000, which is equivalent to 11.5% of our budget request. However, this is not the only benefit to moving to the library.
▶ 0:14:57Because it is so much larger than the Stenis Center, the library can potentially provide us with services that would otherwise cost us more if we were to contract out on an ad hoc basis. These conversations are currently ongoing. While our move to the library is most noteworthy is the most noteworthy example of cost savings, I would like to provide a couple examples of how we have adjusted our programs to save cost while maintaining their high quality. One example is the cost of food and fresh refreshments for Stenis intern program.
▶ 0:15:26While I am a big believer in southern hospitality and always having food for your guests, we decided in 22 to cut back on food that we provided to the program. This allowed us to go from hosting the Stenis intern program once a year to three times a year because we utilize event space in the capital visitors center for this program. We were ultimately able to increase the number of participants three-fold at no additional cost.
▶ 0:15:50Similarly, we were able to cut the cost of event space for the Stenis program Stenis Fellows program by moving our roundts to the Hill Center at the old Naval Hospital consider which is considerably cheaper than other DC options. The cost savings allowed us to expand the number of roundts from four to six. The sec second strategy that the sten center has employed to limit programmatic cost is that we have create created a system where our programs can build upon themselves without adding cost to the stennis center.
▶ 0:16:18What this means is pra in practice is that once someone has gone through our programs they are much more likely to volunteer their time to give back to us and to the institution of congress. While this is difficult to quantify into an actual dollar amount, it does mean that we can have expert panelist speakers, seasoned veterans to mentor young staff, and even interns serving on the editorial board of um public service review, our journal. Finally, I would like to close by briefly bragging about the congressional programs.
▶ 0:16:46Despite the level funding, entries in our program continue to increase. Over the course of 118th Congress, we had 248 individual participants in complete their respective programming. Further, the number of applications to our program has increased significantly. As an example, the number of applicants for the 119th Stenis Fellows program was 122.
▶ 0:17:08This is a 27% increase from the number of applications in the 118th Congress, almost a 200% increase from the 10-year average. We believe that these kinds of statistics show the congressional staff value our programs. Thank you for allowing me to speak to you today about the Senate Center's appropriation request. I look forward to any questions you may have. Thank you, Mr. Pew. And I now recognize uh Mr. Crane for his five minutes for sum summary of his testimony.
▶ 0:17:38Good morning, Chairman Valadeo, Ranking Member Espayat, and distinguished committee members. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you on behalf of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to discuss our budget justification for fiscal year 2026. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark Congressional Accountability Act, which the 104th Congress enacted with virtually unanimous support in 1995.
▶ 0:18:07In so doing, Congress promised the American public that it would no longer exempt itself from the workplace safety, accessibility, and veterans preference laws that it applies to the private sector and the executive branch. To paraphrase a sponsor of the new law, enactment of the Congressional Accountability Act ended once and for all, the era of it applies to thee, but not to me.
▶ 0:18:34Since then, the CA has served as a model of good government and accountability to the American taxpayer. Congress ensures that its promise of accountability is matched by action through our office, the Independent, nonpartisan Office of Congressional Workplace Rights. In carrying out our mission under the CIA, we strive to serve as a steward for government efficiency. With only 34 FTEEs, we are one of the smallest offices with a line item in the federal budget.
▶ 0:19:04Yet the broad range of nearly 20 anti-discrimination, safety, accessibility, and veterans preference laws that we administer in the legislative branch is comparable in scope to that to that of multiple executive branch agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and multiple components of the departments of labor and justice.
▶ 0:19:33The OCWR has executed its mission on an operating budget that is a fraction of that of the smallest of these executive branch agencies. For fiscal year 2026, the OCWR requests funding of $ 8.6 million or 5% over the continuing resolution amount for fiscal year 2025. Our request focuses on efficiency and considers only strictly mission critical line items.
▶ 0:19:59It does not propose any new programs, but it would allow the OCWR to perform its continuing statutory mandate at the same levels as it has in past years. This mandate is embodied in the Congressional Accountability Act itself. As required by the CIA, we develop and provide outreach, education, and training to the Congressional community on the laws applied through the CIA.
▶ 0:20:24We provide confidential advising services for legislative branch employees on CA rights and responsibilities. We operate an administrative dispute resolution program which includes administrative hearings and voluntary mediation.
▶ 0:20:38Our office of general counsel enforces laws governing safety, accessibility, labor relations, and it also inspects more than 18 million square feet of facilities and grounds in the legis in the legislative branch to ensure that they are and remain safe and accessible. Our board of directors reports to each Congress with recommendations on maintaining par between the laws that apply to the private sector and the executive branch and those that apply to the legislative branch.
▶ 0:21:09We also administer a bianial survey to more than 30,000 legislative branch employees which assesses the congressional workplace environment and the effectiveness of reforms. More than 80% of our budget request is for personnel costs associated with 34 authorized FTEEs, including projected COLA adjustments. We depend on our ability to recruit and retain highly skilled personnel such as safety inspectors and IT records and legal professionals.
▶ 0:21:39Our budget request for fiscal year 2026 will allow us to maintain competitive compensation levels. Although we are projecting an increase in personnel costs, our enhanced ability to perform more services inhouse that were previously provided by outside contractors and service providers has resulted in a significant decrease in non-personnel costs. We expect this trend to continue.
▶ 0:22:04Our fiscal year 2026 budget request will allow the OCWR to succeed while serving as a responsible and efficient steward of taxpayers money. I therefore ask that you support it and our continued work in executing our crucial mission under the Congressional Accountability Act in the coming fiscal year. Again, thank you for your ongoing and steadfast support. Thank you, Mr. Crane. And I now recognize Miss Sargus for her five minute uh summary of her testimony.
▶ 0:22:34Chairman Valadeo, Ranking Member Espayant, and distinguished members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on behalf of the Congressional Office for International Leadership, or COIL for short. For 25 years, Coyle has been offering a proven platform for congressional diplomacy, linking future foreign leaders with you and the communities that you represent.
▶ 0:22:59It's a legislative branch tool created by this body to advance American leadership in a uniquely nonpartisan way. I'm honored to be speaking directly to you today to report that Coyle and its open world program does in fact promote national security, strategic congressional diplomacy, and nonpartisan values.
▶ 0:23:21We respectfully request a $1.2 2 million increase to our appropriation for fiscal 26, bringing our total to 7.2 million. We've operated at or below $6 million for the last 12 budget cycles despite a decade of expanded programming and rising costs. Cost sharing efforts with local host organizations have reached their maximum.
▶ 0:23:46Yet, meanwhile, demand from local American hosts themselves continues to exceed our capacity. as we had to turn away nearly 40% of eligible communities this year due to budgetary constraints. So today, I'm not just asking for a 20% increase in our budget. I'm asking you to invest in a program that delivers high value, lowcost, and real results for Congress and for America. What would the 20% accomplish?
▶ 0:24:16We could strengthen our parliamentary exchanges for one thing, and we could deepen engagement in underrepresented American communities for another. By bringing global leadership into direct contact with over 2,000 American communities, you are supporting local economies while creating international understanding through homeay and grassroots engagement.
▶ 0:24:38The program impacts American communities when delegates travel to our cities, staying with host families, engaging with local institutions, and exchanging expertise. For every dollar invested, we return value in the form of goodwill, local engagement, and strategic influence.
▶ 0:25:00Our operating model uses local hosts, volunteers, and existing civic institutions, making us lean, effective, and bipartisan. But growth has reached the limits of what's possible at our current funding level.
▶ 0:25:16We operate a lean and highly effective agency that leverages partnerships with organizations so that we can minimize overhead and maximize Cost pressures continue to rise as since 2019 cost of living adjustments for salaries are nearing 20%. Benefit rates have risen by more than 7% and per delegate costs alone have doubled.
▶ 0:25:40Grants needed to execute a highlevel program now include higher costs for van rentals, drivers, gas, food, and contracted labor. Airfare alone from new strategic can be up to 30% higher than from Europe. By working in new strategic regions though, we also lose the economies of scale that once made it possible to stretch $6 million across a li limited number of countries.
▶ 0:26:09Every budget request before you is framed as essential. I understand that. But let me tell you why this increase is not just warranted. It's smart. It's timely and directly aligned with the strategic goals of this Congress. It is a cost-effective, locally rooted, fiscally conservative, and internationally impactful program that many in Congress are very also very proud of.
▶ 0:26:36At home, civic clubs, universities, and local governments across across the country host open world delegations because they believe in a mission that supports Congress. Nearly all of our funding is spent domestically, reinvested in local economies in every state. Do you want to promote American values abroad?
▶ 0:26:58We've been doing that for 25 years, quietly, effectively, and with the help of ordinary Americans in every state. With your continued support, we will keep bringing the leaders who believe in democracy because they've seen it right here and often for the first time in offices. In closing, our mission is simple but powerful to connect you with the world one leader at a time.
▶ 0:27:25Members of this subcommittee coil the agency is an asset. It's a resource and it's an investment. The open world program is your program. It was created by you for you. And our team is small, our mission is focused, and our results are measurable.
▶ 0:27:44We respectfully request your support for this $1.2 million increase so that we can meet rising demand, support congressional priorities, and sustain America's voice in the world, from one country to one community at a time. Thank you for your time and for your continued support of congressional diplomacy. I look forward to your questions. And I'd like to say thank you to my staff who are with me today for their extraordinary support and outstanding service to Congress.
▶ 0:28:13Thank Thank you, Miss Argus. Uh thank you to our witnesses for testifying before the committee today. Uh for questions, I'll call on members based on the seniority of those present when the hearing was called to order, alternating between majority and minority. Then we'll call on members in order of their first uh of their arrival. Each will have five minutes and I now recognize myself for those five minutes. Dr.
▶ 0:28:41Pew, I want to begin by uh commending you for your fiscal responsibility and for the creative ways you have been increasing services with such a modest appropriation. Can you share with the committee the impact you feel that this increase in programming will have on the legislative branch? Thank you. Excuse me. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I think that our impact continue to be really important and touch a lot of members especially the ones that have staff that participate in our programs.
▶ 0:29:11Um it's not just the Stennis fellows program which is our flagship program which is for the senior level staff but we also continue to touch junior level staff as well through our emerging leaders program and our uh stenis program for congressional interns. Um yes, like my colleagues mentioned here, costs have went up significantly, but we have just continued to um save without touching the quality of the programs.
▶ 0:29:39We we've done that in a lot of unique ways. Again, one of the biggest moves to the I mean moves we made was to the Library of Congress. So that has really helped us quite a quite a bit. And um we do have um a lot of senior stennis fellows who go through the program that once they complete the program they help us with the additional programs. So that's been a large savings for us because um staff cost is really expensive.
▶ 0:30:08But I am fortunate enough to be able to keep a small staff because I do depend heavily on the senior attendance fellows as went through the program. So that's the primary cost saver for us. Well, thank you. Uh, Miss Sargas, last year when you testified before the subcommittee in and in several meetings since, we have discussed a greater need for transparency and oversight within your agency to ensure your programming reflects the will of Congress.
▶ 0:30:32What changes has your agency implemented over the past year to ensure the appropriate oversight committees are aware of the work you are doing to ensure that and to ensure that your uh, programs are nonpartisan in nature. Thank you for that question. Um to begin with, we are having quarterly meetings with um one of the committees that was very interested in the work that we do, the committee on house administration.
▶ 0:30:58We also have regular um review periods with um the clerks. We keep people apprised of what's going on with our agency. Um, we are taking uh a fine tooth comb to the character of our programs, but actually we are ordering them at a top-down level where it is more inclusive of Congress and the congressional interests of of this this particular Congress and we're very mindful of that and we don't find it
▶ 0:31:28um um such a challenge because um generally coils programs serve ve have served well over time and we um keep in mind that um there are certain themes that are more important than others and we try to accomplish that and accommodate that whenever we can. You uh Mr. Crane, in your testimony, you briefly mentioned your responsibilities regarding training and education of the congressional community.
▶ 0:31:58Can you share with us a little more about the types of training you offer and the increasing demand that you are seeing? Certainly, we we have a a very extensive training, education, and outreach program.
▶ 0:32:13Uh training and education is really at the heart of what we do because because we believe that an educated and trained workforce is far less likely to be one where they're troubled by uh uh unlawful discrimination or other unlawful employment practices. Uh the CIA requires that we maintain this program of training education.
▶ 0:32:35It is available nationwide which is consistent with the mandate in the statute that we that we offer uh services to the district offices that are comparable to those available to legislative branch employees on uh Capitol Hill. Our program includes educational videos, video tutorials, in-person training, uh newsletters, fast facts on occupational safety and health matters, downloadable brochures.
▶ 0:33:03Um our office of general counsel conducts brown bags to to uh to assist legal practitioners who uh have cases uh before our uh our office. Um we have uh we offer training on uh public access and offer assistance in that department.
▶ 0:33:21Um our we also uh conduct labor management forums for for practitioners in that area and OSH um presentations uh most recently a safety matters talk on internal workplace safety assessments. All right. Well, thank you. And my time is expired. I now recognize ranking member Espot for his questions for five minutes. Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh Mr.
▶ 0:33:45Crane, uh can you uh give us an update on the uh workplace right center? Uh what you've done to modernize and increase uh the efficiency of services offered by your office uh particularly given you know the environment of cuts. What have you done to improve the efficiency of services?
▶ 0:34:07Certainly, we've added several systems that increase our efficiency, not just on the hill, but in accordance with the CA's mandate that we provide the same same level of levels of service nationwide. Um, as mandated by the reform act, we now have a secure online platform for filing claims uh uh for to adjudicate uh under the Congressional Accountability Act.
▶ 0:34:31We now have a secure video conferencing system so that we can conduct virtual hearings uh in our ADR process. Um and we're finding that in the majority of cases practitioners and claimants prefer uh virtual hearings to inperson hearings but those but both options are available. Our training and education modules can be delivered virtually or in person.
▶ 0:34:57Uh and we have also added the capacity to conduct secret ballot union representation elections virtually. So that provides employees the ability to vote regardless of their location. Thank you, Dr. Pew. Be besides moving to the Library of Congress, right? How have uh uh federal workplace uh workforce cuts impacted your organization's ability to connect with young people and the fellowships?
▶ 0:35:26I mean is there a bottom line? Have you decreased the fellowships? Have they increased? Are they the same? What's the status of the service that the number of pe young people that you uh service? So the young people um it's not really because the congressional interns program is the only one that will really deal specifically with young people and we continue to recruit the same amount of students. What about the fellowships?
▶ 0:35:56So with the fellowships, it's still we don't select a fellow's class every year. It's every new congress, but it's still between 30 and 34. So we have continued the the um same number. And um that obviously contributes to the cost savings too though because that number has not increased and it's been that way for a number of years now. But I mean again if if Congress would like that number to ever increase too though obviously more funding would be required for that. Okay.
▶ 0:36:25Uh um Okay. With coil, right? Um I know that uh you're asking for a 20% increase. Um and how have uh the cuts across the board in government in general impacted Coyle's mission, goals, and objectives? Well, we haven't seen any immediate um outcomes from that.
▶ 0:36:50Um but I expect that um grantees around the country are going to get concerned that they're not going to be able to apply for grants um if if if we don't have the capacity to um provide them with one and and giving grants is the primary purpose of the agency which is to support um civil society, rule of law, accountable governance and transparency.
▶ 0:37:16So, so far Coyle has managed to stay in a close contact with with the large number of grantees that we work with, the small clubs around the the country and uh they keep us apprised of of situations that require um more attention from us and we do our best to to answer their concerns about that. Uh, Mr.
▶ 0:37:38Chairman, these are relatively like these uh smaller agencies, and I think that they have a a pretty good hands-on approach to how they administer them. But I think that overall as as these cuts begin to take place and hit the ground, uh it is particularly uh the small agencies that could be, you know, hit the hardest and devastated by the cuts uh because uh you have less to work with. Mhm.
▶ 0:38:07And so, uh, I encourage, uh, us to continue to be, uh, watchful of your your operations and to ensure that they continue to move forward and that they get the proper funding, including the the increases that are almost mandated every year because of the cost of living. We know how everything has been has increased dramatically. But thank you for the work that you do. I yield back, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Espat.
▶ 0:38:36Now I recognize Miss Mallaloy for her five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate all of you being here to testify. I really appreciate what each of you said about um how careful you're being with your budgets and stretching them making go farther. Uh Dr.
▶ 0:38:52Pew, I my staff tells me you have a tactical advantage in that one of the women sitting up here is a fellow and I don't remember doing a fellowship, so I think it must be Lori Um, which makes me want to ask you this question. Uh, do you have can you tell us a success story of one of your fellows who's come through your program and then helps us do a better job? You can exempt Lori since she's up here and it'll embarrass her.
▶ 0:39:20Anybody else who's been successful since you are a small agency and I think a lot of people are unaware of what you do. Okay. One success story that comes to mind is with the 118th Stenis Fellows class. Um, we had one Democrat and one Republican working together because that's one of the things that the program does and they work together together to work with their bosses to introduce legislation that was actually passed and that's one of the highlights of the program and that doesn't
▶ 0:39:50happen that often but it's remarkable when it does. But um, for the members that are not as familiar with the program by law we have everything we do it's has to be bipartisan. We have Democrats and Republicans. We have House and Senate members, members from personal office and committee staff. So whenever we take them out, say to a university or something and they're engaging with students and all too though, they really see Congress at its best because you guys know that you have amazing employees and the staffers on the hills.
▶ 0:40:21They're just truly amazing. They do remarkable work. But that's the best um story to me. And sometimes the students can't even tell based on the questions um how they respond to the question who's in what party. And I think that just speaks of the quality of the staff that um is attracted to the Stenis Fellows program. Thank you. So just to be clear, the the legislation they passed did make people's lives better. Most definitely. Okay. Thanks. Um also, as a former staffer, I always appreciate it when people brag on the staff. So, thank you for that.
▶ 0:40:50Um uh I had other questions, but I like the way that turned out. Mr. Crane, I'm going to give you the same chance. Can you tell us anything that a success story you have that that makes what we do easier or makes life better for people on the hill? Certainly. Um, we've we've had successes in in in virtually every subprogram that that we operate on a day-to-day basis. our training and education.
▶ 0:41:13Uh we've we've significantly updated our CA CIA training videos uh which are available on our uh website and which explain in plain English um what employee rights are under those various laws. We've uh launched an in-house learning management system that allows us to to produce additional training and education materials that are tailored to the needs uh the the needs of the legislative branch.
▶ 0:41:43our um our office of general counsel worked with uh other um instrumentalities in the legislative branch um on issues uh on and presented uh practitioners uh nine different presentations concerning the laws uh under the CIA and also worked with the instrumentality with the instrumentalities to raise awareness of accessibility barriers faced by uh individuals with disabilities particularly during security screenings.
▶ 0:42:13um uh at the uh at the uh entrances to the to the buildings. Um our board of directors uh submitted uh a report uh for consideration by the 119th Congress concerning changes to the CIA that would that that if if enacted would uh further the CIA's goal of maintaining par between the legislative branch and the um and the uh executive branch and the private sector.
▶ 0:42:42many more, but but those are the highlights. Thank you. Thank you. Uh Miss Sargus, I appreciated what you said about being careful and making sure that you're nonpartisan in your mission. Um I've got 40 something seconds left. Do you want to share a success story that you have? Thank you for the question. It's a great question. Coyle has had um excellent experience with identifying who the future leaders are that would be of of interest in and very good for the program.
▶ 0:43:13Um we began a pol a program in Poland in the summer of 2022 and after a two-year period those delegates there were some 50 plus delegates three of whom became members of parliament in their next election. So the fact that we can identify such a very very high level cohort who has the ability to advance that quickly um is is a point that we're very proud of.
▶ 0:43:42We we also um Sorry, I'm out of time. I'm Oh, sorry. Thank you. I don't want the chairman to think I'm irresponsible with my time like I was last time, so I'm going to yield back. Okay. I appreciate that, Miss Malloy. Uh now I recognize Mr. Moore for his five Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Appreciate you all being here.
▶ 0:44:04Um, Miss Saris, could I is so the makeup of this exchange program? Um, what's the largest share of of foreign nationals on that side that come over here? Is it specific region of the world? Um, what is that? Um, in the past couple of years it has been Ukraine followed by Georgia.
▶ 0:44:32Is there a specific reason why it's Ukraine and Georgia? No. Um, however, a couple of years ago, we were instructed to enhance or or build up our Ukraine program. It had been smaller. Um, so the opportunity came up after 2022 when we suspended our Russia program indefinitely. So, we were able to accommodate that enhancement. So, so that works well.
▶ 0:44:58Um, we also were able to partner with the VA and it is um probably um a flagship program of ours that the VA um works with veterans from um Ukraine and um prevents uh provides programming for them in one of the five poly trauma centers that um the VA has in this country where our medical specialists are getting the opportunity to get very much
▶ 0:45:28um the latest in battlefield injuries and they are learning a whole lot from the Ukraine veterans who are able to come over here and because of our relationship with Ukraine over the years and so many of our alumni some four 5,000 alumni many of them are members of parliament or even in the ministries by now we're able to get permission to bring those people over here it's very hard for Ukrainian um soldiers to come over but we're able to bring them over for our 10 our 10-day program.
▶ 0:45:59We also had women um veterans um from Ukraine who went to West Yeah. And I think you said this. So are are they elect are these elected officials when they're coming over here? It's but gen or generally they're not and then typically they'll go on to become elected officials. And most of them are not elected officials but our parliamentary program grows each year. So we look for the elected official.
▶ 0:46:28We we work with the parliaments of these countries also parliamentary staff um which are very interesting cohort to bring over. Okay. So most of them then not being MPs or anything like that. They're not when they start but some sometimes our parliamentary program well our parliamentary program is for MPs. Mhm.
▶ 0:46:50Um Ukraine's um parliamentary um numbers, we've actually reached quite a few, but most of them are having a difficult time coming and traveling on the 10-day program. So, um we do our best bringing them over and getting them um congressional meetings and accessible to the institutions and the officials they need to meet. But there are challenges with that, of course. Are there other European countries that participate in this?
▶ 0:47:19Yes, we work with Romania. Um we work with Hungary, Romania, uh Poland, um the Balkans, uh the Baltic states, um parliamentary um members from most of those countries have have come over here. Our newest program is in the Indo-Pacific where it's interesting for us to be working with parliaments of the countries of the Indo-acific. They're rather small.
▶ 0:47:47So, one of our delegations represents 10% of their parliament. So, we're able to make very deep inroads into that um cohort in just a few delegations. And then are you familiar with uh the transatlantic legislators dialogue uh that takes place? The TLD has been around for a long time.
▶ 0:48:09It do you feel that that might be duplicative since they're meeting twice a year, folks from the European Parliament, and then there's the NATO Parliamentary Assembly as well that has MPs from the NATO nations meeting with our congressional delegation multiple times a year. Does that seem a little bit duplicative?
▶ 0:48:32I I don't have a very deep knowledge of the programs you're talking about, but I believe the difference is the coil programs are essentially in the American community by the end of it. So, they do spend three days here. The parliament um members do spend three days here in Washington, but the rest of their time is in communities around the country. And that is where they work with state legislatures which are often more to scale for their own countries.
▶ 0:49:02So they learn about law makingaking and policy. And one of the things that we found that our parliament parliamentarians really want to know. They want to know why they can't have a CVC. So we talk to them about that. We talk to them about CRS. We talk about um um calendar. They don't have congressional calendar. So they they want to know how you run so they can work that into their own processes.
▶ 0:49:30So we introduce them to speakers from CRS and we take them to the CVC and they meet with committee members. That committee um membership is another thing that they find very interesting. So while they they do really important work here in Washington for three days, when they get to the state capitals, they get a different kind and a much more focused kind of program, one that really tells them what they need to know. Yeah, I would urge you to take a look at this.
▶ 0:49:59So it's under title 22. So it's over at foreign affairs committee administers these. But NATO parliamentary assembly, they come here too. And so they come here every year and transatlant transatlantic legislators dialogue comes here every year as well. And then there was the UK US transatlantic. There's a bunch of these things over there.
▶ 0:50:24So there might be some efficiencies to be found in some of this I guess is what I'm trying to uh get at. But yeah, I just urge you to take a look at it. Obviously there's a new chairman of the committee over I don't know if the British US one is still in existence. It was at one point. Um someone's nodding their head back there. Does it still happen?
▶ 0:50:45Um um but yeah, I it was there's a number of these that are over at the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I'm speaking as former staff of the committee. Um so in any event, there could be some efficiencies to be found where you could try to synergize your efforts, maybe try to save us some money. Um, but in anyway, I appreciate it. Yield back. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Moore. And now recognize Mr. Strong for his five minutes.
▶ 0:51:13Thank you, Chairman Balladeo, and uh I thank each of our witnesses for being here today and to your dedicated staff for all the work you do to strengthen and support the United States Congress. Dr. Pew, uh what are some of the recent uh Stennis Center programs or initiatives uh you are most proud of and uh what measurable impacts have you seen from them? Something that I'm I am most proud of is with our congressional internship program.
▶ 0:51:43We have started getting making it a requirement for the congressional staffers that go through our program to write in our journal public service review. And one of the best parts about that is students from all over the United States who don't have um the resources to come and intern on Capitol Hill, they can read about their stories. Our journal is available to everybody um online at stennis.gov.
▶ 0:52:11And and so each spring, summer, and fall cohort that go through the congressional internship programs, and it's from all of your offices who apply, they write about their experience, and they can talk about maybe working with some constituents and just life in DC. And I think it's really encouraging for other students to read about that. So that's something that I'm pretty proud of and it doesn't cost us any money. Thank you.
▶ 0:52:36If additional funding were available, what uh programmatic uh enhancements or expansions would the center prioritize? Just based on the um interests of the Stenis Fellows program that there's a possibility that that program can be we can instead of having 30 to 34 that can possibly be um increased slightly.
▶ 0:53:02Um we have a few of our board members who've expressed interest in possibly growing that in the future. Um that would be the primary one, but one of the best parts about that is if we were to um increase that in the future, that'll create more senior tenants fellows. And I was mentioning um earlier that that's how we've been able to save so much is because we do have so much free labor from these senior level staffers that volunteer their time um to all of our programs.
▶ 0:53:31So we will have more senior sen fellows created. Thank you. Uh Miss Sargis, you mentioned the coal program uh provide unfiltered insights from delegates. How do you vet participants to ensure that they are not a threat to US national security? All of our excuse me all of our participants are nominated. There is no self-nomination. There's no online application.
▶ 0:53:59So we have trusted nominators in country, usually the US embassy staff who know who that emerging leader is and they provide a list of nominations and they do the vetting and then of course they're issued um a J1 visa. Thank you. I know Huntsville, Alabama had the opportunity to host a delegation in 2022. Are there any plans to bring future delegations back to Alabama and could you walk us through how that process typically works?
▶ 0:54:28Do we have Yes. Okay. My Alabama guy back there. Um yes, we do plan. We've we've we've done a lot of stuff in Alabama. Um excuse me. The process is that in our annual grant um outreach to our hosting organizations around the country, we ask who would like to do this theme or that theme or who would like to host at what time.
▶ 0:54:57And because these are volunteer organizations, they really do need to see a calendar well in advance. And we give all of our current grantees an opportunity to choose next year's batch. Thank you. What specific programming would Cole be forced to cut without this We would probably have to minimize somewhat
▶ 0:55:27our Indepacific parliamentary program even though we give that a very high level of priority but it is the costliest. Thank you. Now turn to Mr. Crane. Your board recently submitted recommendations for the 119th Congress. What are the most urgent legislative or policy changes you believe Congress should consider? Thank you.
▶ 0:55:52The the report makes several recommendations to Congress to maintain parody with protections in the executive branch and the and the um and the private sector. One of those is especially important and that is to require legislative branch offices to maintain records of workplace illnesses and injuries.
▶ 0:56:13Um if as is required in the private sector and as is required in the executive branch that that way our our o investigators have materials that they can consult when when investigating uh accidents and workplace injuries. Um, in addition, um, there is a a a very straightforward uh change that Congress could make to to ma provide comparable nursing protections to legislative branch employees.
▶ 0:56:43Congress recently passed an act called the pump the pump act the pump act for for working mothers and that uh act expands protections for nursing employees including providing reasonable break uh times and a private space to to pump at work. But because of what we think is a technical error uh when that law was enacted the legislative branch employees were excluded from coverage.
▶ 0:57:10We've we've notified our oversight committees and worked with them and provided them with with uh technical language that would provide that benefit to legislative branch employees. Thank you, Mr. Crane. Chairman Valado, I yield back. Thank you, Mr. Strong. There are no further questions. I'd like to thank Mr. Pew, Mr. Crane, and Miss Saris uh for being here today. Um members may submit any additional questions for the record, and the subcommittee stands adjourned.