"working congress" is brad's column for "roll Call"

Anecdotes abound about how trips taken by congressional delegations (called CODELs) have led to social relationships, and then to bipartisan legislative collaborations. Two House members once hashed out some AmeriCorps funding questions on a return flight from Europe. The primary drivers of the major $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that became law in 2021 were Rob Portman and Kyrsten Sinema, senators on opposite sides of the aisle. The pair first bonded on a civil rights trip to Selma, Ala., to walk together over the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Now, two academic researchers have developed quantitative metrics that show how these trips lead to bipartisan bills.  Trust on the tarmac: Lawmakers who travel together legislate together 

Legislative relationships and friendships across the aisle in Congress are less rare than most people think. Just take it from Michelle Dorothy and A. Brooke Bennett. On paper, these chiefs of staff don’t have all that much in common. One is a Democrat, while the other is a Republican. They came to the Hill on different paths: Dorothy has an MBA and started out in tech, while Bennett worked in corporate finance and went to law school. But the two share a mission: They co-founded a bipartisan listserv to give chiefs a space to ask questions and talk about the challenges of running a congressional office.  What makes a good chief of staff? Be a leader, not just in charge - Roll Call  

For many who traverse the halls of Capitol Hill as staffers, their tenure is only a few years. But recently the Senate said goodbye to a 30-year veteran of the institution. “After three decades, I have enough stories to fill a book,” said Lynden Armstrong, who retired as deputy assistant sergeant-at-arms and chief information officer.  From ranch to Rotunda, Lynden Armstrong blazed trails in the Senate - Roll Call