Working in Congress I can easily argue both sides of how divided Congress is or isn't. The biggest factor is how this can be spun to a Members base supporters. However, sometimes Congress can overcome the partisanship without needing to spin something to their base, which I witnessed today. While I try and focus my posts on positive or interesting things going on in the cryptosphere this post isn't going to fall into that lane.
Early last week our Staff Director called an all-hands meeting pretty suddenly. While not completely unheard of it was a little odd and I wasn't sure entirely what it could be about. The news we received hit all of the staff hard with existing staffers like myself getting absolutely shell-shocked by it. Our Deputy Staff Director who had been diagnosed with cancer last year, went into remission for a couple of months before it came back again had run out of treatments, and had entered home hospice care. A lot of tears have been shed over this and as we went back into session this week it has lurked in the background and personally was affecting my work as she was the first person to give me a shot and look out for me on The Hill.
This morning when I was handling a hearing the whole staff, along with our points of contact within our Committee Members' personal offices that a Special Order had been called to honor her and her service to the US. Before I received this email I did not know that this was even a thing but now that I know about it, I cannot think of someone more deserving. A Special Order allows Members of Congress to meet on the House Floor and go on the record discussing the person or topic. They do not have a time limit and give however many Members of Congress all the time they need to talk about or discuss the Order.
Since the Capitol Visitor Center is closed at this point there is really only staff in the complex. Not only was the staff turnout to watch in the Gallery great from our side but the Minority also had a bunch of their staff there as well. During the Special Order, her story was covered by the Chair telling the story of her 16 years of service for the Committee spanning multiple leadership changes. Other Members were invited to speak as well with long-time Members who had spent years working with her talking about how much of an impact she had had on the Committee helping craft solid bipartisan legislation culminating in the CHIPS and Science Act which she helped lead negotiations on while battling cancer last year. During their time speaking a couple of Members even started to choke up as Jenn is just 42 years old.
It is easy to get lost in partisanship and forget that some of these people that we are talking about and interacting with are people with lives and stories all their own. Today was a fantastic example of both sides coming together to speak and honor someone who has done everything she can to better the US. While my heart still aches it was a beautiful thing to see and something I will not forget anytime soon.
