The Congressional Research Service (CRS) Office of Technology Strategy and Legislative Analysis (TLA) is seeking a Legislative Research Assistant to join its Legislative Analysis Services Section (LASS). TLA is the organization within CRS and the Library of Congress that is mandated to produce legislative information for the United States Congress. This information is considered to be authoritative and objective for both new and amended Federal legislation and is consulted widely by Congress.
Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision. Ability to interpret legislative text and information** Ability to attend to detail** Ability to utilize computer/information technology** Ability to interact collaboratively with others** Ability to adapt Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing
This position serves as a Legislative Research Assistant in the LASS within TLA. The employee reports to the LASS Head. The employee supports TLA legislative analysts by locating, interpreting, and presenting legislative information; conducting and presenting research; and reviewing authoritative sources to identify legislative data and enter that data into the legislative information management system for subsequent entry into Congress.gov. The employee supports TLA managers and reviewers by verifying the accuracy of legislative information entered into the system and otherwise expediting workflow by helping to ensure that bill summary work is done in priority order and assigned to the correct reviewer. The employee is expected to develop over time the versatility and range of skills necessary to respond to TLA’s shifting needs and priorities, as directed. Duties include: Supports legislative analysts by locating, interpreting, and presenting legislative information orally or in writing to legislative analysts and reviewers; conducting and presenting research findings relating to the legislative history of a bill by reviewing applicable documents, including committee hearing testimony, Congressional Record excerpts, sponsor press releases, and media coverage; reviewing authoritative sources to identify legislative data, such as subject areas, policy terms, bill relationships, and titles; and entering that data into the system for subsequent entry into Congress.gov. Independently or in consultation with a legislative analyst, prepares “markup” documents for use by legislative analysts and reviewers, which provide context for the amendment(s) to existing law(s) and illustrate the changes (additions, deletions, and/or revisions). Identifies, enters, and verifies legislative data such as subject areas, policy area terms, bill relationships, and titles. Utilizes CRS’s bill comparison software and other legislative resources such as internal guidance on the standards and formats to be used for entering this information and/or providing this information to legislative analysts and reviewers. Performs intake tasks and quality control to facilitate bill summary workflow from assignment to publication. In performing intake tasks, the employee ensures the summary is correctly assigned, and when applicable, adds policy area terms, short titles, and related bill links. CRS works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing analysis that is accurate, authoritative, confidential, objective and nonpartisan to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for over a century. CRS is well known for analysis that is accurate, authoritative, confidential, objective and nonpartisan. Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation's best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.