Senior Congressional Advisers Provide Inside Scoop to Foreign Diplomats on How to Effectively Navigate the Hill

On the morning of April 5, over 67 congressional liaisons from over 58 foreign embassies in Washington gathered on Capitol Hill for a briefing with senior policy advisers on the ins and outs of the U.S. Congress.

This ‘Navigating Congress’ discussion welcomed Mr. Jeffrey Dressler, National Security Advisor to House Speaker Paul Ryan, Ms. Naz Durakğolu, Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and Ms. Jamila Thompson, Legislative Director to Representative John Lewis, to share their policy expertise as well as best practices with the gathered group of foreign diplomats. Leading the conversation was ABC’s Political Director Rick Klein, who prompted questions on everything from negotiating budgets to fostering meaningful relationships with Hill staffers across branches, parties and committees. The program provided a window into the inner workings of American federalism, particularly how Congress serves as a pillar of American democracy, as well as a capacity building opportunity for the foreign diplomats to better understand how to effectively engage with the U.S. Congress.

The briefing was part of the Insights at Meridian series, a neutral, non-partisan platform for the foreign diplomatic community to exchange perspectives on pressing issues and build relationships with key U.S. government officials. Insights uncovers the political, social and economic context driving government policies, which enhances the ability of the diplomatic corps to effectively operate in Washington, DC.

This Insights program was made possible through the generous support of The Bernstein Family Foundation.

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