WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 5, 2018) – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) is a winner of the inaugural Democracy Awards, the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF)’s distinctive honors program recognizing non-legislative achievement in operations and constituent service by congressional offices and Members of Congress. Rep. McMorris Rodgers has been selected for her outstanding accomplishments in Innovation. This category recognizes offices employing unique or innovative methods in their constituent interactions, communications, or office operations.

“It’s the honor of my life to represent the people of Eastern Washington, and I am humbled to receive this award for our work to rethink and reimagine the way I communicate with the people I represent,” said McMorris Rodgers. “Congress is a 19th Century institution using 20th Century technology to try and solve 21st Century problems. That’s not how it should be, which is why I’m leading in innovation to change the way we do business so we can work to build trust and get results for the people we represent.”

“As a Democracy Award winner, Rep. McMorris Rodgers’s office is clearly one of the best in Congress,” said Bradford Fitch, President and CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation. “This designation demonstrates that Rep. McMorris Rodgers has made a significant commitment to being the best public servant for her constituents in Washington. Rep. McMorris Rodgers and her staff are to be congratulated for not only being a model for her colleagues in Congress, but for helping to restore trust and faith that our democratic institutions can work,” he said.

Cathy is known for encouraging other congressional offices to adopt new technology and communications tools, dating back to her Digital Challenge in 2009. Through the use of Trello, Slack, and other office communication products to improve the way her office does business, to Facebook Live events, Twitter Q&As, MailChimp, and other products to improve the way she communicates with the people she represents, Cathy is leading the way to move Congress into the 21st Century.

NOTE: Democracy Award categories include Constituent Service, Innovation, Transparency and Accountability, and the Life in Congress Award for Workplace Environment. CMF developed categories and criteria for the Democracy Awards over the last five years with input from Members of Congress, current and former congressional staff, and the Maxwell School for Public Policy and Citizenship at Syracuse University. Two Members of Congress (a Democrat and Republican) are selected for each award category.

Congressional offices nominated themselves for the award and provided supporting documents to CMF. A review committee then conducted more than 70 interviews and evaluated additional supporting material to select 20 finalists. A committee comprised primarily of former Members of Congress and staff selected the winners in a blind review process where the name of the Member was redacted from the review material.  

All of the winners and finalists will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on July 13.