Congressional Management Foundation Recognizes for Outstanding Achievement in Workplace Environment

Washington - The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) today announced that Rep. Don Bacon is a winner of a Democracy Award, CMF’s annual awards recognizing non-legislative achievement and performance in congressional offices. Rep. Bacon was selected as a winner for outstanding achievement in the category of Workplace Environment.

Seven House and Senate offices were honored as winners today in four categories: Constituent Service; Constituent Accountability and Accessibility; Innovation and Modernization; and "Life in Congress"- Workplace Environment. House and Senate personal offices nominated themselves using an online questionnaire, after which CMF interviewed offices and gathered documentation to assess the office's adherence to the established criteria. The winners were selected in June by an external selection committee primarily comprised of former Members of Congress and congressional staff. The finalists and winners will be honored at a ceremony to be held in Washington, D.C. on September 26, 2024. 

“As a Democracy Award winner, the Rep. Bacon 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. Bacon and his staff are working hard to provide the best public service possible for his constituents. Rep. Bacon and his staff stand out for their exemplary service and dedication to his constituents,” he said.

Details on the process and the history of the Democracy Awards can be found here:https://www.congressfoundation.org/revitalizing-congress/democracy-awards

CMF cited the following as reasons for selecting Rep. Bacon as the winner for an award:

“The office of Representative Don Bacon operates with the understanding that if you put your people first and empower them, they will put the mission first. Their office offers benefits including a flexible telework policy, compensatory time off, and three office-sanctioned fitness breaks per week. The office has the best staff retention rate and the smallest turnover index number in the entire Nebraska delegation, and eleven staff members have served since Rep. Bacon’s first term over seven years ago. The ability to focus on the mission in an open door and collaborative environment is one of the primary reasons that the Congressman has been recognized by the Center for Effective Lawmaking as the most effective Republican House Member in the last congress, as well as being a previous Democracy Award winner for the best constituent services. At any given point, there are almost always staff members enrolled in educational programs at the graduate level.”

“We are truly honored to be recognized by the Congressional Management Foundation for our workplace environment, in which we strongly emphasize personal and professional development and support,” said Rep. Bacon. “This environment has also led to support for each other on a personal level, including when several members of our staff volunteered to be tested as a live liver donor match for our Chief of Staff. I can truly say we have each other’s backs.”

The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit founded in 1977 dedicated to strengthening Congress and building trust in its work with and for the American people. CMF works to revitalize Congress as an institution; promoting best practices in congressional offices; and helps Congress and the people they represent engage in a constructive and inclusive dialogue toward a thriving American democracy.

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