Rep. Gus Bilirakis Named As Finalist for Two Democracy Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Today, The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) announced that Rep. Gus Bilirakis is a finalist for two different Democracy Awards.  Through its annual Democracy Awards, CMF recognizes non-legislative achievement and performance in congressional offices.  This year, Rep. Bilirakis has been selected as one of the top two finalists in two different categories for outstanding achievement: Constituent Service and Constituent Accountability and Accessibility.

“As a Democracy Award finalist in two categories, the Rep. Bilirakis 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. Bilirakis has made a significant commitment to being the best public servant for his constituents. Rep. Bilirakis and his staff are to be congratulated for not only being a model for his colleagues in Congress, but for helping to restore trust and faith that our democratic institutions can work,” he said.

“I’m humbled to once again be recognized for outstanding constituent service and communication as one of the top performers in Congress.   I’m blessed with a top-notch team of professionals who share my passion for public service and work together to ensure continuous improvement,” said Congressman Bilirakis.   “I’m proud of the work we are continuing to do to help individual constituents and I’m confident we will continue going the extra mile to boost constituent engagement.”

Fifteen House and Senate offices were honored as finalists today in four categories (There are two Republican and two Democrat Finalists for each of the four categories): Constituent Service; Constituent Accountability and Accessibility; Innovation and Modernization; and "Life in Congress"- Workplace Environment. To be considered, House and Senate personal offices completed an online questionnaire, after which CMF interviewed offices and gathered documentation to assess the office's adherence to the established criteria. The winners will be selected in July 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. Representative Bilirakis is a previous national winner in the Innovation and Modernization award category.  Details on the process and the history of the Democracy Awards can be found here: https://www.congressfoundation.org/democracy-awards

CMF cited the following as reasons for selecting Rep. Bilirakis as finalist for these two awards:

“The office of Rep. Gus Bilirakis cultivates a culture of excellence and continuous improvement supported by formal procedures. These practices include: separate intake and casework manuals that outline constituent response time of 24 hours; utilizing a shared intake drive that is checked by five staff members throughout the day to expedite processing; legislative staff meeting weekly with district staff to identify trends; and  tracking constituent feedback received through phone, letters, emails, outreach contact and satisfaction survey results. The office conducts at least one tele-town hall a month, usually on targeted topics. They are always looking for new ways to engage, including a “speed dating” concept where the Member takes five minutes to talk to a constituent and then meets the next person.”

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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