Virginia Congressman Gerald Connolly named Most Effective Legislator by UVA

DISTRICT REPORT

2023 was a busy year in our community. My team and I spent countless hours crisscrossing Fairfax County to hear your concerns, celebrate your successes, and update you on my work in Congress.  Before the last redistricting, Connolly’s District included part of eastern Prince William County.

Take a look at our year in the District by the numbers:
3,744 constituent cases closed.
$11,225,972 returned to constituents from the federal government.
66,000 constituent messages responded to.
43 e-newsletters like this one sent to keep constituents informed (that’s more than 3 million individual emails!).
169 community meetings and events.
32 town halls and roundtables.

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

This year, I was named the Most Effective Legislator of the 117th Congress by the Center For Effective Policymaking at the University of Virginia. My legislative effectiveness score is the highest in the House, and more than seven times higher than the average Member of Congress. I am proud of this distinction, not just for myself, but for what it means for Congress as an institution. My team and I proved that, even in the most divided environment, progress is still possible if we are willing to put our heads down and do the work.

By contrast, thanks to our new Republican leadership in the House, the 118th Congress is on track to be the single most unproductive Congress in memory. According to GovTrack, President Biden was able to sign just 34 pieces of legislation into law in 2023. Compare that to 2022, when a Democratic Congress sent President Biden 281 bills for his signature.

Still, despite the Republican dysfunction, my team and I worked as hard as ever to deliver a legislative agenda that benefits all of us across Fairfax County. Here’s a look at our work by the numbers:
337 bills cosponsored.
30 bills introduced.
Government Operations and the Judiciary bills: 15
International Affairs bills: 7
Armed Forces and National Security bills: 2
Education bills: 2
Immigration bills: 2
Foreign Trade and International Finance bills: 1
Health bills: 1
96 committee hearings, markups, and roundtables.

I hope you all had a restful, joyful holiday season and are ready for all that the new year has to offer. As always, my team and I are here to help. If we can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to call us at (703) 256-3071.