Each year political scientists, historians, and other Congress watchers participate in “grading” Congress in a number of key areas. This survey is conducted by the Center on Congress at Indiana University, under the directorship of the distinguished former Congressman and congressional scholar Lee Hamilton.  It will not surprise readers to learn that Congress’s grades are pretty low.  But this study goes into institutional differences between the House and Senate and also includes a grade for “we the people,” the citizens who elect Congress.  Overall the public does not fare much better in the grading.  Perhaps we do get the Congress we deserve and we will only get a better House and Senate if more citizens engage in the process of voting and understanding in basic ways just what Congress is and does in our system of government. 

By Ray Smock

The Washington Post contained a fascinating obituary in its Feb. 3, 2016 edition, that of Howard Koslow a distinguished illustrator, painter and postage stamp artist who died at age 91. I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Koslow on commemorative postage stamps in honor of the bicentennial of the U. S. Congress in the late 1980s. He designed more than 60 stamps, including a very popular series on American lighthouses.

 By Jody Brumage

Over the past few weeks, our blog has covered a number of exciting changes taking place at the Byrd Center. We have announced our official renaming and new mission and vision. The news of our soon-to-be-released traveling exhibit, "Robert C. Byrd: Senator, Statesman, West Virginian," has made its way across the state of West Virginia and beyond. Several of these projects have been the result of over a year of work to redevelop the brand and image of the Byrd Center as we prepare for the commemoration of the centennial of Senator Robert C. Byrd's birthday. You can read more about these exciting developments in our latest issue of The Byrd Call, released earlier this week. Now, we are excited to welcome you to our new website!