Young U.S. Capitol Aides Climb the Hill to Success

When Congress is busy, committee aides work long hours as well as weekends. Days can be packed with drafting bills, running major hearings, meeting with a CEO or a committee's chairman or ranking member, and negotiating with congressional aides lobbying to squeeze in their bosses' priorities.

Recently, at the Hart Senate Building, Erin Renner, 28, an education policy adviser for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, met with aides to Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.). The senator's staffers were hoping that Renner could sway House education committee members to alter wording in a bill to require, rather than merely urge, universities to publish textbook prices in course catalogues.

"The House language is a bit weak. We think it's a step in the right direction," said Lexi Saudargas, 25, one of Durbin's legislative assistants, sitting across from Renner at a conference table.

"So you're happy with how it's written?" Renner asked.

"He'd like to see it stronger," Saudargas said, referring to her boss. "If you hear of any Senate Republicans we can reach out to, let us know."

"I think you should use McKeon and his influence," Renner said, referring to Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Calif.).

Getting such as job by your late 20s requires something unusual for today's young people fresh out of college: knowing what field you want to work in. Staff directors say they prefer those with graduate degrees that match the committee's subject area. They point to prestigious fellowships as potential avenues, such as those awarded by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Renner graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 2002. She started on the Hill as the chief of staff's assistant for Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), then earned a degree from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education. A Harvard teaching assistant helped her land a position in the Education Department. Finally, she moved to the committee known as HELP. Last year, Renner worked on the landmark College Cost Reduction and Access Act -- likened to a modern G.I. bill -- and helped beef up Pell grants for needy families.

Initially, Marcus considered an investment banking job with Goldman Sachs after graduating from Stanford University. But he won a fellowship to work in the federal government, where he felt he could make great social impact.

His girlfriend, Una Lee, 28, a Georgetown law student, was working for a congressman when she decided she needed a graduate degree if she wanted to resume climbing the Hill hierarchy. She wonders whether it would have been just as useful to stay on the Hill, get to know people and work her way up.

As the couple talked one night in her apartment building lounge on Massachusetts Avenue, Marcus offered his perspective: "When I think about Washington people, there are some people who don't have substance, but they know everyone. Then there are substance people who know the issues but don't know how to network."

Lee grinned and said, "Quite frankly, I know I could brush up on my networking skills."