Floor Action Reporter / BillTrack Researcher

FiscalNote is a leader in policy and global intelligence, and they are seeking a Floor Action Reporter / BillTrack Researcher to join their team. The role involves producing concise descriptions of policies on the legislative floor, maintaining databases, and ensuring timely coverage of congressional actions.

Responsibilities

• Track every action on the House or Senate floor as it happens, providing complete, timely coverage and precise descriptions of both the policy and legislative procedure involved at the time, within set deadlines and in accordance with CQ Roll Call and Associated Press editorial style standards
• Read, summarize and analyze bill text and floor actions; prepare impartial, fact-based bill summaries of all measures and amendments that are the subject of floor activity in either chamber for publication or internal newsroom circulation
• Backstop and/or collaborate with team members and others in the newsroom to provide detailed and informative analysis of congressional committee actions
• Quickly and accurately collect and process legislative data, text bill information and other related information as assigned by your editor
• Master a handful of operational tools, procedures and software systems to maintain CQ’s legislative data and develop a broad understanding of CQ Roll Call databases and legislative tracking products
• Balance long hours and an unpredictable congressional schedule while juggling multiple assignments
• Report breaking news from the House and Senate floors and promptly respond to -- and act upon -- newsroom questions or requests for floor information
• Work with editors and other reporters to develop reporting, writing and general news-gathering skills; cultivate relationships with congressional and government agency sources for journalistic and document-sourcing purposes
• In time, contribute ideas about product priorities, data quality and how to improve operations within CQ’s legislative research and analysis department
• Perform other duties as assigned and to be a team player

Skills

• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure and meet firm deadlines
• Understanding of the legislative process
• Ability to track every action on the House or Senate floor as it happens
• Ability to provide complete, timely coverage and precise descriptions of both the policy and legislative procedure involved
• Ability to read, summarize and analyze bill text and floor actions
• Ability to prepare impartial, fact-based bill summaries of all measures and amendments
• Ability to backstop and/or collaborate with team members and others in the newsroom
• Ability to quickly and accurately collect and process legislative data, text bill information and other related information
• Ability to master operational tools, procedures and software systems
• Ability to balance long hours and an unpredictable congressional schedule while juggling multiple assignments
• Ability to report breaking news from the House and Senate floors
• Ability to work with editors and other reporters to develop reporting, writing and general news-gathering skills
• Ability to cultivate relationships with congressional and government agency sources
• Ability to contribute ideas about product priorities, data quality and how to improve operations
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• Strong interest in policy, politics and/or procedure
• Ability to write objectively about legislative proposals
• Experience with large amounts of data entry, proofing and related research
• Strong attention to detail and good organizational abilities
• Ability to work a schedule that largely mirrors the House and Senate daily/weekly hours of operation
• Familiarity with congressional operations and the policy-making process
• Ability to develop sources, gather information and process content consistently with CQ Roll Call's editorial style and standards
• At least one year of research or writing experience, preferably in a political or policy-focused capacity
• Equivalent experience on Capitol Hill
• Equivalent experience in journalism, whether as a researcher, reporter or copy editor

Benefits

• Competitive salaries
• Retirement accounts
• Equity packages
• Comprehensive benefits packages

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