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53-553: The Congressional Institute is a nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, Virginia that was founded in 1987 to encourage members of Congress to convene and discuss issues outside of congressional business or campaigning. It is known as sponsor of annual retreats for Republican members of Congress and for Republican staffers. The Congressional Institute's mission is: "dedicated to helping members of Congress better serve their constituents and helping their constituents better understand

106-877: A Legislative Resource Center. Unlike the tunnels from the Capitol to the Senate Office Buildings on the northside and the Rayburn Tunnel, the Cannon Tunnel because of its age, has no subway line, and is primarily a pedestrian pathway. In addition, a separate tunnel runs between the Cannon building and to the east of the neighboring James Madison Memorial Building , a part of the adjacent Library of Congress buildings complex. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from Cannon House Office Building . Architect of

159-548: A bill (S.658) sponsored by Senator Sam Brownback , which would ban all forms of human cloning including embryonic therapeutic cloning techniques that are seen as crucial to stem cell research. On February 10, 2006, Talent withdrew his support for the bill, citing the need to balance research and protection against human cloning. This move followed criticism by Talent's opponent in the 2006 election, Claire McCaskill, as well as pressure from Missouri business interests that oppose restrictions on stem cell research. Though this reversal

212-468: A co-chairman at Mercury, a Washington D.C. lobbying firm. Following Donald Trump 's victory in the 2016 presidential election, Talent was rumored to be on the short list for United States Secretary of Defense , a position ultimately offered to James Mattis . Talent grew up in Des Peres, Missouri , a suburb of St. Louis . His father, Milton Oscar Talent, was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, and

265-462: A decade later in 1913, however, the House had already outgrown the available office space, and fifty-one rooms were added to the original structure by raising the roof and constructing a fifth floor (not visible in its exterior view). that is visible only from the enclosed court and otherwise obscured on the building's exterior public face. Originally there were 397 offices and fourteen committee rooms in

318-519: A full entablature, and a richly detailed ceiling. The north-south Cannon Tunnel connects the Cannon House Office Building to the Capitol. The tunnel is lined with artwork from the annual Congressional Art Competition for high school students. Branching off the entrance to the Cannon Tunnel is a separate tunnel southwest to the adjacent Longworth House Office Building , and entrances to a cafeteria, shoe shiner/cobbler, and

371-743: A reception and dinner the final night of the retreat. In addition to the annual Republican retreat, the Institute sponsors Congressional staff training events and sponsored bipartisan retreats in the 1990s. The Institute partners with Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government on the Bipartisan New Member Orientation, which is a 4-day conference held biannually in which new members of Congress are able to meet each other and learn about policy issues from academics, analysts, and former members of Congress. The Congressional Institute supports reform through an initiative called

424-673: A solidly Republican district. The only challenge he faced came in the 1996 House election , when Horn sought a rematch. Even though popular Democratic Governor Mel Carnahan won the district in his concurrent election , Talent won the rematch with 61% of the vote. As a freshman in Congress, Talent authored and introduced the Welfare Reform Act of 1994, which was the precursor to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act . Talent served as chairman of

477-525: Is a Republican and resided in the St. Louis area while serving in elected office. After serving for eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives and then working as a lobbyist, he ran for Governor of Missouri in 2000 , losing to Democrat Bob Holden . Two years later , he was elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating Democrat Jean Carnahan in a special election to complete the term to which Carnahan's husband, Mel , had been elected posthumously in 2000. In

530-568: Is held. Talent, who received the Republican nomination, narrowly defeated Jean Carnahan in the November 2002 election, 50% to 49%. He was sworn in later that month to fill out the balance of Mel Carnahan's term. Jack Abramoff contributed $ 2,000 to Talent's 2002 senatorial campaign and Preston Gates & Ellis , a former Abramoff employer, had also contributed $ 1,000 to Talent's campaign. Talent later returned both contributions. Talent

583-614: Is widely regarded by political analysts as a reliable conservative , receiving a life score of 93 out of 100 from the American Conservative Union . The National Right to Life Committee gave Talent a 100% rating. In 2005, Talent was tied for the third-highest rating among all senators and representatives as determined by the Republican Liberty Caucus , which promotes "liberty-minded, limited-government individuals to office." Talent supported

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636-796: The Medicare prescription drug benefit called Medicare Part D , the purpose of which is to reduce the amount seniors pay for their prescription drugs. Talent called for waiving a one percent penalty for senior citizens who missed the deadline to sign up for the program. Talent voted against an amendment allowing Medicare to negotiate a bulk purchase discount for prescription drugs. Talent supported limiting awards in medical liability lawsuits. He believes that "medical liability relief will cut costs because physicians won't have to practice 'defensive medicine.'" Talent supported and proposed legislation to allow trade organizations to sponsor health insurance plans, which he believes would provide uninsured workers

689-606: The Small Business Committee from 1997 to 2001. Talent did not seek re-election to Congress in 2000, instead running for governor . He was narrowly defeated by Democratic state Treasurer Bob Holden , 49% to 48%. For ten months in 2001, Talent worked for Washington lobbying firm Arent Fox , During this time, Talent was not allowed to directly lobby Congress, and he was not licensed to practice law in Washington, leading some Democratic opponents to accuse

742-656: The Washington University School of Law . He married Brenda Lee Lyons in 1984. The Talents have three children. Talent's interfaith family did not attend religious services, and later in life Talent became a member of the Presbyterian Church in America . He was inspired to become a Christian while listening to one of Luis Palau 's radio broadcasts in his car. He pulled over and accepted Jesus Christ into his life then. He refers to it as

795-879: The " Old House Office Building ", completed in 1908, is the oldest office building of the United States Congress in Washington, D.C. A significant example of the Beaux-Arts style of architecture, it occupies a site south of the United States Capitol bounded by Independence Avenue , First Street, New Jersey Avenue, and C Street S.E. In 1962 the building was named for former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Joseph Gurney Cannon . The first congressional office buildings were constructed immediately after

848-527: The "Congress of Tomorrow Project". The project calls for reform via a bipartisan joint committee and has put forth reform ideas including earmarking , biennial budgeting, and changing the start of the fiscal year to the start of the calendar year . The organization supported a measure introduced in 2016 by U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood and Dan Lipinski that would create a bicameral panel with equal membership from both parties and equal numbers from

901-626: The Arnold J. Lien Prize as the most outstanding undergraduate in political science. Talent graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Chicago Law School , receiving his J.D. in 1981. Following law school, he served as a law clerk to Judge Richard A. Posner of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit . Before winning political office Talent served as an adjunct professor at

954-763: The Bush administration; on October 11, 2005, Vice President Dick Cheney held a fundraiser for Talent. Talent accepted $ 5,000 from the lobbyist Jack Abramoff . Talent subsequently refunded all $ 5,000. Talent received a number of endorsements for his re-election, including from the Missouri Farm Bureau, the St. Louis Police Officers' Association, the Missouri Pork Association, the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors,

1007-534: The Cannon Building and the Russell Building are connected to the Capitol by underground passages. Of special architectural interest is the rotunda . Eighteen Corinthian columns support an entablature and a coffered dome , whose glazed oculus floods the rotunda with natural light. Twin marble staircases lead from the rotunda to an imposing Caucus Room, which features Corinthian pilasters,

1060-478: The Cannon Building; the subsequent second 1932 remodeling project resulted in 85 two- or three-room suites, 10 single rooms, and 23 committee rooms. During the late 1960s , the House Beauty Shop, a salon which catered to Congresspersons, their spouses, and employees, was relocated to the Cannon House Office Building from the adjacent smaller and newer Longworth House Office Building of 1930-1933, under

1113-478: The Capitol grounds. By two years later, in March 1903, the acquisition of land for sites, razing of the private residences and businesses and construction of the buildings were authorized. In April 1904, the prominent New York City architectural firm of Carrère and Hastings was retained. Thomas Hastings (1860-1929), took charge of the southside House Office Building project, while John Carrère (1858-1911), oversaw

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1166-532: The Democratic wave of November 2006, Talent lost his re-election bid to Claire McCaskill , 50% to 47%. Talent, a senior adviser to Mitt Romney 's 2008 presidential campaign, served as a member of Romney's 2012 economic policy team during the 2012 U.S. presidential campaign. Talent is a distinguished fellow at The Heritage Foundation and a member of the Defense Policy Board . He is also

1219-543: The House Newt Gingrich and Paul Ryan , Mitt Romney , Frank Luntz , Peyton Manning , and Jay Leno . Since 1993, members of Congress pay their own travel and lodging expenses, but the Institute pays for other expenses including staff costs as approved by the House or Senate Ethics Committees . Lobbyists have been barred from programming since 2006, though dues-paying members of the Institute are invited to

1272-491: The House and Senate to suggest reforms to improve the efficiency of the legislative body. This proposal is similar to reorganizations enacted in 1921, 1946 , 1970 , and 1993. The Congressional Art Competition is an annual competition of two-dimensional visual artwork submitted by American high school students sponsored by the Congressional Institute. A winner is submitted from each congressional district by

1325-474: The House), the building "is plagued by safety, health, environmental and operational issues that are rapidly worsening. Many of the building’s systems are original from the 1908 construction." Architecturally, the elevations are divided into a rusticated base and a colonnade with an entablature and balustrade . The colonnades with thirty-four Doric columns that face the Capitol are echoed by pilasters on

1378-899: The Institute has organized with the Republican Conference an annual retreat held every January for all Republican members of Congress to focus on strategic planning. The first event was held in New York City over three days, partly as a commemoration of the 100th Congress . According to the Institute, the annual retreat aims to provide a more relaxed environment for members of Congress to discuss policy and includes meetings on specific issues, workshops, panels, and informational sessions. Past speakers have included Presidents Barack Obama , George W. Bush , Donald Trump , Prime Ministers Theresa May and Tony Blair , Vice Presidents Mike Pence , Dan Quayle , and Dick Cheney , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , Speakers of

1431-473: The Institute, Mark Strand has published views on congressional reform in op-eds, including in Time The Hill , and The Washington Times . Kelle Strickland became the third President and CEO, and the first woman to hold the position, in 2023. Jim Talent James Matthes Talent (born October 18, 1956) is an American politician who was a U.S. Senator from Missouri from 2002 to 2007. He

1484-576: The Missouri Corn Growers Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars . In 2006, the Washington DC newspaper Roll Call reported that DC lobbying interests had pledged to raise $ 1 million for Talent's re-election. Talent stated that he does not give favors in exchange for donations, and that he "wouldn't take five dollars from someone who expects something for it." McCaskill and Talent debated each other on Meet

1537-455: The November ballot. Carnahan received more votes than his Republican opponent, incumbent senator (and later United States Attorney General ) John Ashcroft . Lieutenant Governor Roger Wilson , as he had promised before the election, appointed Carnahan's widow, Jean, in her husband's place. The Seventeenth Amendment requires that appointments to the Senate last only until a special election

1590-453: The Press on October 8, 2006. McCaskill narrowly defeated Talent on November 7, 2006, with a 50% to 47% margin of victory. Having lost his reelection bid, Talent was considered a possible candidate for Governor of Missouri in 2008 after incumbent and fellow Republican Matt Blunt decided to not seek re-election. Talent did not enter the race, which was won by Democrat Jay Nixon . Talent

1643-465: The auspices of the House of Representatives Beauty Shop Committee . In January 2015, a top-to-bottom renovation of the Cannon House Office Building began. Completion is expected to take ten years and cost $ 752.7 million dollars. Initially, this renovation project will be focused on upgrading the building infrastructure and utilities, but will progress on to a wing-by-wing exterior and interior reconstruction. According to Bill Weidemeyer (Superintendent of

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1696-479: The commission, he has criticized the federal government's readiness to deal with major public health crisis'. On January 4, 2010, the two senators published an op-ed in the Washington Post , arguing that an unsatisfactory response to the 2009 flu pandemic shows the need for better medical emergency plans. Cannon House Office Building#Cannon Tunnel The Cannon House Office Building , often called

1749-516: The competition in 2016 and approximately 30,000 students participate in the competition annually. In 2008, the Congressional Institute joined the Democratic Leadership Council in co-hosting a bipartisan series of " Oxford style " congressional debates off of Capitol Hill . Each debate was moderated by a member of the media and featured four members of each party debating a specific policy topic. The debates' focus on issues

1802-616: The construction of an almost identical office building (now named the Russell Senate Office Building ) for the United States Senate to the north. Their Beaux Arts / Classical Revival styles of architecture designs were restrained complementary to the original Capitol of 1792-1863. The Cannon Building was occupied during the session of the 60th U.S. Congress in December 1907. By less than

1855-466: The district’s Member of Congress and displayed in the Cannon Tunnel at the United States Capitol for one year. C-SPAN described the display as "one of the largest and most well-known art displays on Capitol Hill". The bipartisan event has been held since 1982 and sponsored by the Congressional Institute since the mid-2000s. According to the Institute, 427 congressional offices participated in

1908-465: The embryos were donated by fertility clinics or were created for purposes of fertility treatment. This bill passed the Senate 63–37, but was vetoed by President Bush, in a move that was said to have significant political implications for Talent. Talent did take a position on the ballot-initiative in Missouri, called Proposition B, that would raise the minimum wage in the state to $ 6.50 per hour, or to

1961-438: The general election, despite being heavily outspent. The district had been altered after the 1990 census to preserve large Democratic majorities in the neighboring 1st District of Bill Clay and 3rd District of Dick Gephardt . Horn had appealed for a new map, even asking for a share of St. Louis, but was rebuffed by Clay and Gephardt. Although Talent won narrowly in 1992, he never had another close race in what became

2014-518: The judicial process a chance to move forward." During his tenure, Talent served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Special Committee on Aging, Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, and Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Talent sought re-election in the 2006 Senate election . His Democratic opponent was state Auditor Claire McCaskill. Talent held a fundraising advantage, in part because of support from

2067-445: The level of the federal minimum wage if that is higher, with subsequent adjustments for inflation. He said he believed it was a state issue, but stated he supports minimum wage increases if they are coupled with tax breaks for small businesses. Talent believed that increasing the minimum wage could reduce the number of jobs by raising the cost of doing business. Talent supported a ban on abortions, with exceptions for rape, incest, and

2120-574: The life of the mother. Talent has been outspoken about what he sees as the nation's vulnerability to a growing bioterrorism threat. He is Vice Chair of the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of WMD proliferation and terrorism , which has concluded that, unless action is taken, a biological attack within the United States is increasingly likely and will become a probability by 2013. Together with former Senator Bob Graham , Chairman of

2173-484: The lobbying firm of using his appointment as an illegal conduit to donate toward his upcoming Senate race. Arent Fox said the idea that Talent was not paid for genuine work was "absurd", but that "Talent's Republican ties did play a role in his hiring." In the November 2000 elections, Mel Carnahan , who had died in a plane crash three weeks before, remained on the ballot for election to the Senate. Missouri election law would not allow for Carnahan's name to be removed from

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2226-587: The moment he "passed from death to life." Talent began his political career in 1984 when he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives . He served four terms there, the last two as minority leader. In the 1992 House of Representatives election , Talent defeated Bert Walker , the cousin of then-president George H. W. Bush and won the Republican nomination for the state's 2nd Congressional District, based in St. Louis's western suburbs. He went on to defeat Democratic incumbent Joan Kelly Horn in

2279-483: The new Renewable Fuel Standard , which would add 7.5 billion US gallons (28,000,000 m ) of renewable fuels to the national supply by 2012, including a measure to include tax credits for businesses offering soybean-based fuels. In addition to renewable fuels, Talent supported drilling in the Arctic as a step in the direction of energy independence, which he sees as critical to national security. Talent supported

2332-543: The operations of the national legislature". Mark Strand, former chief of staff to former Sen. Jim Talent , became president of the Institute in 2007, succeeding founding president Jerry Climer . The organization’s Board of Directors is made up primarily of individuals who served in high-level congressional staff positions and lobbyists. The Institute receives its funding from annual dues paid by corporations and associations. The Congressional Institute sponsors retreats for members of Congress and their staff. Starting in 1987,

2385-410: The opportunity for more affordable health care. Talent sponsored legislation to cap the annual percentage interest rate for payday loans to military service personnel from an average of around 39% to 36%. After joining the Senate in 2002, Talent supported federal legislation that would ban embryonic stem cell research or federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. This included cosponsoring

2438-549: The sides of the building, and very inspired by the Louvre Colonnade in Paris. The Cannon Building is faced with marble and limestone; while the Senate's Russell Building's base and terrace are gray granite. Modern for its time, the building initially included such facilities as forced-air ventilation systems, steam heat, individual lavatories with hot and cold running water and ice water, telephones, and electricity. Both

2491-426: The state constitution and allow, in line with federal law, stem cell research and treatment. On May 1, 2006, Talent announced his opposition to the proposed ballot-initiative. Stem cell research and treatment is working up to be a divisive issue for many Republicans and is taking a particular prominence in Missouri. In July 2006, he voted against expanding federal funds for embryonic stem cell research in cases where

2544-503: The turn of the 20th century to relieve overcrowding in the interior of the then century-old United States Capitol . Previously, members who wanted office space had to rent quarters or borrow space in committee rooms. In March 1901, Congress authorized Architect of the Capitol Edward Clark (1822-1902, served 1865-1902), to draw plans for fireproof office buildings for both the House and Senate adjacent north and south to

2597-522: Was criticized as being politically motivated, Talent told the Associated Press, "The technology is changing all the time and so I'm always considering whether there is a better way to strike the balance." Talent suggested that moral concerns might be put to rest through a possible future scientific breakthrough – replicating embryonic stem cells without the use of cloned embryos. There was a ballot-initiative in Missouri in November 2006 to amend

2650-486: Was criticized for not returning the money received from Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC), a PAC formed by Tom DeLay . DeLay was facing charges of money laundering and violation of campaign finance laws. A spokesman for Talent has stated that Talent had not yet made a decision about whether or not to return the ARMPAC contribution, stating "Senator Talent is not ready to presume guilt or innocence and wants to give

2703-498: Was praised by The New York Times and participants, including then-Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus , Rahm Emanuel and then- House Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam . In 2009, the Institute released, Surviving Inside Congress , a practical guide aimed at educating new and prospective congressional staff in the fundamentals of Congress and preparing them for positions on Capitol Hill. The book

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2756-647: Was the first in his family to go to college, graduating from Harvard Law School . Talent's mother, Marie Frieda (née Matthes), was an independent court reporter who was raised on a small farm near DeSoto, Missouri . She was from a Christian background; her German ancestors had settled in Jefferson County, Missouri beginning in 1832. Talent graduated from Kirkwood High School in Kirkwood, Missouri , in 1973. He earned his B.A. in political science from Washington University in St. Louis , graduating with

2809-599: Was written by Mark Strand, Michael S Johnson, and Jerry Climer. The Institute also publishes the House Floor Procedures Manual, and has released several studies. These include a study from 2007 on the benefits of "tele-town halls", a 2016 report on how the GOP could better connect to millennial voters, and a poll conducted by the Winston Group tracking congressional approval in 2016. As president of

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