Thom Tillis and Chris Murphy’s work on a once-in-a-generation gun safety bill began thousands of miles away from the Capitol, in the Western Balkans
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis speak at a reception at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Madrid, Spain, during the NATO Summit. | U.S. Embassy MadridMADRID — .
Many facets of official Washington can look impenetrably bureaucratic to the voters who send lawmakers there, and in some ways CODELs are no exception. But there’s a reason the trips are referred to as a “secret weapon” in a gridlocked capital: For more than a half-century, visits intended to reassure allies about goings-on in the U.S. have also helped members of Congress foster rare human connections that can shape future policy — even on issues unrelated to foreign affairs.
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen , Thom Tillis and Chris Murphy pose for a photo during a stop on their CODEL to Western Balkan nations. | Office of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen Lawmakers rarely bring reporters along, in part due to concerns about security and resources. POLITICO joined last week’s NATO summit CODEL to compare, firsthand, the lore of lawmaker travel with the reality.CODELs began in the 1940s, when future Secretary of State Dean Acheson first established the department’s legislative affairs office. He aimed to use lawmakers to bolster the Truman administration’s diplomatic efforts, especially on issues that require buy-in from Congress.
It started like this: Early in Biden’s Senate tenure, McCain served as the chamber’s Navy liaison, a role that allowed him to join CODELs overseas. In a He “saw that diplomacy and the conduct of foreign policy weren’t the exclusive preserve of presidents and secretaries of state,” Salter wrote. “Senators, too, could acquire the influence of world statesmen.”
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