Navigating the Summer Swing: Capitalizing on the August Congressional Recess
Since the 1990s, federal lawmakers have leveraged nearly every August to head back to their districts and reconnect with their constituencies. This makes August congressional “recess” an excellent opportunity for interested parties to elevate their issues with elected officials who are on the move. However, an effective strategy requires a diplomatic approach and careful deployment of a public affairs toolkit.
From 1789 to the 1930s, a period of nearly 150 years, Congress typically worked in Washington between December and June,[1] allowing lawmakers to spend half the year in their home states. However, the Federal government grew rapidly throughout the 20th century, a trend fueled by increased spending during the Great Depression and World War II.[2] The growing government led to an increased workload for lawmakers, with Congressional sessions lasting significantly longer. In response, some lawmakers and their families began to push for an elongated recess during the sweltering Washington, D.C. summers. After decades of advocacy, an August recess became a reality in the 1990s.[3]
Today, lawmakers lean heavily on the August recess to effectively balance the demands of legislating in Washington and staying connected with their constituency back home. While short recess periods are interspersed throughout the year, the month-long length of the August recess allows lawmakers the time to host town halls, meet with constituents at their district offices, and reengage with the communities they represent.
Recognizing the value of the recess, lawmakers will dedicate a significant amount of time and resources to district-level advocacy work. With limited time and a host of interests competing for attention, an effective in-district/in-state public affairs strategy to engage Congressional members is integral to making an impact.
The Importance of Connecting with Lawmakers in August
Earlier this summer, we highlighted the crowded issue environment that will derive from having 35 Senate seats, 435 House seats, and the Presidency on the ballots this November. Rather than letting the momentum subside as lawmakers leave Washington, district-level engagement is an effective way to continue the conversation with lawmakers on their home turf. Most elected officials on the ballot will leverage the August recess to secure face time with voters through campaign events and constituent meetings, given their vested interests in securing local support and bolstering constituent relationships. Meanwhile, those not up for election have an opportunity to advance legislative priorities and hear about their constituents’ needs without constant national media focus.
District-level engagement in August is an effective way to continue the conversation with lawmakers on their home turf, capitalizing on their interest in securing support and bolstering constituent relationships.
Based on our experience, there are several effective ways to capitalize on the August recess – these revolve around local media, interactions with lawmakers in their home districts, and the tactful deployment of digital amplification.
The Strategy
Leverage the Power of Local Media
In a study undertaken in January, the Pew Research Center found that 85% of Americans believe that local news outlets are at least somewhat important to their community’s well-being. [4] Alongside heightened levels of trust compared to national counterparts, local media also tends to reach a more engaged audience. Whether in a community newspaper, through op-eds, a guest appearance on local talk radio, or out-of-home advertising, when lawmakers are back in their home districts, local media opportunities can provide a valuable way to convey your message with credibility and resonance.
Meet with Lawmakers in their Districts
With lawmakers away from the hustle of Capitol Hill, there is ample opportunity to provide them with the real-world context they need to understand your perspective on the policies before them. Tactful intercepts can take place at a campaign rally, during a conversation at a civic organization or constituent town hall, or through a meeting at their district office. Effective August intercepts generally require early planning, strong relationships, on-the-ground intelligence, and thoughtful outreach.
Tactically Deploy Digital Amplification
Creating reach and repetition of key messages around specific targets is critical to driving awareness or action. Digital amplification – paid or organic – offers cost-effective opportunities to drive resonance with stakeholders. By seeding the ground with strategic social media posts across owned channels and/or launching an integrated paid media campaign, lawmakers begin to feel the surround-sound effect of message-rich content. This creates urgency in an environment where lawmakers might be less distracted and more likely to engage meaningfully.
How FTI Consulting Can Help
At FTI Consulting, our Public Affairs professionals support companies to manage change, mitigate risk, and navigate complex political landscapes. In addition to our in-house team of former senior campaign officials, we have on-the-ground resources in every political jurisdiction and media market through our nationwide field network of public affairs experts. Our in-house Data & Insights team offers clients research, creative and advertising capabilities to reach your target audience directly with the right message and the right content at the best time. Our firm’s resources are supplemented by a nationwide field network of communications experts who can ensure that your message meets the right audience at the right time.
Learn more about FTI Consulting’s strategic communications offerings here.
Related Expertise
[1] “Senate Stories | Give Us a (Summer) Break: Origins of the August Recess,” United States Senate (August 11, 2023), https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/senate-stories/give-us-a-summer-break.htm
[2] Chris Edwards, “A Century of Federal Spending, 1925–2025,” Cato Institute (March 16, 2023), https://www.cato.org/blog/century-federal-spending-1925-2025
[3] See supra note i.
[4] Elisa Shearer, Katerina Eva Matsa, Michael Lipka, Kirsten Eddy and Naomi Forman-Katz, “4. Views of local news,” Pew Research Center (May 7, 2024), https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2024/05/07/views-of-local-news/
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