POLITICO Pro features CRS Infographic
One of the things I enjoy most about my role at the Congressional Research Service is that every project starts with a conversation. I get to sit down with economists, attorneys, analysts, and policy experts who have spent years studying a topic, then work together to answer a simple question: How do we make this easier to understand?
This infographic on emergency management was one of those projects.
Working alongside Erica Lee, a Specialist in Emergency Management and Disaster, and Molly Cox, a Geospatial Information Analyst, we explored how disaster assistance is funded under the Stafford Act and how the federal government's share of those costs has evolved over time. It's a topic that's frequently discussed during major disasters but isn't always easy to explain. The challenge wasn't simplifying the research, but was finding the clearest way to present it without losing the nuance behind the policy.
One of the most rewarding parts of this work is seeing how visual design can help people engage with information that might otherwise feel inaccessible. A well-designed infographic won't replace the underlying research, but it can invite someone into a topic and help them understand the bigger picture before diving into the details.
A few weeks after it was published, I was excited to see the infographic referenced in POLITICO's Budget & Appropriations Brief. While everything we produce at CRS is prepared exclusively to support Congress, much of our work is also available through the agency's public website, where it can serve as a resource for journalists, educators, researchers, and anyone interested in learning more about public policy.
Moments like that are always gratifying, not because of the recognition itself, but because they reinforce why I enjoy this work. Behind every graphic is a team of experts committed to producing objective, authoritative research. As a designer, I get to help translate that expertise into something people can understand at a glance. It's one of the best parts of the job.
View the infographic below or on Congress.gov
The statements and commentary expressed are solely my own and do not represent those of the Congressional Research Service or the Library of Congress.
