LegiStorm

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's (D-N.H.) newest legislative assistant is already familiar with the halls of Congress -- as both a lobbyist and former staffer.

Kelly Misselwitz has made her return to the Hill after a three year absence, which she spent as a registered lobbyist in the AFL-CIO's Transportation Trades Department. She now covers a similar range of issues for Shaheen, including transportation and public works as well as labor and employment.

Misselwitz first came to the Hill after college in 2008, interning for Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-Ohio). She later held legislative jobs for Reps. John Boccieri (D-Ohio) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) until 2012. She staffed Shuler on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, according to her LinkedIn page.

In the first quarter of this year, the new staffer lobbied on issues including transportation appropriations, transit worker labor protections and Amtrak. She has a bachelor's in English and international studies from Capital University.

Rep. Barry Loudermilk's (R-Ga.) chief of staff and his wife are sharing more than just the married life.

Rob Adkerson came to the Hill with Loudermilk in January after running the congressman's campaign. His wife for nearly three decades, Ashley Adkerson, joined the congressman's staff in May as a staff assistant. 

Federal law prohibits employees from hiring or recommending the hiring of close relatives, though House ethics rules allow members to employ staffers who are related to each other but not to the member. Loudermilk's spokeswoman Shawna Mercer said Rob Adkerson "recused himself from the final decision" on his wife's hiring.

"As with many of our current staff, there was a previous relationship, and as a need arose a position was filled," Mercer said by email.

Mercer said Ashley Adkerson joined the staff on May 22 and Loudermilk is not concerned about a conflict of interest with the hire. Ashley Adkerson has no previous congressional experience, according to salary records since 2000.

Democratic members of Congress hold eight of the top 10 slots for dollars spent on privately sponsored travel so far this year.

Of 1,250 trips, private sponsors have paid $1.4 million for 863 Republican-approved trips for members and staffers and $1.2 million for 371 Democrat-approved trips filed so far. Last year, by comparison, Republicans took more trips at a higher cost than Democrats out of 1,953 paid for by private groups.

Democratic members took all but the second and fifth spots in the top 10 for their own private travel by cost so far this year. Rep. Beto O'Rourke's (D-Texas) four trips have collectively cost the most in Congress this year at $38,880. 

Only Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-N.C.) and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) have trip totals tabulating over $30,000 for the first half of the year. 

Members and staff have traveled most often this year so far to Germany, Israel and Canada outside the U.S. Last year, Israel, Turkey and Japan were in the top three.

So far in 2015, the Aspen Institute has footed the highest bill at $513,683 for 57 trips.

Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-S.C.) top legislative staffer has taken the nuclear option by becoming director of federal programs at the Nuclear Energy Institute.

Baker Elmore got his Hill start as an intern for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in 2009 after graduating from the University of South Carolina. He has worked for Wilson since, beginning in the fall of 2009 as a special assistant and leaving last month as legislative director.

Elmore covered issues including energy, trade and foreign affairs for Wilson and worked specifically on nuclear issues, according to his LinkedIn page. He has not filed a lobbying registration yet with his new employer, but NEI regularly lobbies on a range of topics such as appropriations, the environment and energy.

Elmore's replacement as Wilson's new legislative director, Taylor Andreae, was promoted from military legislative assistant last month and has several years of legislative experience with both Graham and Wilson.

Congressional staff and members tweeted cheers and disbelief as American women took to the field and scored four goals in the first 16 minutes of the women's World Cup final Sunday night, beginning with a Carli Lloyd hat trick and ending with a 5-2 win.

These are their top tweets:

Will Baskin-Gerwitz, communications assistant, Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.):

"That's got to be one of the greatest ways to finish off a sub-20 minute hat trick in international history, right? #Lloyd #USA"

Josh Litten, senior research specialist, House Office of the Historian:

"Carly Lloyd just firing towards the goal on the off chance she will score. (Spoilers: she will.)"

Jorge Aguilar, press secretary, House Democratic Minority Leader:

"#uswnt Lloyd!!!!! #thenew10 http://t.co/4qb9TxNtOz"

Jessica Seale, digital director, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas):

"Does Japan know the match has started?? #USWNT"

Steven Smith, press secretary, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.):

"It's like the #USWNT is launching a sneak attack against Japan before they are even ready."

Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas):

"#USWNT #SheBelieves #USAvJPN - our ladies are on fire! Another GGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!! U.S.- 4, Japan - 0!!!!!"

Tim Torres, deputy information technology director, House Energy and Commerce Committee:

"Hopefully falling on the sword still isn't a thing in Japan. #WomensWorldCup"

Colleen Costello, legislative correspondent, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.):

".@realDonaldTrump, to answer your question, 'When have we ever beat Japan at anything?': http://t.co/RpTYnkuG5x" 

Todd Reid, deputy chief of staff, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.):

"'This is like when I turn down the difficulty in FIFA. They are just going for trick shots now.'- 12 yr old son. #CarliClutch"

Sean Magers, communications director, Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.): 

"BREAKING: Carli Lloyd now leading all 67 declared candidates for President in latest Siena poll. #USWNT"

Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.):

"I gained a lot of my confidence/voice playing soccer when I was young. So congrats #USWMNT, & TY for inspiring next gen of young girls."