Kenneth Russell DeGraff spent nearly twenty years on Capitol Hill—the last twelve as Speaker Nancy Pelosi's chief climate, technology, and science advisor—helping SEEC members and all members of Congress shape the Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS & Science, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The legislation he helped design and pass saved consumers money, protected communities from pollution, and created pathways to quality jobs in every district.

He masters both the inside game—threading impossible political needles—and the outside game—public narratives that move opinion. From 2011 to 2022, he helped shift support for congressional climate action by nearly twenty points using a simple formula: call it pollution, not emissions; lead with public health; emphasize affordability; focus on local jobs. He translated dense policy into stories members could authentically own, delivering victories with one-vote margins.

He represented Speaker Pelosi in coalitions and negotiations to enact policies and laws championed in the House and Senate:

• Cleaning pollution out of communities, protecting public health, expanding healthcare access

• Creating local jobs and strengthening allied supply chains

• Lowering costs for families—energy bills, internet, healthcare, everyday essentials

• Promoting free expression and open technology worldwide

• Closing the homework gap with universal broadband access

• Preserving millions of acres of wild lands, rivers, and oceans

• Expanding national and local parks

• Protecting consumers from predatory businesses

"DeGraff helps the Speaker craft, promote, and pass bills with a special emphasis on technology and the environment.

In practical terms, he helps disparate Democrats--and even some Republicans--coalesce around legislation by smoothing over disagreements, finding common ground, and employing just a bit of horse trading."

- Out Magazine, Out 100
LGBTQ+ Policy Makers and Advocates Changing the World

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