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CongressMCP Server

A bridge package allowing Claude Desktop or any stdio MCP client to connect to remote congressMCP

Installation

Add the following to your MCP client configuration file.

Configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "amurshak-congressmcp-bridge": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "congressmcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "CONGRESSMCP_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

You can connect Claude Desktop to US Congressional data using a dedicated MCP server, giving you fast access to bills, amendments, members, committees, and more directly from your conversations.

How to use

Ask Claude about the data you need, such as bills, members, committees, amendments, and votes. You can request searches (e.g., for recent climate bills), look up who represents a state, see which committees handle a topic, view amendments to a bill, or explore how lawmakers voted on legislation. The MCP server handles the data retrieval so you can focus on your questions and insights.

How to install

Prerequisites: you need Node.js and npm installed on your machine.

Install the CongressMCP feature globally on your system.

Run the following command to install from the command line.

npm install -g congressmcp

Configure your MCP client locally

Get your API key from the service and set it in your local MCP configuration. The key is provided when you sign up for an account.

Create or edit your local MCP settings file to include the CongressMCP server. The following example shows the required structure and how to pass your API key.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "congressmcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y", 
        "congressmcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "CONGRESSMCP_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Desktop to activate the connection

Close and reopen Claude Desktop so it loads the new MCP connection and starts using CongressMCP for data queries.

Alternative installation: Self-hosted

For advanced users who want full control, CongressMCP is open source. You can clone the CongressMCP repository, set up a Python environment and database, and obtain a Congress.gov API key to run a self-hosted instance.

Note that self-hosting requires substantial technical setup and ongoing maintenance. The hosted service offers easier setup and ongoing support for most users.

Subscription Tiers

- FREE: All functions with 500 calls per month - PRO: $19/month, all functions with 5,000 calls per month - ENTERPRISE: Custom pricing, unlimited usage

Support

If you need help, reach out at [email protected] for assistance with setup, usage questions, or troubleshooting.

Notes

This MCP server focuses on connecting Claude Desktop to US Congressional data. It supports data access for bills, amendments, members, committees, roll call votes, and related legislative information. Always protect your API key and rotate it if it’s ever exposed.

Available tools

Bills search

Query and retrieve information about current and recent bills, with details such as sponsors, status, and summaries.

Members lookup

Find representatives and senators, including party, district, and chamber, for a given state or district.

Committees lookup

Explore committees handling a topic or bill, including chaired by and members.

Amendments view

Show amendments related to a specific bill, including latest versions and sponsor info.

Roll call votes

Retrieve roll call voting records to see how lawmakers voted on legislation.