Congress picked up its productivity in 2015, according to a study from the Pew Research Center.

Released this week, the Pew Study shows Congress passed more laws in 2015 than in any first year of a two-year congressional term since 2009. Congress passed 113 laws as of Dec. 29, according to the study. For comparison, Congress passed 72 laws in 2013 and 81 in 2011.

In its study, Pew whittled out ceremonial bills to further gauge productivity. Excluded bills included: renaming buildings, awarding medals and commemorating historic events. Looking at only “substantive” bills, Congress was more productive in 2015 than any first-year since 2007.

By far, the most productive year included in the study was the first year of the 108th Congress — 2003. In 2015 and 2016, the 114th Congress is in session.

Rowan County’s representatives in Congress include: Reps. Virginia Foxx, R-5, Richard Hudson, R-8, and Alma Adams, D-12. North Carolina’s two U.S. Senators are Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C.

Tillis, Burr recap gains for veterans in 2015

In a joint news release issued last month, U.S. Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis said Congress and the federal government in 2015 accomplished significant gains for veterans, military bases and military organizations in North Carolina.

“Senator Burr and I worked hard this past year to preserve and strengthen North Carolina’s rich military tradition and advocate on behalf of the more than 800,000 North Carolinians who have honorably served our nation,” Tillis said in the news release.

Accomplishments listed by both senators included: the Department of Veterans Affairs giving disability status victims of poisoned water at Camp Lejune, maintaining the 440th Airlift Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base being selected to house a new tanker fleet and the Department of Veterans Affairs giving presumptive condition status for Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War.

Yard signs only help in close elections

A study released last week found political yard signs are mostly useless during elections.

The study, led by Donald Green of Columbia University, found votes increase for candidates who use yard signs by 1.7 percentage points. Signs also have an affect in adjacent, unrelated precincts, according to the study. The signs do not, however, increase voter turnout.

The study used data from a congressional candidate, a mayoral candidate, an independent expenditure campaign directed against a gubernatorial candidate and a candidate for county commissioner.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.