Modernizing Congress

Recommendations of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress:

Making Congress More Effective, Efficient and Transparent

1. Streamline the bill-writing process to save time and reduce mistakes.
2. Finalize a new system that allows the American people to easily track how amendments change legislation and the impact of proposed legislation to current law.
3. Make it easier to know who is lobbying Congress and what they’re lobbying for.
4. One-click access to a list of agencies and programs that have expired and need Congressional attention.
5. One-click access to see how Members of Congress vote in committees.

Streamline and Reorganize House Human Resources

6. Creating a one-stop shop Human Resources HUB for Member, committee, and leadership staff.
7. Making permanent the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
8. Examining and updating the staff payroll system from monthly to semimonthly.
9. Raising the cap on the number of staff in Member offices.
10. Regularly surveying staff on improving pay and benefits.

Overhaul the Onboarding Process and Provide Continuing Education for Members

11. Allowing newly-elected Members to hire and pay one transition staff member.
12. Offering new-Member orientation in a nonpartisan way.
13. Making new-Member orientation more comprehensive.
14. Promoting civility during new-Member orientation.
15. Creating a Congressional Leadership Academy to offer training for Members.
16. Making cybersecurity training mandatory for Members.

Modernize and Revitalize House Technology

17. Reestablishing and restructuring an improved Office of Technology Assessment.
18. Improving IT services in the House by reforming House Information Resources (HIR).
19. Requiring House Information Resources (HIR) to prioritize certain technological improvements.
20. Requiring House Information Resources (HIR) to reform the approval process for outside technology vendors.
21. Requiring House Information Resources (HIR) to allow Member offices to test new technologies.
22. Creating one point of contact for technology services for each Member office.
23. Creating a customer service portal to improve technology services in the House.
24. Leveraging bulk purchasing of the House by removing technology costs out of Member offices’ budgets and moving into a centralized account.
25. Prioritizing a “rapid response” program at the Congressional Research Service for nonpartisan fact sheets on key issues.
26. Developing a constituent engagement and services best practices HUB for Members.

Make the House Accessible to all Americans

27. Improving access to congressional websites for individuals with disabilities.
28. Requiring all broadcasts of House proceedings to provide closed caption service.
29. Requiring a review of the Capitol complex to determine accessibility challenges for individuals with disabilities.