Solutions

Pursuing Smart Tradeoffs

Home / Solutions / Congressional Capacity
Congressional Capacity
Congressional Capacity

Rethink New Member Onboarding

The time between election day and swearing-in can be a whirlwind of new information, urgent decisions and meetings - and it's even more overwhelming for anyone without those intervening days, such as the winner of a special election. There's a lot that could be done to improve the onboarding process and give new members a better start to their time on the Hill. That could include more input from freshmen members who just went through that ringer, a full-time paid staffer to help members-elect navigate and delegate, and better timing of specific orientation information. Onboarding should also be sure to include continuity, telework and cyber-security training.

STATUS

    No legislation required.

JURISDICTION
RESOURCES

The Challenge

An Antiquated System

  • “A well-resourced, high-capacity Congress where employees from diverse backgrounds and experiences can build long careers and expertise is a necessary condition for successful legislating in the years ahead."

    Molly E. Reynolds
    Brookings Institution

    “There is no shortage of good ideas for reform, and it's important that Congress grabs the bull by the horns and begins to implement them."

    Jonathan M. Bydlak
    R Street Institute

    “In order to begin to restore the constitutional republic that the founders envisioned, Congress must invest in itself as an institution."

    Kevin R. Kosar
    American Enterprise Institute

  • “The founders put Congress first, but Congress has often put itself last. The success of our system of government depends on a strong Congress. It's time to get to work."

    Soren Dayton
    Protecting Democracy

    “Congressional modernization is not a box to check; it's the ongoing, essential evolution of tools, systems and processes required to keep pace and remain effective in our increasingly complex, ever-changing world."

    Marci Harris
    POPVOX

    “Only by strengthening the rules and norms by which Congress operates will it be able to deliver the legislative solutions that Americans need and deserve."

    Meredith McGehee
    Issue One

  • “Our investment in Congress is a mirror of our investment in democracy itself."

    Daniel Schuman
    Demand Progress

    “A well-resourced, high-capacity Congress where employees from diverse backgrounds and experiences can build long careers and expertise is a necessary condition for successful legislating in the years ahead."

    Molly E. Reynolds
    Brookings Institution

    “There is no shortage of good ideas for reform, and it's important that Congress grabs the bull by the horns and begins to implement them."

    Jonathan M. Bydlak
    R Street Institute
Visit Site