|
Technology and Transparency
|
— |
|
New and Improved Office of Technology Assessment (OTA)
Congress has fallen way behind the private sector when it comes to adapting new technologies. A relaunched OTA that can investigate and test new technologies with help from the best and brightest could help meet the growing and changing needs of members, staff and constituents.
Permalink
|
|
|
— |
|
Mandatory Cybersecurity Training
Despite being prime targets for cyber-espionage and other online threats, unlike their staff, Members of Congress aren't required to take cybersecurity training. Particularly as threats evolve, technology changes, and Members travel to places with potentially unsecure networks, they should be trained - like their staff - to recognize and prevent a cybersecurity lapse.
Permalink
|
|
|
— |
|
Central Catalog to ID Expired Programs and Agencies
About $310 billion is spent each year on programs and agencies that need to be reauthorized. This leads to internal planning and regulatory issues, while weakening Congressional oversight. Creating a central place where expired agencies, reauthorization deadlines and other information on the status of federal programs will help make Members of Congress - and the public - stay on top of this important Congressional responsibility.
Permalink
|
|
|
Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Public Listing of Official Congressional Member Organizations
It's common for representatives to join intra-House organizations through which they can collaborate on common goals and share resources. A public listing for Eligible Congressional Member Organizations (ECMOs) will help the public know more about their legislators' priorities and policies.
Permalink
|
|
|
— |
|
Rate and Review Portal for Tech Services
Right now members rely on word-of-mouth recommendations when wanting to outsource to a third-party vendors or HIR for technology services. An online portal that centralizes information for offices to rate and review the help they have received would help offices make better decisions. And an annual customer satisfaction survey will help HIR to continuously improve their services over time.
Permalink
|
|
|
Committee on House Administration |
|
Expand System to Track Amendments and Changes to Current Law
It can be hard for anyone who isn't a lawyer to keep track of how legislative text changes over the course of the legislative process. Making the Comparative Print application available for all staff and House offices will help the writing process go more quickly and smoothly. In addition, it will be more clear to staff and those outside Congress exactly how legislative text will change current law.
Permalink
|
|
|
— |
|
Single HIR Point of Contact
Appointing a single point of contact for each congressional office within HIR would improve customer service and streamline requests for technological assistance.
Permalink
|
|
|
Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Focus on Remote Work Technology
HIR needs to urgently address the technology needs of remote work, including better video meeting and secure e-signature platforms, virtual private networks (VPNs) across all devices, and creating a way for constituents to upload casework and other requests directly through members' websites. These reforms will help congressional continuity, streamline staff work and improve constituent services.
Permalink
|
|
|
— |
|
Improve House Information Resources (HIR)
When a member of Congress needs IT services they tend to hire outside vendors due to the inability of HIR to give IT services in a timely manner. In the long run, doing so leads to wasteful spending by congressional offices. HIR should partner up with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the new Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) to create a roadmap that will shrink wait times and improve customer service.
Permalink
|
|
|
— |
|
Central Hub for Committee Votes
With different procedures from one committee or subcommittee to the next, it can be hard to find how legislators voted during markups or other committee business. This new system, a central hub where all votes will be listed within 72 hours, will make key legislative information more accessible to everyone.
Permalink
|
|
|
— |
|
Improve Accessibility
It's important that the House of Representatives and public information be accessible to all. To improve accessibility for those with disabilities, all House websites and apps should be updated to ensure they comply with current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), all House proceedings on TV or streamed online should have closed captioning and a closed caption service should be provided for all web videos. Steps should also be taken to improve accessibility of the Capitol complex and grounds.
Permalink
|
|
|
— |
|
Update Outside Vendor Approval Process
When House members do need to hire an outside vendor to assist with websites or other tech needs, the process is so cumbersome and time-consuming it can discourage vendors and offices from pursuing projects or having access to the latest innovations. A more transparent, reliable and timely process would encourage competition among vendors and help ensure members have the tools they need at the right price.
Permalink
|
|
|
— |
|
Allow Offices to Beta-Test New Technology
Technology is ever-changing and it is important for member offices to be familiar with the same technological advances that their constituents rely on. Plus, it's not uncommon for different districts to have different technological needs. HIR should reform the clunky rules that limit adopting new technology and instead make it easier for offices to explore all their options.
Permalink
|
|
|
— |
|
Purchase Standard Office Equipment in Bulk
Outfitting an office with the computers, printers, phones, software and more that are necessary for staff to function day-to-day is expensive and can be time-consuming, particularly when updates are needed or new technology isn't compatible with the current suite of equipment and devices. Moving from an office-by-office ad hoc approach to bulk purchasing through a centralized account will save money, streamline services and free-up Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) funds for additional staff, raises or specialty technology needs that will help expand congressional capacity and improve constituent services.
Permalink
|
|
|
— |
|
Streamline the Bill-Writing Process
Using a standard, machine-readable format for legislative text will improve the bill-writing process and make it easier to share data between the House, Senate and executive branch.
Permalink
|
|
|
Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Explore Technological Options to Improve Committee Work
There never seems to be enough time for committee work. On top of recommendations to improve scheduling and increase staff, committees would be well-served by exploring technological options to make committee work more productive. Expanding the use of electronic voting, enabling the use of personal tablets at the dais for document sharing and other upgrades would be a good place to start.
Permalink
|
|
|
— |
|
Congressional Data Task Force
The collaboration between the House Clerk's office, technology and communications groups, both on and off the Hill, has been a big success, bringing much-needed data transparency to many facets of congressional work, such as publication of legislative summaries, status and cosponsors. Making this task force permanent will help maintain this relationship and continue bringing legislative work into the public realm.
Permalink
|
| Show All |
|
|
New and Improved Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) 
