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Technology and Transparency
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Committee on House Administration |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Congressional Capacity
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Increase Staff Diversity and Inclusion
It's important that the staff doing the "People's work" reflect the People. For too long connections, race, and socio-economic background have played an outsized role in the makeup of the Congressional workforce. A diverse staff, with varied experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives can improve both legislative work and constituent serves.
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Expand Member Office Staffing
Member office staff was capped at 18 permanent staff and four additional staff over 45 years ago. Unfortunately, these staff levels have not kept pace with more populous congressional districts and expanding workloads. Expanding the cap to 22 permanent staff and six additional staff will help Member offices develop much-needed expertise and better respond to district needs.
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Improve Congressional Staff Data
Apart from a one-time survey on staff diversity and some studies conducted by outside groups, little data is available on a regular basis about the makeup of congressional staff, including pay, benefits or demographics. The new Human Resources Hub should make regular surveys and solicit input from congressional staff so that staffing decisions can be more data-driven.
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Committee on House Administration |
Requires funding in legislative branch appropriations. Included in FY2020 and FY2021 legislative branch appropriatons bills committee reports. |
Update Members' Representational Allowance Formula
In the House, the MRA pays for staff salaries, supplies, rental for district offices, travel and any other work-related costs a member might have. Some of the information used to allocate these funds is dated or based on faulty logic. Updating the allowance formula would help better reflect real-world costs and tailor the allowance to individual district needs.
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Central Human Resources Hub
Hill staff benefits and resources are scattered across different offices, making it hard to use or even know what might be available to staff. Likewise, personnel policies can vary widely between congressional offices. This has led to a patchwork approach to employment where too many good staff fall through the cracks. Creating a central human resources office will help streamline access to staff services and promote best practices for a more professional workforce and work environment.
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Modernize Staff Payroll System
Unlike the Senate and other areas of the federal government, House staff are payed on a monthly - rather than the more typical bi-monthly - pay schedule. This creates added economic uncertainty for already underpaid office and committee staff. The Chief Administrative Officer of the House should undertake a review of the payroll system and move toward updating this practice.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Onboarding and Training for New Employees
Because each Congressional office is essentially its own small business, onboarding and training for new employees can vary widely from excellent to non-existent, with many offices lacking the time or expertise to give new employees the best possible start. Providing institution-wide onboarding and training for constituent-facing roles will help both employees and their offices get up to speed quickly.
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Committee on House Administration |
P.L. 116-94 adjusted the maximum rates of compensation for certain congressional staff (2 U.S.C. §4532). The Order of the Speaker of the House (issued January 27 |
Establish New Staff-Only Pay Cap
Current law prevents House staff from earning more than their member of Congress, whose own salary can be subject to political wrangling. Decoupling member pay and staff pay could help retain more staff over the long-term, building expertise and institutional knowledge.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
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.
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Continuing Education for Members
Being a Member of Congress requires numerous skill sets beyond a policy vision and ability to stick to talking points. Congress, staff, and constituents would be better served if Members had the opportunity to take professional development courses covering everything from office management to ethics.
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Congressional Research Service
By providing non-partisan information on congressional issues and legislation, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a great source for members to be properly informed on bills that may be under consideration in congress, however, the process of acquiring and delivering the information can be slow. Rather than wait for multiple member requests before preparing research on a given issue, the CRS should proactively generate timely fact-sheets with relevant and current information. This would give members, staff and constituents access to better information ahead of debates or other decision-making.
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Committees on House Administration and Appropriations |
This change would require funding in the legislative branch appropriations act. It might also impact committee funding allocations adopted in the biennial committee funding resolutions. Depending on detail |
Expand Staff Capacity on Committees and Organizations That Support Congress
Members' personal offices aren't the only ones seeing major brain-drain. Committees and the ecosystem of organizations that support the work of Congress, such as the Congressional Budget Office, Government Accountability Office, and Congressional Research Service, are also in need of expanded staffing, better paid staff that will stay in place and develop expertise, and updated technology to better serve their important roles.
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Committee on House Administration |
May require no legislation |
Standardize Staffing for Eligible Congressional Member Organizations (ECMOs)
Staff who work for official Member organizations within the House should have access to the same benefits as those who work for other offices.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Certifications for Staff Roles
The creation of a certification system for key staff roles, from legislative correspondent to chief of staff and everything in between could help standardize these roles, better equip staff and help staff gain the skills they need to achieve promotions.
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Reclaim Article One and Budget Reform
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Committees on House Administration and Oversight and Reform |
This change could require a range of actions depending on the specifics of the proposal. |
Restore Congressional Rulemaking
Regulatory rulemaking and implementation has increasingly been shunted to the executive branch, bolstered by judicial deference and a lack of legislative specifics. Bringing this knowledge back to Congress with new Congressional Offices on Regulatory Rules and Legal Counsel, staffed by experts who can help draft and provide guidance on rulemaking, would be a major - overdue - reassertion of Congress's Article One powers. The first step toward bringing these new offices online would be a Government Accountability Office feasibility study.
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House Committee on the Budget |
Legislation required. |
Strengthen Budget Enforcement
In order to make use of the Senate's special budget rule - reconciliation - to enact policies that otherwise wouldn't meet the Senate's typical 60-vote threshold, budgets have become less of a routine, but essential, governing document cementing agreed-upon goals and limits between the two chambers of Congress. It is also more of a political cudgel to be passed when convenient. Limiting the use of reconciliation to deficit reduction would strengthen the role of the budget, make it easier to enforce, reduce the legislative gimmicks sometimes necessary to comply with reconciliation rules and encourage bipartisan agreement.
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Committees on House Rules and Judiciary |
This change could require a range of actions depending on the specifics of the proposal. |
Improve Legal Conflict Resolution Between Congress and the Executive Branches
Judicial review and consideration of conflicts between the Congress and the administration can be a years-long process, creating costly uncertainty for those affected by a rulemaking. Enacting bipartisan legislation granting Congress standing in the Courts and creating expedited procedures for inter-branch conflicts would help Congress reassert its Article One authorities.
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Committees on House Rules and Budget |
No legislation required |
Annual Fiscal State of the Nation
Just like the President's annual State of the Union lays out his or her policy vision for the coming year, an annual Fiscal State of the Nation would present the current facts affecting our fiscal status such as debt held by the public, anticipated revenue and outlays. This would help call attention to these pertinent issues as well as provide all Members of Congress and members of the Executive branch the same key figures by which to plan and negotiate, reducing the habit of making policies based on overly optimistic or varying expectations.
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House Committee on the Budget |
No legislation required. |
Count the Cost of Tax Expenditures
Tax expenditures are carveouts and deductions riddled across budget functions to reward certain economic behavior or promote a policy outcome. Typically, though they are a tax deduction, they can operate very much like direct spending, add to the federal deficit, and are just as much a part of policy-making as any program or law. To increase transparency, avoid duplication and better understand the role of tax expenditures in the federal budget, they should be included as a specific line-item in the budget resolution.
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House Committees on Oversight and Reform and Budget |
May require enactment of legislation. |
New Deadline for Key Budget Information
To make accurate budget projections that help Congress set spending guidelines for the next fiscal year, the Congressional Budget Office needs reliable information from the Office of Budget Management in the Executive branch. If this doesn't happen in a timely manner, the entire budget process will get off to a slow start, beginning a cascade of further delays. A firm December 1 deadline for receipt of supplemental budget information (prior fiscal year data, current year fiscal data, and credit re-estimates for the current year) will help keep the budget process on track.
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Committees on House Administration and Rules |
No legislation required. |
Test Rules Changes in Subcommittees
Just as states are rightly considered the "laboratories of democracy," subcommittees could be a place where innovation and experimentation with new rules or formats takes place to pilot these recommendations and see what works best for the group before committing them to the larger body.
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Committees on House Administration and Rules |
No legislation required. |
Bipartisan Pre-Hearing Meetings
It's typical for committee staff and members to talk before hearings on a partisan basis - and the result is the hyper-partisan, adversarial hearings we have today. For a more constructive, facts-finding-focused hearing, committees could bring majority and minority members and staff together to set goals and map out questions.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Bipartisan Staffing for House Committees
Rather than hiring separate majority and minority staff, who often fill the same basic roles, House Committees could learn something from the Senate and hire administrative staff on a bipartisan basis. This would reduce duplication, save money and build institutional knowledge.
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More Substantive Hearings
A combination of strict time limits, political grandstanding and an often adversarial environment means that new or actionable information is rarely divulged during committee hearings. Committees should consider new formats that could lead to a constructive dialogue.
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Internal Operations
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House Committees on Rules and Administration |
No legislation required. |
Committee-Only Time
Floor time is a major competitor for committee work, often with votes and roll calls interrupting hearings and members dashing in and out. That makes it hard for members to take a deep dive into the issues before the committee and exacerbates the tendency of hearings to devolve into competing soundbites rather than substantive fact-finding. Dedicating certain weeks or days of the work-week for committee-only work could limit distractions and interruptions.
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House Committees on Rules and Administration |
No legislation required. |
Reduce Travel Days
Partial work days and disjointed work weeks all mean more travel for members. Time in the air or on the road is time members aren't spending at work either in their districts or in D.C. Reorganizing the calendar to maximize the time members have while they are in Washington and limiting the constant back and forth could help members be more productive - and better rested.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Unified Committee Calendar
A common online portal for scheduling committee activities - one that tracks and cross-checks the availability of members' obligations to all committees - could help avoid scheduling conflicts.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Standardized Continuity of Operations Plans
The ongoing pandemic and national security threats has brought to light the need for standardized continuity of operations plans for all member offices, both on the Hill and back in districts. It should be clear to employees how work will go forward when there is an interruption or emergency. Apart from some customization, the plans should be similar office-to-office to prevent confusion and potentially contradictory instructions, particularly at a time of high stress. Telework, emergency communications, call forwarding and other basic tools should all be covered under these new policies.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Comprehensive Bipartisan Telework Policies for Committees
Due to the nature of committee work, separate detailed policies for telework and remote hearings should be established on a bipartisan basis to maintain uniform practices across the entire staff. This should include policies on everything from data retention, to external communications with agencies, to the possibility of remote voting and hearings. This way committees can maintain their important oversight roles - which are even more essential during times of emergencies - uninterrupted.
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House Committee on Rules |
No legislation required. |
Continue Electronic Submission of Committee Reports
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the House experimented with the option to have committee reports submitted to the House clerk electronically. As there have been no problems with this change, it should be made permanent regardless of whether the committee is working remotely or on-site.
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House Committees on Rules and House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Permit Use of Digital Signatures
Even when many staff and members aren't working remotely, getting cosponsor signatures on (or off) bills, and signatures on numerous other legislative minutae, such as constituent communications, is a clunky process at best. Creating an online portal to gather electronic signatures and designating a staff member who can use the digital signature would make this process more effecient and less burdensome.
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House Committee on Rules |
No legislation required |
Post-Pandemic Task Force and Study
It's important to seek out lessons learned during the extraordinary challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. A bipartisan, bicameral task force should investigate how Congress responded, particularly regarding the continuity of Congress. A study on House operations would also help evaluate how new practices are working and whether they should be kept or shelved.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Blocked Scheduling for Committee Work
It can be difficult for Members to meet all their committee and subcommittee obligations, often due to overlapping schedules. That means Members are missing out on important information at hearings, and critical steps in the legislative process. Some states have already demonstrated that blocked scheduling for committees - specific chunks of time set aside for what committees can meet when - can resolve a lot of this frustration.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Schedule Time for Bipartisan Member Retreat
Members - old and new - have a full slate at the start of each Congress. However, in order to improve bipartisan cooperation and relationships, it's essential that the Congressional Calendar make time for a bipartisan member retreat. Time is precious, and this is an investment that will pay off in the halls of Congress in myriad ways.
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Civility and Bipartisanship
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Bipartisan Retreats for Members and Their Families
Time together away from the Hill is the best opportunity Members of Congress have to build healthy working relationships across party lines, but there's little time to do so. Almost from the instant a new Member steps foot on the Hill, their time and training is controlled on a partisan basis. A retreat at the start of each Congress for new Members and their families could help change this dynamic right from the start.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Encourage Bipartisan Fact-Finding Trips
Congressional Delegation (CODEL) trips have been unfairly disparaged as a frivolous waste of time and resources. In fact, not only are these trips an essential source of first-hand learning about essential domestic issues, they are also an unparalleled opportunity for bipartisan relationship-building away from the glare of media and pressures of the Hill or district.
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Committees on House Administration and Rules |
No legislation required. |
Try Oxford-Style Floor Debate Events
D.C. insiders know that very little real deliberation happens on the House floor. Visitors are always surprised to visit the chamber and see only one member with a giant poster or two speaking to cameras in a sea of empty seats. Statements pursuant to amendments (when amendments are actually permitted) or votes on legislation are a highly coordinated partisan production for maximum soundbites, not persuasion. Congress should give the people what they want: a real debate! To provide an opportunity for a civil, systematic consideration of our biggest challenges would be a chance for legislators and the public to learn something more than just a talking point - about policy and each other.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Debate Workshops
Members and staff, on a bipartisan basis, could be provided with training during new member orientation in debate, processing opposing views and constructive dialogue.
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Enhance Bipartisan Staff Relationships Within Committees
Like their bosses, committee staff are divided by party and tend to work primarily in separate corners. Prioritizing bipartisan staff briefings, trainings and even retreats could help build personal bonds between staff. This, in turn, could lead to more productive committee hearings, markups and other work.
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Personal Staff Participation in CODELs
Staff from Members' personal offices have fewer opportunities to connect with staff from across the aisle. Permitting personal staff to participate in committee organized congressional delegation (CODEL) travel could enhance working relationships.
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Committee on House Administration |
Depending on detail and implementation |
Encourage Cross-District Travel
Permitting members to use their MRA for traveling to other members' districts, could create more opportunities to foster bipartisan relationship building and help members' better understand the issues facing their colleagues' constituents.
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Promote the House Rules of Decorum and Debate
A session on the House Rules of Decorum and Debate, during new member orientation and available as a continuing education course, could help improve the tone of debate and promote civility.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required. |
Collaborative Committee Goal and Expectation Settings
If Committee members work together to set policy and conduct expectations (both publicly and in private) on a bipartisan basis - perhaps at a Members' retreat - Committees can be more productive and enjoy better buy-in from their members, who all had a voice in the process.
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Smarter Constituent Service
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required |
Regular Technology
A blackout is a bad time to discover the flashlight needs batteries. In the same way, particularly as we grow more reliant on technology, a mandatory work-from-home order or other emergency that keeps staff away from the office would be a bad time to find equipment, software and other technology are out-of-date or nonfunctioning. Not only would that make it much more challenging to maintain operations, it could also prove to be a significant cybersecurity risk. Regular technology check-ups, conducted in conjunction with the re-established Office of Technology Assessment, new HR Hub and Sergeant at Arms can help prevent unnecessary interruptions.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required |
Modernize Technology to Avoid Disruption in Operations and Provide Access to Key Platforms and Software
It's a good time to work remotely. In years past, this might have been far more difficult. But today, it makes sense for all offices and staff to be equipped with the technology necessary to work from home and avoid disruptions. This includes laptops, establishing VPNs, secure wifi connections - and other tools that both D.C. and district office staff use to meet the needs of constituents. In addition, the House should accelerate approval of video and communication platforms, and the purchase of software licenses for each individual staff member. This will enhance online security, avoid confusion as to what may or may not be used, and help ensure staff have access to the tools they need.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required |
Crisis Communication Guidelines
To help offices communicate swiftly and effectively with constituents in the event of an emergency or other crisis, the House Communications Standards Commission should create new expedited review processes and sample language to share with member offices to ensure emergency communications get out in a timely and consistent manner.
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Committee on House Administration |
No legislation required |
Secure Digital Document Management
During remote-work periods, a House-wide secure digital document management system, along with digital forms and templates, and digital signature or checkoff will help streamline casework and protect private information. While this is particularly important when staff is forced to telework, making standard documents easier to access, use and secure online could generate other efficiencies as well.
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Promote Constituent Services Best Practices
With little officially to go on, each new congressional office practically has to reinvent the wheel when it comes to effective constituent services and engagement. This lack of standards or instructions - most information is passed on second, third or fourth hand - is exacerbated by the rapid turnover among staff and lack of institutional knowledge. Creating a nonpartisan page with best practices, available to all on the House network, is a simple and smart remedy.
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New and Improved Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) 
