Updating the way Congress does business will improve representation and outcomes for all Americans. Fortunately, there are countless opportunities for reform, and the following list aims to provide a collection of options for modernizing the First Branch.

Category & Summary Jurisdiction Status

Technology and Transparency

Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
Committee on House Administration
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
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Congressional Capacity

Committee on House Administration Requires funding in legislative branch appropriations. Included in FY2020 and FY2021 legislative branch appropriatons bills committee reports.
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
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
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
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
Committee on House Administration May require no legislation
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
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Reclaim Article One and Budget Reform

Committees on House Administration and Oversight and Reform This change could require a range of actions depending on the specifics of the proposal.
House Committee on the Budget Legislation required.
Committees on House Rules and Judiciary This change could require a range of actions depending on the specifics of the proposal.
Committees on House Rules and Budget No legislation required
House Committee on the Budget No legislation required.
House Committees on Oversight and Reform and Budget May require enactment of legislation.
Committees on House Administration and Rules No legislation required.
Committees on House Administration and Rules No legislation required.
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
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Internal Operations

House Committees on Rules and Administration No legislation required.
House Committees on Rules and Administration No legislation required.
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
House Committee on Rules No legislation required.
House Committees on Rules and House Administration No legislation required.
House Committee on Rules No legislation required
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
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Civility and Bipartisanship

Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
Committees on House Administration and Rules No legislation required.
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
Committee on House Administration Depending on detail and implementation
Committee on House Administration No legislation required.
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Smarter Constituent Service

Committee on House Administration No legislation required
Committee on House Administration No legislation required
Committee on House Administration No legislation required
Committee on House Administration No legislation required
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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