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The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress Marks Progress on Majority of 116th Congress Recommendations

The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (“Modernization Committee”) is a bipartisan, twelve-member committee led by Chairman Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chairman William Timmons (R-SC). The Modernization Committee was established to investigate, study, make findings, hold public hearings, and develop recommendations to make Congress more efficient, effective, and transparent for the American people.

Through a series of hearings, listening sessions with staff, and other forums, the Modernization Committee developed and passed 97 recommendations in the 116th Congress, and 20 so far in the 117th Congress.

Over sixty percent (63 of 97) of the Modernization Committee’s recommendations adopted in the 116th Congress have been implemented or have seen meaningful action (i.e., Partially Implemented, In Progress). Of that sixty percent, 20 recommendations have been fully implemented and 13 are nearing full implementation.

This report includes detailed descriptions and the implementation statuses of Modernization Committee recommendations from the 116th Congress.

How does the Modernization Committee define recommendation status?

Implemented: Actions that address recommendations are complete.
Partially Implemented: Portions of the recommendation have been implemented.
In Progress: Actions that address the recommendation are underway or the Committee is actively pursuing identified paths towards implementation.
Open: Committee Staff is researching and developing avenues for implementation.

Continued Progress

The Modernization Committee is one of the only congressional reform entities that has worked to hold itself accountable and ensure that its recommendations are monitored and implemented during the Committee's tenure. The Modernization Committee is also the first reform committee in recent history to introduce and pass legislation to implement its recommendations while the Committee is still standing.

Since passage of H.Res. 756 in March 2020, the Modernization Committee has continued to pursue multiple avenues for implementation of its recommendations including legislative actions and advocacy at the committee and leadership level, along with institutional support offices.

Moving forward, the Committee will continue to track recommendations and advocate for implementation of recommendations passed in the 117^th Congress.

The Modernization Committee's Progress on Improving Staff Retention, Diversity, and Recruitment

In order to fulfill its full Article I responsibilities, Congress must take steps to retain its talented, experienced, and diverse workforce. Providing staff with the tools necessary to succeed in their roles will allow members and their offices to be more effective in serving their districts in Congress.

Below are some detailed examples of implemented recommendations that will work to increase Congressional capacity.

Creating a one-stop shop Human Resources HUB dedicated to member, committee, and leadership (MCL) staff (Rec. #6).

In August 2021, the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) launched a central House of Representatives Human Resources Hub to provide congressional offices with best practices, tips, and templates for hiring, developing, managing, and retaining a diverse and talented workforce.

This centralization of information aims to increase the ability for staff to understand the range of benefits and support available to them. In addition, the Hub aims to streamline the management and hiring process within congressional offices.

Making the Office of Diversity and Inclusion permanent (Rec. #7).

In the 116th Congress, the House Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) was established to foster diversity among House Offices to better reflect the diversity of the American people. ODI was later made permanent in the 117th Rules Package.

Specifically, ODI and CAO conduct the House Compensation and Diversity survey every Congress; ODI directs and guides House employing offices to recruit, hire, train, develop, advance, promote, and retain a diverse workforce.

Regularly surveying staff on improving pay and benefits (Rec. #10).

The CAO now regularly conducts surveys to capture critical information surrounding staff pay, benefits, and diversity. Better understanding this data allows CAO to gauge problems within the institution and track progress.

The CAO has successfully carried out these surveys in 2019 and 2021 and has plans to conduct similar surveys regularly. Information from these surveys will allow the House to make informed and more routine benefit adjustments to improve retention on the Hill.

Decoupling Staff and Member Pay (Rec. #70).

On August 12, 2021, Speaker Pelosi announced that the House would adopt the Modernization Committee’s recommendation to raise the maximum pay rate for House staff, decoupling it from member pay.

The implemented recommendation will promote the retention and recruitment of a highly talented and diverse staff, as well as ensuring a competitive pay rate comparable to the rest of the federal workforce.

Additional recommendations adopted by the Modernization Committee that will help increase staff retention include establishing a nonbinding, voluntary pay band system for House staff and helping provide more assistance for congressional staff enrolled in the federal student loan program. A full list of implemented recommendations can be found in table 1.

The Modernization Committee's Progress on Fostering Civil, Bipartisan Governance in the House

The rise of partisan gridlock has undermined Congress’ ability to create meaningful policy solutions for the American People. The Modernization Committee regularly heard concerns surrounding the partisan nature of new member orientation through hearings and roundtable discussions in the 116th Congress. The Modernization Committee advanced a series of recommendations to instill the importance of civility and allow new members to get to know colleagues from across the political spectrum.

While the Modernization Committee continues to hold hearings addressing these issues in the 117th Congress, several previous recommendations on the subject have already been implemented:

Offering a nonpartisan new member orientation (Rec. #12).

Following the recommendations of the Modernization Committee, members elect and staff participated in more than 20 bipartisan New Member Orientation (NMO) briefings and events ahead of the 117th Congress.

These briefings and events aimed to foster collaborative partnerships between new members, rather than reinforcing party divisions through a partisan NMO.

Promoting civility during New Member Orientation (Rec. #14).

In addition to holding bipartisan briefings and events, the 117th Congress NMO program included a session on decorum and bipartisanship facilitated by Modernization Committee Chair Derek Kilmer, former Modernization Committee Vice-Chair Tom Graves, and additional guest speakers. By emphasizing these norms early on, the Modernization Committee is aiming to help change partisan culture in Congress.

The Modernization Committee's Progress on Promoting Transparency, Access to Information, and Accessibility for Disabled Americans

The People’s House should be accessible and transparent for every American. That includes ensuring constituents have more direct access to public information about the work of their representatives, the progress of legislation, as well as internship and job postings in Congress.

The Modernization Committee has advanced several recommendations to ensure that information is easily found and accessible. Below are several implemented recommendations that aim to help secure this goal.

Improving access to congressional websites for individuals with disabilities (Rec. #27).

In 2019, the CAO started undergoing efforts to ensure that House websites are fully accessible and compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Complying with these regulations helps ensure that disabled Americans can access and use House websites without obstacles.

Prior to the 117th Congress, the CAO developed a new 508 compliant platform that they utilized for new member sites. They also developed a plan to continue monitoring compliant sites and train House staff to ensure newly compliant sites remain accessible.

The CAO continues to access existing House websites and take steps to ensure full Section 508 compliance. Additional information can be found in CAO’s website accessibility report.

Consolidate the regulations governing member office communications, including digital communications, into one easy to find place (Rec. #39).

The House Communications Standard Commission (previously referred to as the Franking Commission) is a bipartisan commission that works to help offices use official communications resources to share important and factual information with constituents.

Following the Modernization Committee’s recommendation, the House Communications Standards Commission released updated standards that took effect on January 7th, 2020 to ensure the information regarding official communications was more transparent and accessible. The new guidelines modernize mass communication by including digital communications rules, improving transparency, and allowing offices to interact with their constituents on a more efficient timeline.

The updated manual can be found here.

Additional recommendations adopted by the Committee that aim to help increase Americans’ access to the People’s House include increasing opportunities for representatives to communicate with their constituents and creating crisis communication guidelines for constituents during long periods of telework. A full list of implemented recommendations can be found in table 1.

The Modernization Committee's Progress on Budget and Appropriations Reforms

One of Congress’ most important responsibilities is the power of the purse. To fully reclaim its Article I responsibilities and reduce dysfunction in the annual budgeting process, the bipartisan members of the Modernization Committee recommended implementing new Community Funding Projects that would allow members of Congress to advocate for district-specific projects requested by the communities themselves. The suggested program was grounded in community input, bipartisan support, and unprecedented transparency – and led to the establishment of the House Appropriation Committee’s Community Project Funding program. (Rec. #85).

Reduce dysfunction in the annual budgeting process through the establishment of a congressionally-directed program that calls for transparency and accountability, and that supports meaningful and transformative investments in local communities across the United States. The program will harness the authority of Congress under Article I of the Constitution to appropriate federal dollars.

This fully implemented recommendation established a congressionally-directed program that strengthens transparency and supports community investments across the United States. The Community Project Funding program aims to facilitate community and member input in the appropriations process, and to help ensure that federal funding is allocated to address the most important community needs.

Full List of Implemented Recommendations

Table 1: Twenty Fully Implemented Recommendations

Recommendation Title

Last Action

Create a one-stop shop Human Resources HUB dedicated to Member, committee, and leadership (MCL) staff.

House HR Hub launched online on August 12, 2021 for staff use.

Make permanent the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

The 117th Congress Rules Package established a permanent Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Regularly surveying staff on improving pay and benefits.

The office of the Chief Administrative Officer executed staff surveys on pay and benefits in 2019 and 2021.

Allowing newly-elected members to hire and pay one transition staff member.

The FY2021 Legislative Appropriations Bill implemented a process in the 117th Congress by which newly-elected members can hire and pay a transition staff member.

Offering new-Member orientation in a nonpartisan way.

The 117th Congress offered more than 20 briefings and events during New Member Orientation (NMO) for members-elect and staff. All offerings were provided in a bipartisan setting, with the exception of leadership and conference offerings. NMO information is available to members-elect on a continuing basis via videos and other program resources on the Committee on House Administration (CHA) NMO website.

Making new-Member orientation more comprehensive.

The most recent NMO was one of the longest and most comprehensive of its kind in House history. The orientation was held in two phases spanning 17 days. The program included briefings provided by current members, senior staff, House Officers, institutional staff, and others on a range of issues including House rules, decorum, and civility. Members-elect can now access "on-demand" orientation training services with NMO videos and resources available via the CHA NMO website.

Promoting civility during new-Member orientation.

The 117th Congress NMO offered programming on decorum and bipartisanship in addition to multiple bipartisan briefings and events. The decorum and bipartisanship session was facilitated by Representatives Kilmer, Graves, and others.

Improving access to congressional websites for individuals with disabilities.

CAO developed a comprehensive plan to implement accessibility tools to ensure disabled Americans can make full use of all House websites.

CAO submitted a formal plan to the Committee on House Administration outlining its implementation process. New members of the 117th Congress entered office with accessible website features.

Consolidate the regulations governing Member office communications, including digital communications, into one easy to find place.

A revised communications standards manual was created in 2020 and made available for House office use.

Rename the House Commission on Mailing Standards, also known as the Franking Commission, the House Communications Standards Commission to reflect 21st Century communications.

The House Commission on Mailing Standards (HCMS) name change came as a result of the COMMS Act (H.R. 7512), which was incorporated into the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The legislation was signed into law in December 2020. The Commission's branding and materials reflect the name change.

Increase opportunities for constituents to communicate with their Representatives.

The revised and updated communications standards manual includes the ability for constituents to subscribe to all forms of Member communications, provided that the Member office notifies subscribers how they may unsubscribe.

Allow for faster correspondence between Representatives and their constituents.

Several actions were taken to allow for faster correspondence, including:

A) Disclosure of mass unsolicited emails (not waiting for HCMS approval)

B) Digital advertisements that cost $499 or less without approval

C) Federal Action Follow-Up (expanded 1-to-1 rule).

Allow the public to better access and view the types of communication sent by members of Congress to their constituents.

A public-facing website is now available. Anyone who accesses the website can search approved communications and disclosed mass emails by any House Member at any point in time.

Crisis communications guidelines for constituent communication, including outreach plans for extended telework periods, should be approved and shared with all Member offices.

The HCMS submitted a report to the Committee on House Administration detailing Member use of the Frank during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the manual was revised, easing rules during disasters and surrounding fast communications without prior HCMS approval.

The House should prioritize the approval of platforms that staff need for effective telework, and each individual staff member should have licensed access to the approved technology.

The House purchased and provided Member offices with enterprise licenses for Office 365, Teams, Cisco, WebEx, and Zoom.

The House should make permanent the option to electronically submit committee reports.

The 117th Congress Rules Package established the permanent option allowing the electronic submission of committee reports.

Establish a nonbinding, voluntary pay band system for House staff that includes a salary floor and average salary for each position in Member offices. Regular services should be done to ensure the most up-to-date salary information.

The Chief Administrative Officer developed job profiles with salary ranges as an HR Hub feature. The Select Committee on Modernization will continue to act on access to staff salary information through subsequent recommendations in the 117th Congress.

Provide more financial stability for congressional staff enrolled in the federal student loan program.

The CARES Act Provision that allowed student loan borrowers enrolled in the federal student loan program to avoid taxes on the benefits they receive was extended in the 2020 Omnibus to 2025.

Staff pay should be delinked from Member pay and a new cap specific to staff should be established.

On August 12, 2021, Speaker Pelosi announced the Speaker's New Pay Order, which delinked staff pay from Member pay and established a new cap of $199,300.

Reduce dysfunction in the annual budgeting process through the establishment of a congressionally directed program that calls for transparency and accountability, and that supports meaningful and transformative investments in local communities across the United States. The program will harness the authority of Congress under Article I of the Constitution to appropriate federal dollars.

The House Committee on Appropriations accepted Community Project Funding requests for the first time in FY22.

Table 2: Thirteen Partially Implemented Recommendations

#	Recommendation Title
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.
19	Requiring House Information Resources (HIR) to prioritize certain technological improvements.
21	Requiring House Information Resources (HIR) to allow Member offices to test new technologies.
24	Leveraging bulk purchasing of the House by removing technology costs out of Member offices’ budgets and moving into a centralized account.
29	Requiring a review of the Capitol complex to determine accessibility challenges for individuals with disabilities.
31	Institute biennial bipartisan retreats for members and their families at the start of each Congress.
34	Update House procedures to allow members to electronically add or remove their name as a bill cosponsor.
46	Each office should have a continuity of operations plan, including minimum safety requirements and an emergency communications plan, that is made available to all staff so offices continue functioning for the public.
54	Expand the use of digital signatures for a majority of House business, including constituent communications.
63	Offer staff certifications, in additions to trainings, through the nonpartisan Congressional Staff Academy.
81	Identify how increased regulatory and legal resources could help strengthen the role of the legislative branch.
95	Establish a Congressional Digital Services Task Force to examine the need for and role of a specialized group of technologists, designers, and others to support the House’s internal and public facing operations.