Press Releases
Modernization Committee Hearing Provides Recommendation Status Report to the American People
Today, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (“Modernization Committee”) held a hearing to provide a status update on its progress as it begins its final year.To date, the Modernization Committee has passed a total of 142 recommendations to make Congress more effective, efficient, and transparent for the American people. As highlighted in the Committee’s recently released implementation report, over 60% of the 97 recommendations from the 116th Congress have … Continue Reading
December 08, 2021
Modernization Committee Passes Second Set of Recommendations to Increase Member Collaboration and Bolster Evidence-Based Policymaking
View statements of support from good governance organizations HERE. Today, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Modernization Committee") passed its second set of recommendations in the 117th Congress. The slate of recommendations focuses on enhancing civility and collaboration among members of Congress, bolstering the effectiveness of the congressional support agencies, and promoting the collection and use of impartial data and analysis in the policymaking process. This … Continue Reading
November 04, 2021
Modernization Committee Holds Hearing on Strengthening Congressional Oversight Capacity to Promote Transparency, Improve Policy
The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (“Modernization Committee”) held a hearing on strengthening congressional oversight capacity. Expert witnesses from the Levin Center at Wayne State University Law School, Georgetown University Law School, and Protect Democracy shared with the Modernization Committee that while effective congressional oversight can make government more efficient and save taxpayer money, it has become increasingly difficult. They noted a … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Following the Modernization Committee’s Recommendation, Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution Passes the House
Today, Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chair William Timmons (R-SC) applauded the passage of H. Con. Res. 44, the Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution. This resolution, introduced by Representatives Kathleen Rice (D-NY) and Andy Barr (R-KY), requires the Comptroller General to present the Financial Report of the United States Government in an annual joint hearing of the House and Senate Budget Committees. H. Con. Res. 44 aligns with a recommendation advanced by the Select Committee on the … Continue Reading
October 28, 2021
Modernization Committee Holds Hearing on Bolstering Evidence-Based Policymaking in Congress
The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Modernization Committee") held a hearing to discuss how to improve the way members, committees, and staff access and decipher complex data and analyses so they can make better decisions during policymaking process. The committee heard from experts in the field on how private industry collects and interprets data to improve their operations and serve their customers, and how Congress can take lessons learned and become more effective … Continue Reading
October 28, 2021
The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress Makes Progress on Nearly Two Thirds of Bipartisan Recommendations to Help Congress More Effectively Serve the American People
Today, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Modernization Committee") announced that nearly two thirds of the bipartisan recommendations passed by the Committee in the 116th Congress to make Congress work better for the American people have been fully adopted or have seen meaningful progress towards full implementation. In an effort to make Congress more efficient, effective, and transparent for the American people, the Modernization Committee passed 97 recommendations … Continue Reading
October 22, 2021
Modernization Committee Holds Hearing on Modernizing the Congressional Support Agencies
On Thursday, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Modernization Committee") held a hearing to examine the congressional support agencies. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Government Accountability Office (GAO), and Congressional Research Service (CRS) play critical roles in the legislative process by providing Congress with the expert analysis necessary to carry out its responsibilities. As congressional demands increase for accessible and specialized policy, legal, … Continue Reading
September 24, 2021
House Select Committee Continues to Examine How Practicing Civility, Collaboration, and Leadership can Empower Members of Congress
Today, Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chair William Timmons (R-SC) of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") held a hearing on how to empower members of Congress to approach policy making through civil and collaborative leadership despite growing polarization. The hearing, titled "Pathways to Success: How Practicing Civility, Collaboration, and Leadership Can Empower Members," featured experts in the fields of leadership development, workplace … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Select Committee Passes First Set of Bipartisan Recommendations in the 117th Congress
Today, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") passed its first set of recommendations in the 117th Congress, following the Committee being extended through this Congress. This package of recommendations follows multiple hearings that investigated how Congress can better serve the American people by professionalizing internships and fellowships, increasing staff capacity, retaining a diverse and representative workforce, and ensuring accessibility for all … Continue Reading
July 21, 2021
ICYMI: Select Committee Holds Hearing on Enhancing Committee Productivity
Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chair William Timmons (R-SC) of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") held a hearing titled "Enhancing Committee Productivity." The hearing featured two panels which included members of Congress, former congressional committee staff, and a congressional scholar to explore opportunities to foster collaboration and productivity in the work of committees. "Committees are supposed to be the place where important policy work … Continue Reading
June 25, 2021
ICYMI: Select Committee Holds Second Hearing to Improve Civility and Cooperation in Congress
Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chair William Timmons (R-SC) of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") held a hearing to examine ways to foster civility and collaboration in Congress to combat the high levels of polarization that the institution currently faces. During the hearing, titled "Rethinking Congressional Culture: Lessons from the Fields of Organizational Psychology and Conflict Resolution," members heard from experts in organizational … Continue Reading
June 17, 2021
Select Committee Examines Ways to Build A More Civil and Cooperative Congress
Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chair William Timmons (R-SC) of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") held a hearing to examine efforts to improve collaboration and civility in Congress and to understand better the various factors and societal trends that have contributed to the high levels of polarization in Congress."This is the first organization in which I've worked in that does not have a widely embraced mission or set of goals. Congress often feels … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Select Committee Tackles House Accessibility Hurdles in Hearing
Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chair William Timmons (R-SC) of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") held a virtual hearing to explore the hurdles Americans face in working for the House or engaging with Congress. "For the House to fulfill its charge of transforming public opinion into public policy they need to be able to hear from all the people they represent, but access to Congress is not universal," said Kilmer. "The physical barriers to access … Continue Reading
April 21, 2021
Modernization Committee Names Derek Harley as Republican Staff Director of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress
U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06) and William Timmons (R-SC-04), Chair and Vice Chair of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee"), today announced the appointment of Derek Harley to serve as the new Republican Staff Director of the Select Committee. A veteran congressional staffer with more than 20 years of policy, management, and campaign experience, Mr. Harley most recently served as Senior Vice President of Federal Affairs at Shumaker Advisors … Continue Reading
April 15, 2021
Modernization Committee Holds Member Day
Today, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") held its 2021 Member Day hearing with 25 Members of Congress. Democrats and Republicans testified virtually to share a wide variety of ideas to improve and modernize the legislative branch, and help Congress fulfill its Constitutional role as a co-equal branch of government. Topics included: Rules to promote a more modern and efficient legislative body. Procedures, including adjusting the schedule and … Continue Reading
January 26, 2021
Kilmer Names Yuri Beckelman as New Staff Director of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Chair of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee"), today announced the appointment of Yuri Beckelman to serve as the new Staff Director of the Select Committee. A veteran congressional staffer with more than 15 years of policy and management experience on Capitol Hill, Mr. Beckelman most recently served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) and as Senior Advisor to the … Continue Reading
January 04, 2021
House Extends Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, Adopts Committee Recommendations
House Adopts Rules Package to Reauthorize Select Committee in 117th Congress, Implement Changes Recommended by Select Committee in 116th Congress Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted the Rules of the 117th Congress, reauthorizing the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") and implementing a number of changes recommended by the Select Committee in the 116th Congress. The extension allows the Select Committee to continue its work … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Modernization Committee Extended Through 117th Congress
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") will be extended through the 117th Congress. Created by an overwhelming bipartisan vote at the beginning of the 116th Congress, the Select Committee was tasked with crafting recommendations to make Congress work better. Over the last two years, under the leadership of Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chair Tom Graves (R-GA), Democrats and … Continue Reading
October 14, 2020
Select Committee Releases Final Report with 97 Recommendations to Make Congress Work Better for the American People
Report published by GPO using new XPub technology Washington, D.C. - Today the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") released its final report, which details the committee's 97 recommendations and findings made during the 116th Congress to make Congress work better for the American people. The report is available to view on the Select Committee's new microsite designed to highlight each section of the report, which can be seen here. Throughout the 116th … Continue Reading
October 01, 2020
Chair Kilmer Urges House to Adopt Committee Recommendations for 117th Congress
Washington, D.C. - Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) testified today before the U.S. House Committee on Rules about the recommendations the Select Committee has made to improve House operations. The Rules Committee hosted a Member Day Hearing on Proposed Rules Changes for the 117th Congress. Chair Kilmer shared a number of the recommendations passed by the Select Committee and how these bipartisan ideas to improve the House rules … Continue Reading