Press Releases
Modernization Committee Marks Progress on Three-quarters of Recommendations
Today, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (“Modernization Committee”) announced that 77 percent of its bipartisan recommendations have been fully implemented or have seen meaningful progress toward implementation. Recommendations passed by the Committee are aimed at making Congress more efficient and effective for the American people. Throughout the Modernization Committee’s tenure, it has developed and passed 142 recommendations. These recommendations are … Continue Reading
June 23, 2022
Modernization Committee Holds Hearing on Improving the Development and Adoption of Technology in Congress
Today, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (“Modernization Committee”) convened for the hearing, “Congress & Technology: Modernizing the Innovation Cycle.” Members and witnesses explored opportunities to improve the Legislative Branch’s development of innovative technology, the recruitment and retention of talented staff with technology expertise, and how integrating updated technology in the legislative process can make Congress more … Continue Reading
June 22, 2022
Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill Clears Committee, Advancing 23 Modernization Committee Recommendations
Today, Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chair William Timmons (R-SC) of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (Modernization Committee) applauded the passage of the Legislative Branch Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 funding bill by the full committee. The legislation advances 23 of the Modernization Committee’s bipartisan recommendations and includes funding to support further modernization initiatives to advance additional recommendations. A few key recommendations addressed by … Continue Reading
June 08, 2022
Modernization Committee Holds Hearing on Strengthening the Pathways to Public Service
Today, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (“Modernization Committee”) held a hearing to explore barriers that prevent many qualified and talented Americans from running for office and examine how to increase retention among solution-oriented members of Congress. Members of the Committee heard from former Congressman Gregg Harper, Dr. Molly Reynolds, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, and organizational psychologist Dr. Steven … Continue Reading
April 28, 2022
Modernization Committee Holds Hearing on Strengthening the Legislative Process
Today, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (“Modernization Committee”) held a hearing to examine how the House can streamline the legislative process and expand the public’s understanding of what goes in to turning an idea into a law. Members of the Committee heard from the Director of the Government Printing Office (GPO), Hugh Halpern; the Deputy Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Kevin McCumber; and the Deputy Legislative Counsel for the U.S. … Continue Reading
April 06, 2022
Modernization Committee Holds Hearing on the Continuity of Congress in Times of Crisis
Today, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (“Modernization Committee”) held a hearing to examine if Congress can effectively carry out its constitutional duties in the face of an unprecedented national emergency, resulting in either mass vacancies or the mass incapacitation of members. Members of the Committee explored the topic with Secretary Donna Shalala, Ambassador A.B. Culvahouse, and Congressmen Brian Baird and Mike Bishop, who currently serve on the … Continue Reading
March 17, 2022
Modernization Committee Holds Hearing on “Innovative Workplaces, Historic Spaces: Modernizing House Office Buildings”
Today, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (“Modernization Committee”) held a hearing to examine how the U.S. House of Representatives can modernize its existing physical space to improve productivity and collaboration, facilitate staff recruitment and retention, and improve wayfinding within the Capitol complex to enhance the experience for visitors. During the hearing titled “Innovative Workplaces, Historic Spaces: Modernizing House Office … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Modernization Committee Holds Hearing on Modernizing District Offices
Today, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (“Modernization Committee”) held a hearing to examine opportunities to modernize and better support the congressional district staff serving in 960 district offices across the country.During the hearing, members of the Modernization Committee heard from George Hadijski, the Director of Congressional Programming at the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), Danielle Radovich Piper, Chief of Staff to Congressman Ed … Continue Reading
January 20, 2022
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