Press Releases
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
September 24, 2020
Select Committee Passes Final Round of Recommendations to Make Congress Work Better for the American People
Fifth package would help reclaim Congress' Article One responsibilities, improve the congressional schedule and calendar, boost congressional capacity and reform the budget and appropriations process Washington, D.C. - Today the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") passed its fifth and final package of recommendations to make Congress work better for the American people. 40 new recommendations were passed, which aim to help Congress reclaim its Article One … Continue Reading
August 14, 2020
Select Committee joins Stubblefield Institute to talk modernizing Congress
The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chair Tom Graves (R-GA) joined The Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications to discuss the Select Committee's work. Established in 2019 as part of The Shepherd University, The Stubblefield Institute is committed to "bringing divergent viewpoints together in constructive debate and authentic dialogue in order to foster greater civic engagement and responsibility." The Chair and Vice Chair … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
Select Committee Unanimously Approves Fourth Round of Recommendations
Washington, D.C. - Today the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") unanimously passed 12 new recommendations aimed at improving continuity of operations in Congress. This was the fourth package of recommendations passed by the Select Committee. Since many congressional offices began teleworking in March due to the global pandemic, the Select Committee has held six virtual discussions with guest experts. In a number of the discussions, the Members and … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
Committee Approves Key Modernization Initiatives and Priorities
Language echoing five Select Committee recommendations included in FY21 funding bill Washington, D.C. - The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress today applauded the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations' passage of the FY 21 Legislative Branch funding bill, which included a number of key provisions investing in the long term modernization of the legislative branch. There are five items that directly correlate to recommendations and requests made by the Select Committee. These … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
House Administration and Modernization Committees Publicize Reports to Improve Congress
Washington, D.C. - Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Chairperson Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chair Tom Graves (R-GA) announced that the congressional reports from the Select Committee's ongoing work will be made public. The reports - mandated by legislation passed in March - detail how the Select Committee's recommendations could be implemented in the legislative branch. The … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Select Committee Hosts Virtual Discussion on Boosting Internal Expertise in Congress
Yesterday the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") hosted a virtual discussion to examine the importance of congressional staff expertise, and the role that Congressional Member Organizations (CMOs) play in providing Members with additional information and resources to assist them in their policy making and representational roles. The Select Committee was joined by Lee Drutman, senior fellow in the Political Reform program at New America Foundation; Paul … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Select Committee Hosts Virtual Discussion with American Political Science Association Task Force
Today the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") hosted a discussion with members of the American Political Science Association (APSA) to discuss ongoing recommendations for congressional reform, with a specific focus on congressional capacity, the need for a diverse congressional staff, and the congressional schedule and calendar. Last year following the creation of the Select Committee, APSA created the Task Force on Congressional Reform, comprised of more … Continue Reading
June 08, 2020
Select Committee Members Host Virtual Discussion on Congressional Staffing Reforms
Washington, D.C. - Last week the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress "Select Committee" held a virtual discussion with outside guests to discuss staffing reforms on Capitol Hill. This was the fourth virtual discussion hosted by the Select Committee in the last month. Casey Burgat, director of the Legislative Affairs program at the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University, and Kathryn Pearson, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, … Continue Reading
May 26, 2020
Select Committee Members Host Virtual Discussion
Washington, D.C. - The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") held a virtual discussion with two guests to discuss best practices and identify the challenges facing district staff while working remotely, and what steps federal agencies are taking to protect employees once they return to work in an office environment. Peter M. Weichlein, Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC), and Kristine Simmons, Vice President for … Continue Reading
May 07, 2020
Select Committee Hosts Virtual Member Discussion
Washington, D.C. - The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") held a virtual discussion with two guest speakers to discuss the importance of committee continuity and how to continue working effectively on behalf of the American people during the ongoing global pandemic. The Select Committee met virtually with Marci Harris, CEO of PopVox, and Beth Simone Noveck, Director of The Governance Lab and Chief Innovation Officer for the State of New Jersey. The Members … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Legislation to Reform Congress Passes House
Text was introduced and championed by the committee's twelve bipartisan Members of Congress Washington, D.C. - Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress' ("Select Committee") bipartisan legislation to make Congress more effective, efficient and transparent. H.Res.756, the Moving our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization Resolution ("ModCom"), includes nearly 30 of the recommendations made by the Select … Continue Reading