Statement on House “ModCom” first 20 recommendations of the 117th Congress

We congratulate Chair Kilmer, Vice Chair Timmons, and all of the Members of the House Select Committee on Modernization on the approval of the first 20 recommendations of the 117th Congress.

We especially note the recommendation for creation of a “Task Force on the House Workforce,” which goes beyond simply addressing today's workforce issues to establish a process for ongoing assessment and continuous improvement. Ultimately, “modernization” is not a one-time box to be checked, it is ongoing institutional agility in the face of changing conditions.

On National Intern Day, we also commend the committee’s call for a study of the impact of remote internships and the recommendation that the House establish an intern development office or coordinator and standardized onboarding for congressional staffers. We in the “First Branch Intern Project” will soon demonstrate the benefit of this standardized approach with an Intern Orientation event on September 9-10 (aka “InternaPalooza”). As Members noted in today’s meeting, Congressional staff are essential to the effectiveness of the legislative branch. These recommendations are an important step to improving staff recruitment and retention and to ensuring that Congress is accessible — online and in-person — for all Americans.

— Marci Harris, Co-founder