Future-Proofing Congress

How Member-Led Upgrades Are Optimizing Legislative Branch Capacity and Resilience

Introduction

Executive Summary

The Moment

The Pacing Problem

Member-driven Accomplishments

The House of Representatives is in the midst of a modernization golden age that began in 2019. In a great demonstration of bipartisan comity and institutional foresight, Members, Congressional staff, and Legislative branch agencies have implemented many meaningful upgrades to outdated processes — streamlining capabilities and boosting the chamber’s effectiveness to adapt Congress to the 21st century and better meet the needs of its constituents.

Becoming a “modern” institution is not a finite goal, but a perpetual practice of embracing ongoing improvement. To keep pace with the innovation happening beyond the walls of the Capitol, the House requires continuous investment and leadership by Members to promote the advancement of the institution. Progress is happening, however, as the Chamber adapts to meet the challenges of the 2020s, including a global pandemic that spurred technological and operational reforms. Building on this momentum, new Members can play a role in bringing new ideas and championing solutions to further improve how Congress works in service to constituents and the longevity of the institution.

Further, recent Supreme Court decisions such as Loper Bright (overturning the Chevron doctrine) and Corner Post (eliminating a six-year limit on challenges to federal rules) emphasize the need for increased Congressional capacity.

What’s in the name “future-proofing?”

The concept of “future-proofing” acknowledges that institutional modernization is not a destination to be reached but an agile process of continuous improvement that embraces an approach of monitoring changing conditions, testing new approaches, and sharing lessons learned.

The Work Continues

Glossary

Additional Resources

Join the Movement

Executive Summary

The beginning of each new Congress brings a literal and metaphorical refresh for the House of Representatives, providing individual Members with an opportunity to influence the chamber’s rules and operations. Since 2019, Representatives from across the ideological spectrum have found common cause in driving institutional changes to modernize the day-to-day operations of the House, boost Congressional capacity, improve the constituent experience, update staff recruitment and retention, and increase legislative transparency. Many of these bipartisan improvements have materialized without the need for legislative action, highlighting the wide-ranging authority Members have to shape the institution. Thanks to the Members who have championed these initiatives, today’s House is more modern and effective in the following ways:

For each of the above achievements, this report explores the issue addressed, how the change materialized, the impact it has had thus far, and next steps in need of a Member to champion.

At a time when polarization and factional in-fighting has mired its public reputation, the modernization achievements made by the House in recent years have resulted in impactful, positive progress. The work continues.

Through these initiatives, or by simply pursuing small improvements in how offices operate, all staff and Members can be part of this ongoing process that continues to breed success and have a lasting impact on our legislature.

Is your Member of Congress championing a reform proposal for how to improve Congress or do you have your own idea? We would love to hear about it!

Note: This report references a variety of acronyms that are defined in the glossary.

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The Moment

Why Modernization is Happening Now

Since 2019, Members of the House of Representatives have pursued initiatives on and off the floor, in the spotlight and on the fringes, that have resulted in real change to the institution without the need for a gavel or seniority. While slim majorities and emerging factions have scrambled expectations and challenged leadership, many Members have learned to harness their power to push for institutional upgrades that are resulting in a better functioning House.

On a macro level, Members have pushed institutional offices to revisit common practices and explore innovation, driving these traditionally risk-averse teams to increase capacity in order to adapt and evolve in an increasingly digital and fast-paced world.

This ongoing work could not be more timely as Americans’ trust in the effectiveness of their legislative institution continues to be challenged, as does the institution’s ability to keep pace with the demands of the pending decade. Some of the “low hanging fruit” Members identified since 2019 as part of ModCom have been addressed, and it is off of that momentum that Members of the House must capitalize and continue to pursue improvements. If not, and the institution begins to become stagnant, it won’t just struggle to serve a rapidly changing nation: it will fall irreparably behind in both adapting to and legislating for the needs of a modern world.

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The Pacing Problem

Modernization is Essential, Now More than Ever

As society and industries continue to evolve and adapt to new technologies, their functions, and their effects on constituent and customer expectations, government is at risk of falling irreparably behind the innovation curve. Known as the “pacing problem,” government institutions struggling to adapt to emerging technology don’t simply lag in use of the tools, they become unable to adequately understand, and therefore, regulate them. A timely example is Congress’ ongoing debate about how to regulate social media platforms. Yet, part of the success of the ModCom is the demonstration that every Member has the ability to fight this potential outcome.

The work undertaken so far has already had a lasting impact on improving the operations of the institution for all who work within it and are served by it, but it's only the start. Current and future Members and staff can continue to use a variety of tools and approaches to further modernize the House, and pursue similar changes throughout the Legislative branch.

When Congress works effectively, constituents are better able to engage with their elected officials, legislation better aligns with the nation’s needs, and legal clarity increases social and economic prosperity. That is why Legislative branch institutional modernization is not only timely, it is essential for all other efforts focused on improving government effectiveness or efficiency to succeed.

Member-driven Accomplishments and Further Improvements in Need of Championing

Technological Innovation

Capacity

Engagement

We will continue to update this resource guide as additional accomplishments are achieved.

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The Work Continues

The House is Changing, One Member-Driven Initiative at a Time.

From the introduction of new technologies that are customized to fit House staff workflows, to re-empowering Members to better represent their constituents from day one of taking office, Congressional modernization is improving the effectiveness of the institution one Member-driven change at a time. The nineteen Members who served on ModCom, their four successors on the CHA Subcommittee on Modernization, and countless other Members who have testified during Member Day Hearings, made their voices heard on the Appropriations Committees, or simply pushed beyond the status quo of their own operations, have championed the progress made by fostering conversations focused on getting to the root of institutional inefficiencies and then pursuing implementable, achievable solutions.

ModCom made 202 recommendations, of which more than 60 have been implemented and more are in progress due to the ongoing work of the CHA Subcommittee on Modernization. Additionally, the Modernization Caucus — a bipartisan coalition of Members similarly focused on identifying institutional improvements and recommending change — held its inaugural meeting in fall 2023. For staff, the Modernization Staff Association has created an avenue for individuals to get involved at all stages of their Congressional careers. Through these initiatives, or by simply pursuing small improvements in the operational workflow on a singular team, all staff and Members can be part of this ongoing process that continues to breed success and have a lasting impact on our legislature.

Members (and the staff who support them) can change the institution because you are the institution! To future-proof Congress for the years ahead, it needs you to be part of the conversation.

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Glossary

ADA = Americans with Disabilities Act

AOC = Architect of the Capitol

CHA = Committee on House Administration

CAO = House Chief Administrative Officer

CDTF = Congressional Data Task Force

CR = Continuing Resolution

COLA = Cost-of-Living Adjustment

CPF = Community Project Funding

GAO = Government Accountability Office

GAO STAA = The Government Accountability Office’s Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics team

GenAI = Generative Artificial Intelligence

HIRO = House Intern Resource Office

HDS = House Digital Service

LIS = Legislative Information Service

LLM = Large Language Model

MIA = Modernization Initiatives Account

ModCom = The House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress

ModSub = Subcommittee on Modernization (ModSub) within the Committee on House Administration

MOU = Memorandum of Understanding

NMO = New Member Orientation

OCWR = Office of Congressional Workplace Rights

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Additional Resources

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