IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 298 

Recognizing the security challenges of convening government officials in one 

specific place and directing the House of Representatives to take appropriate steps so that the House of Representatives can meet in a virtual 

setting. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 28, 2017 

Mr. PEARCE (for himself, Mr. SWALWELL of California, and Mr. CRAWFORD) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, and House 

Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the security challenges of convening government 

officials in one specific place and directing the House 

of Representatives to take appropriate steps so that the 

House of Representatives can meet in a virtual setting. 

Whereas Members of Congress and congressional staff need 

greater interaction with constituents; 

Whereas constituents deserve better access to their Member 

of Congress; 

Whereas there are time restraints and high costs associated 

with constituent travel to Washington, DC, to meet with 

their Congressman; 


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•HRES 298 IH 

Whereas there are 535 Members of Congress who travel consistently between their district and Washington, DC; 

Whereas Members of Congress currently do most of their 

work from Washington, DC, and travel to their districts, 

some traveling significant distances; 

Whereas many congressional staffers do not spend time in 

the district for which they were hired to work, and are 

less in touch with the needs of constituents; 

Whereas the current constraints of Congress demand that 

Members of Congress are physically in Washington, DC, 

to conduct the duties of their job, which includes but is 

not limited to debating, voting, and participating in hearings; 

Whereas there are recent advances in technology that would 

make a virtual Congress possible, such as: electronic voting, video conferencing, secure telephones and Internet 

connections, and biometric cyber security; 

Whereas there are security concerns associated with the entire Congress being physically located in a single place; 

Whereas concerns were raised after 9/11 about the possibility 

of future terrorist attacks on the Nation’s Capitol and 

the safety of the Members of Congress; 

Whereas government operating costs are far too high, and 

new, innovative savings must be found; 

Whereas there are recent advances in technology that would 

make a virtual Congress possible, such as electronic voting, video conferencing, and secure telephones and Internet connections; 

Whereas the security challenges of convening government officials in one specific place; 


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•HRES 298 IH 

Whereas the need to find new ways to save taxpayer money 

by decreasing the operating cost of government; and 

Whereas the need for Members of Congress to maintain 

greater accountability to their constituents: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) encourages the use of a virtual setting to 

3 implement hearings, conduct debate, meet, and vote; 

4 (2) directs the Committee on House Adminis5 tration to identify the best practices for conducting 

6 the business of the House of Representatives in a 

7 virtual setting; and 

8 (3) directs the Committee on House Adminis9 tration to establish procedures and rules for the con10 sideration of legislation by Members of Congress in 

11 a virtual setting. 

Æ 


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