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 appro-
priate 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 Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction 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 con-
sistently 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 hear-
ings; 
Whereas there are recent advances in technology that would 
make a virtual Congress possible, such as: electronic vot-
ing, video conferencing, secure telephones and Internet 
connections, and biometric cyber security; 
Whereas there are security concerns associated with the en-
tire 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 vot-
ing, video conferencing, and secure telephones and Inter-
net connections; 
Whereas the security challenges of convening government of-
ficials 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, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) encourages the use of a virtual setting to 
implement hearings, conduct debate, meet, and vote; 
(2) directs the Committee on House Adminis-
tration to identify the best practices for conducting 
the business of the House of Representatives in a 
virtual setting; and 
(3) directs the Committee on House Adminis-
tration to establish procedures and rules for the con-
sideration of legislation by Members of Congress in 
a virtual setting. 
Æ 
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