Title: 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.
Policy area: Congress

Summary:
Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) encourages the use of a virtual setting to implement hearings, conduct debate, meet, and vote; and (2) directs the Committee on House Administration to identify the best practices for conducting the business of the House in such a setting, and to establish procedures and rules for consideration of legislation by Members of Congress in it.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 298 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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;
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;
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
    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 Administration 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 Administration to 
        establish procedures and rules for the consideration of 
        legislation by Members of Congress in a virtual setting.
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