Title: Moving Our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization Resolution of 2022
Policy area: Congress

Summary:
Moving Our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization Resolution of 2022
This resolution implements recommendations made by the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
The recommendations include
The resolution also requires (1) reevaluating the method of calculating Representational Allowances (funds provided to Members for operating their offices and carrying out their official and representational duties), and (2) publishing information about the expenditures and staffing of eligible Congressional Member Organizations (groups of Members that register with the Committee on House Administration in support of a common legislative objective).

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1331 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1331

  Carrying out recommendations issued by the Select Committee on the 
           Modernization of Congress, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 6, 2022

   Mr. Kilmer (for himself and Mr. Timmons) submitted the following 
       resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House 
    Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, and 
  Transportation and Infrastructure, 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


 
  Carrying out recommendations issued by the Select Committee on the 
           Modernization of Congress, and for other purposes.

    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This resolution may be cited as the ``Moving Our 
Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization Resolution 
of 2022''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this resolution is 
as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
     TITLE I--RECLAIMING ARTICLE I RESPONSIBILITIES AND ENHANCING 
 CONGRESSIONAL EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH IMPROVED COLLABORATION; PROMOTING 
         COLLABORATION AND EFFICIENCIES IN COMMITTEE OPERATIONS

    Subtitle A--Reclaiming Article I Responsibilities and Enhancing 
       Congressional Effectiveness Through Improved Collaboration

Sec. 101. Bipartisan space in United States Capitol.
Sec. 102. Congressional retreats.
Sec. 103. Encouraging substantive debate and deliberation among 
                            Members.
   Subtitle B--Promoting Collaboration and Efficiencies in Committee 
                               Operations

Sec. 111. Encouraging experimentation with alternative formats.
Sec. 112. Avoiding committee scheduling conflicts.
Sec. 113. Regulations.
     TITLE II--STREAMLINING PROCESSES AND IMPROVING TECHNOLOGY AND 
                  CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS IN CONGRESS

Sec. 201. Coordinated procurement and bulk purchasing for House 
                            offices.
Sec. 202. Increase accountability and tracking for all Member-sponsored 
                            communications mail.
Sec. 203. Continuity of operations and telework plans for House 
                            offices.
Sec. 204. Secure document practices.
Sec. 205. Promoting use of electronic and digital technologies.
            TITLE III--STRENGTHENING CONGRESSIONAL CAPACITY

Sec. 301. Task force on the House workforce.
Sec. 302. Assistance for employees of contractors.
Sec. 303. Talent acquisition software.
Sec. 304. Making internships more accessible.
Sec. 305. Access of fellows and detailees serving in House offices to 
                            office resources.
 TITLE IV--EXPANDING ACCESSIBILITY TO CONGRESS AND PROMOTING EFFICIENT 
                              USE OF SPACE

Sec. 401. ADA drop-off and pick-up zone.
Sec. 402. Information on security screening procedures.
Sec. 403. Accessibility of doorways.
Sec. 404. Accessibility of websites.
                 TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS RECOMMENDATIONS

   Subtitle A--Modernization of Member Office Budgets and Operations

Sec. 501. Re-evaluation of Members' Representational Allowance.
       Subtitle B--Modernization of Legislative Support Agencies

Sec. 511. Examining support agencies.
        Subtitle C--Eligible Congressional Member Organizations

Sec. 521. Eligible Congressional Member Organization.
Sec. 522. Eligible Congressional Member Organization defined.

     TITLE I--RECLAIMING ARTICLE I RESPONSIBILITIES AND ENHANCING 
 CONGRESSIONAL EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH IMPROVED COLLABORATION; PROMOTING 
         COLLABORATION AND EFFICIENCIES IN COMMITTEE OPERATIONS

    Subtitle A--Reclaiming Article I Responsibilities and Enhancing 
       Congressional Effectiveness Through Improved Collaboration

SEC. 101. BIPARTISAN SPACE IN UNITED STATES CAPITOL.

    (a) Establishment of Bipartisan Space.--It is the sense of the 
House of Representatives that the Committee on House Administration of 
the House of Representatives, in consultation with the House Office 
Building Commission, should establish a space in the United States 
Capitol which may be used for bipartisan gatherings of Members of the 
House to meet and collaborate on a bipartisan and private basis.
    (b) Identification of Space.--It is the sense of the House that the 
Committee should consult with the Architect of the Capitol to identify 
suitable space in the United States Capitol in close proximity to the 
Hall of the House for purposes of this section.

SEC. 102. CONGRESSIONAL RETREATS.

    (a) Biennial Retreats for Members and Spouses.--It is the sense of 
the House of Representatives that, at the beginning of each Congress, 
the House of Representatives shall hold a bipartisan retreat for 
Members and their families at a location within driving distance of the 
District of Columbia.
    (b) Organization and Agenda.--It is the sense of the House that the 
Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives shall 
consult with the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, 
the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, and any other 
House office or appropriate entity as may be necessary to facilitate 
the retreat under this section, subject to regulations issued by the 
Committee on House Administration.
    (c) Accommodation Within Congressional Calendar.--In planning the 
retreat under this section, the Chief Administrative Officer and the 
Committee on House Administration shall consult with the majority 
leader to ensure that the retreat may be accommodated within the 
congressional calendar.
    (d) Regulations.--It is the sense of the House that the Committee 
on House Administration should issue regulations or take any other 
steps as may be required to carry out this section.

SEC. 103. ENCOURAGING SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE AND DELIBERATION AMONG 
              MEMBERS.

    (a) Training in Debate as Part of New Member Orientation.--The 
Committee on House Administration shall include as part of the 
orientation program for new Members of the House a program to train 
Members on how to participate in debates on legislative policy issues, 
including workshops on processing and understanding opposing points of 
view on such issues and training with respect to the Rules of the House 
of Representatives and rules regarding decorum in the House.
    (b) Specifications.--The program under subsection (a) shall be 
conducted by professionals in the field of debate with expertise in the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, decorum in the House, and the 
legislative process and shall be carried out on a bipartisan basis.
    (c) Program for Staff.--To the extent practicable, the 
Congressional Staff Academy shall offer a program for staff which is 
similar to the program under subsection (a).

   Subtitle B--Promoting Collaboration and Efficiencies in Committee 
                               Operations

SEC. 111. ENCOURAGING EXPERIMENTATION WITH ALTERNATIVE FORMATS.

    (a) Alternative Formats for Hearings.--It is the sense of the House 
of Representatives that each committee of the House should experiment 
with alternative formats for conducting hearings which encourage an 
open exchange of information and civility among members of the 
committee.
    (b) Pilot Programs for Proceedings of Subcommittees.--It is the 
sense of the House that each committee of the House should experiment 
with pilot programs for alternative formats for conducting hearings of 
any of its subcommittees, and should use the results of such programs 
to implement such formats on a broader basis.
    (c) Alternative Formats Described.--The alternative formats 
described in subsections (a) and (b) are--
            (1) alternatives to the five-minute rule for questioning 
        witnesses while preserving the opportunity for all members to 
        participate; and
            (2) seating Members and witnesses at the same table, or 
        seating Members of opposing parties next to each other, to 
        encourage better dialogue and civility.

SEC. 112. AVOIDING COMMITTEE SCHEDULING CONFLICTS.

    (a) Avoiding Conflicts.--It is the sense of the House of 
Representatives that standing and select committees of the House 
should, to the greatest extent practicable, schedule meetings and 
activities at times that do not conflict with the times of meetings and 
activities of the other committees on which their Members serve.
    (b) Common Committee Scheduling Tool.--To assist in carrying out 
the purpose of subsection (a), the Clerk of the House of 
Representatives, in consultation with committees of the House, shall 
investigate and recommend options for the creation and operation of an 
internal common web portal for posting and displaying, in advance of 
public notice, dates and times for planned meetings and activities of 
committees of the House.

SEC. 113. REGULATIONS.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Committee 
on House Administration should promulgate such regulations as may be 
necessary to carry out this subtitle.

     TITLE II--STREAMLINING PROCESSES AND IMPROVING TECHNOLOGY AND 
                  CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS IN CONGRESS

SEC. 201. COORDINATED PROCUREMENT AND BULK PURCHASING FOR HOUSE 
              OFFICES.

    (a) Arrangements for House Offices.--Entities of the House of 
Representatives may enter into arrangements to coordinate the 
procurement of equipment, supplies, and services for offices of the 
House, including by entering into contracts covering multiple offices 
of the House and by entering into bulk purchasing arrangement.
    (b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations or take any other steps as may be required to carry out 
this section.

SEC. 202. INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRACKING FOR ALL MEMBER-SPONSORED 
              COMMUNICATIONS MAIL.

    It is the sense of the House that the House Communications 
Standards Commission of the House of Representatives, in consultation 
with the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of 
Representatives and the United States Postal Service, should develop 
and implement methods to modernize the operations of the House with 
respect to the reporting and tracking of franked mail from the district 
offices of Members of the House of Representatives to eliminate the 
need for the self-reporting of such mail by the district offices.

SEC. 203. CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS AND TELEWORK PLANS FOR HOUSE 
              OFFICES.

    (a) Establishment of Plan.--It is the sense of the House that each 
office of the House of Representatives should establish a plan for the 
continuity of the operations of the office during emergencies, 
including minimum safety requirements for the operation of the office, 
an emergency communications plan covering communications by telephone, 
electronic mail, and video, and a plan for personnel of the office to 
work remotely.
    (b) Ensuring Availability of Technology, Equipment, and Support 
Necessary To Carry Out Plans.--It is the sense of the House that each 
office should ensure that it has the technology, equipment, and 
technical support necessary to implement its plan under this section, 
including VPN-capable laptops and telephone forwarding technology, and 
that House Information Resources and the Emergency Management Division, 
should, at the request of an office, assist the office in obtaining 
such technology, equipment, and support.
    (c) Inclusion of Requirements for Plans in New Member 
Orientation.--It is the sense of the House that the Committee on House 
Administration and the Chief Administrative Officer should ensure that 
information on the requirements for plans under this section is 
included in the orientation program provided to new Members of the 
House and routinely communicated to all Members at the start of each 
Congress.

SEC. 204. SECURE DOCUMENT PRACTICES.

    It is the sense of the House that the Chief Administrate Officer of 
the House of Representatives should establish, adopt, and implement 
secure information transfer practices, such as document management 
systems, secure digital forms, and other practices to facilitate the 
internal and external exchange of data, including documents containing 
personally identifiable information, payroll changes, personnel 
matters, constituent casework information, and other sensitive data.

SEC. 205. PROMOTING USE OF ELECTRONIC AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES.

    (a) Use of Digital Signatures.--The Committee on House 
Administration, in consultation with the Committee on Ethics of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules of the House of 
Representatives, shall ensure that House offices are not prohibited 
from the use of a digital signature and that each House office is 
capable of using a digital signature on any official documents to the 
extent feasible when a non-digital signature is not required, including 
communications with officials of the executive branch and State, local, 
Tribal, and foreign governments and communications with constituents.
    (b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations or take any other steps as may be required to carry out 
this section.

            TITLE III--STRENGTHENING CONGRESSIONAL CAPACITY

SEC. 301. TASK FORCE ON THE HOUSE WORKFORCE.

    (a) Findings.--The House of Representatives finds the following:
            (1) On July 1, 2021, House Report 117-80 that accompanied 
        H.R. 4346, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of 2022, 
        directed the establishment of a task force on the House 
        workforce (in this section referred to as the ``Task Force'').
            (2) Report 117-80 directed the Task Force to develop a 
        methodology and frequency for regularly surveying the House 
        workforce on pay and benefits issues, provide guidance and 
        support for the content and development of the Human Resources 
        Hub, and make policy recommendations that improve human 
        resource management practices throughout the House.
            (3) The Task Force is composed of representatives of the 
        Chief Administrative Officer, Office of House Employment 
        Counsel, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Office of 
        Employee Assistance and any such other House office as may be 
        necessary to regularly study issues related to the House 
        workforce.
            (4) The Task Force should be made permanent.
    (b) Task Force Made Permanent.--The Task Force shall continue to 
operate in accordance with House Report 117-80 that accompanied H.R. 
4346, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of 2022.
    (c) Initiatives for Consideration.--The Chief Administrative 
Officer, using the Task Force, shall implement or make policy 
recommendations to the House as necessary with respect to the following 
initiatives:
            (1) Establishing a standardized program through the 
        Congressional Staff Academy which may be used by offices of the 
        House of Representatives to provide supervisors with optional 
        training and coaching with respect to management skills and 
        best practices, competency, and methods to support an inclusive 
        work environment. As practicable, the Congressional Staff 
        Academy may partner with universities and outside experts to 
        provide optional management program offerings.
            (2) Developing and making available to offices of the House 
        of Representatives a searchable database of anonymized average 
        staff compensation information using available information on 
        staff salaries and payroll data. The database developed under 
        this paragraph shall include the ability to provide staff 
        compensation comparisons by region, State delegation, and with 
        respect to the seniority of offices and employees of the House 
        of Representatives.
            (3) Developing and implementing a mentorship program which 
        may be used by offices of the House of Representatives to 
        provide an opportunity for less experienced staff to be matched 
        with and learn from more experienced staff. In developing the 
        mentorship program under this paragraph, the Task Force shall 
        consider and support best practices developed by currently 
        existing staff association mentorship programs in the House of 
        Representatives.
            (4) Developing a proposal under which--
                    (A) staff of offices of Members of the House, 
                committees of the House, and leadership of the House 
                may participate in professional development 
                opportunities that provide a certification;
                    (B) an appropriate source of funding is identified 
                which may be used to pay the cost of participating in a 
                professional development opportunity described in 
                subparagraph (A), including the cost of participating 
                in such an opportunity for the purpose of maintaining 
                as valid a previously provided certification; and
                    (C) offices of Members of the House, committees of 
                the House, and leadership of the House have discretion 
                with respect to the opportunities described in 
                subparagraph (A) in which the staff of such offices may 
                participate.
            (5) Developing and providing to all new employees of the 
        House a standardized onboarding packet that--
                    (A) includes comprehensive information with respect 
                to the benefits and resources available to employees of 
                the House; and
                    (B) shall be used to improve the collection of 
                anonymized demographic data through an optional form 
                provided to all House employees.
            (6) Developing a proposal to provide tuition assistance 
        payments to employees of the House, under terms and conditions 
        similar to those under the existing program for making student 
        loan repayments on behalf of employees of the House.

SEC. 302. ASSISTANCE FOR EMPLOYEES OF CONTRACTORS.

    The Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives 
shall continue working with contractors, through the regular 
procurement process, to ensure to the greatest extent practicable that 
such contractors provide their employees with access to employee 
assistance services comparable to the services offered by the House 
Office of Employee Assistance to House employees.

SEC. 303. TALENT ACQUISITION SOFTWARE.

    The Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, 
in consultation with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, shall 
consider options and develop recommendations for providing industry-
leading talent acquisition software to assist offices of the House to 
manage the recruitment and hiring processes for such offices.

SEC. 304. MAKING INTERNSHIPS MORE ACCESSIBLE.

    (a) Assessing Intern Cost of Living in the National Capital 
Region.--To assist offices of the House of Representatives with 
establishing an appropriate level for the stipends paid to interns who 
serve in the District of Columbia, the Office of Diversity and 
Inclusion, in consultation with the Chief Administrative Officer of the 
House, shall provide the offices with information on the cost of living 
in the Washington metropolitan area.
    (b) Study.--The Office of Diversity and Inclusion, in consultation 
with the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
Representatives, shall carry out a study of the feasibility of 
permitting offices of the House to appoint compensated interns who will 
carry out their duties at a location other than the location of the 
office.
    (c) Issues Considered.--In carrying out the study under subsection 
(b), the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, in consultation with the 
Committee on House Administration and other offices as necessary, shall 
address the following issues:
            (1) The need to ensure that the educational requirements of 
        House internships are being met and the extent to which meeting 
        such requirements may be more challenging in a remote 
        situation.
            (2) Oversight of program participants.
            (3) Providing, tracking, and accounting for House resources 
        and equipment, and ensuring security and confidentiality, 
        including network security.
            (4) Other issues the Office determines necessary to making 
        internships more accessible.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this resolution, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion shall submit 
a report of the findings of the study carried out under subsection (b) 
to the Committee on House Administration.

SEC. 305. ACCESS OF FELLOWS AND DETAILEES SERVING IN HOUSE OFFICES TO 
              OFFICE RESOURCES.

    (a) In General.--The Committee on House Administration shall 
analyze existing rules and regulations regarding the use of equipment, 
supplies, and other office resources by individuals serving qualified 
fellowships in House offices and individuals temporarily detailed to 
House offices from Federal agencies to determine the feasibility of 
expanding the access and use of such equipment, supplies, and other 
office resources to such fellows and detailees in a manner that is 
similar to that of House employees.
    (b) Development of Standardized Agreement for Use of Resources.--
The Committee on House Administration shall develop an optional, 
standardized agreement for use by offices utilizing the services of 
fellows or detailees that outlines relevant responsibilities and 
obligations of service in the House, including, but not limited to, 
House ethics rules, equipment and security requirements, required 
training, and other issues relevant to temporary service in the House.
    (c) Applicability of Expanded Access.--Expanded access to office 
resources as described and determined to be feasible under subsection 
(a) shall apply to individuals serving fellowships or details who enter 
into a fellowship or detail agreement developed under subsection (b).

 TITLE IV--EXPANDING ACCESSIBILITY TO CONGRESS AND PROMOTING EFFICIENT 
                              USE OF SPACE

SEC. 401. ADA DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP ZONE.

    (a) Establishment of Zone.--The Sergeant at Arms of the House of 
Representatives, in consultation with the Chief of the Capitol Police, 
the Director of the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services, and 
the Architect of the Capitol, shall establish a designated zone near an 
accessible entrance to the House side of the United States Capitol and 
each House office building for dropping off and picking up individuals 
with disabilities.
    (b) Procedures for Access.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Sergeant at Arms shall develop procedures through which individuals may 
obtain access to the zone designated under such subsection.

SEC. 402. INFORMATION ON SECURITY SCREENING PROCEDURES.

    The Committee on House Administration of the House of 
Representatives, in consultation with the Chief of the Capitol Police, 
the Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms of the House of 
Representatives, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of 
Representatives, and the Executive Director of the Office of 
Congressional Workplace Rights, shall make publicly available 
information on the security screening procedures individuals with 
disabilities, including employees of the House, will encounter upon 
entering areas of the Capitol complex which are under the jurisdiction 
of the House.

SEC. 403. ACCESSIBILITY OF DOORWAYS.

    The Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, in 
consultation with the Architect of the Capitol and the Director of the 
Office of Congressional Accessibility Services, shall prioritize making 
all areas of the Capitol accessible through remediation of doors, 
including those identified in the Office of Congressional Workplace 
Rights biennial accessibility report.

SEC. 404. ACCESSIBILITY OF WEBSITES.

    The Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives 
shall provide offices of the House with information and ongoing 
training, including information and training on compliance with 
applicable laws and best practices, to enable the offices to ensure 
that their websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

                 TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS RECOMMENDATIONS

   Subtitle A--Modernization of Member Office Budgets and Operations

SEC. 501. RE-EVALUATION OF MEMBERS' REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCE.

    The Committee on House Administration of the House of 
Representatives shall re-evaluate the factors and the formula used to 
determine the Members' Representational Allowance for the Congress to 
ensure that the Allowance accurately reflects the costs expected to be 
incurred by Members in carrying out their official and representational 
duties during the Congress.

       Subtitle B--Modernization of Legislative Support Agencies

SEC. 511. EXAMINING SUPPORT AGENCIES.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that the committees 
of jurisdiction should regularly examine the authorities provided to 
the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office, 
and the Congressional Research Service to determine if such authorities 
are sufficient or need to be updated to ensure such agencies may better 
serve an evolving Congress.

        Subtitle C--Eligible Congressional Member Organizations

SEC. 521. ELIGIBLE CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER ORGANIZATION.

    During each Congress, the Committee on House Administration of the 
House of Representatives shall publish online and regularly update a 
list of all eligible Congressional Member Organizations with respect to 
the Congress and the monthly expenditures and staffing information for 
each eligible Congressional Member Organization.

SEC. 522. ELIGIBLE CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER ORGANIZATION DEFINED.

    In this subtitle, the term ``eligible Congressional Member 
Organization'' means, with respect to a Congress, an organization 
meeting each of the following requirements:
            (1) The organization is registered as a Congressional 
        Member Organization with the Committee on House Administration.
            (2) The organization designates a single Member of the 
        House of Representatives to be responsible for the 
        administration of the organization and includes the 
        identification of such Member with the statement of 
        organization that the organization files and maintains with the 
        Committee on House Administration.
            (3) At least 3 employees of the House are assigned to 
        perform some work for the organization.
            (4) During the previous Congress, at least 15 Members of 
        the House of Representatives used a portion of the Members' 
        Representational Allowance of the Member for the salary and 
        related expenses of an employee who was a shared employee of 
        the Member's office and the organization.
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