House Modernization Committee Issues Final Round of Recommendations

The House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress passed its final round of recommendations before the end of its term. The committee has passed 97 bipartisan recommendations in its 20-month lifespan. The latest set of recommendations includes several provisions strengthening the legislative branch, namely those that strive to reform the budget and appropriations process.

Members of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress explained in a press release from September 24, 2020, that, since 1977, Congress has only passed all 12 appropriations bills before the end of the fiscal year four times. Thus, the committee recommends that Congress adhere to a stricter schedule to prevent government shutdowns, require a biennial budget resolution, and publish an annual Fiscal State of the Nation so that taxpayers know how their money is being spent.

The committee also recommends improving staff retention. The average time staff stay in a position in Congress is two years. This high turnover rate can significantly reduce Congressional efficiency. As a result, the committee recommends establishing a voluntary, nonbinding pay band system and increasing options to health insurance for Congressional employees to incentivize them to stay longer.

Daniel Schuman, the policy director at Demand Progress, commended the committee’s ability to improve staff retention, technology modernization and deliberative processes which would “in the aggregate make the House of Representatives more effective in conducting its legislative, oversight, and constituent service responsibilities.”

Another recommendation involves improving the Congressional schedule and calendar. There is concern among committee members that Congress spends more time traveling to sessions than actually legislating. Thus, the committee recommends establishing a block calendar system for committee scheduling, creating a common committee calendar portal to help with scheduling and reduce conflicts, and creating ‘committee activity only’ workdays.

Committee Chairman Derek Kilmer (D-WA) explained to Federal News Network that he does not want these recommendations to go to waste after the committee is disbanded. Kilmer said, “Our intent is to make sure that these recommendations get acted on, that they pick up these recommendations and actually see progress on the issues that will make this place function better.” 

For a discussion on the importance of modernizing Congress and progress made by the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress with a stakeholder point of view, you can listen to FEDtalk- Making Congress Modern.