[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 756 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
H. Res. 756
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
March 10, 2020.
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''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this resolution is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--STREAMLINING AND REORGANIZING HUMAN RESOURCES
Sec. 101. Centralized human resources program.
Sec. 102. Reports on operation of Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Sec. 103. Examining feasibility of updating staff payroll system.
Sec. 104. Examining feasibility of adjusting the statutory limitation
on number of employees of Member offices.
Sec. 105. Employee orientation and separation processes.
TITLE II--IMPROVING ORIENTATION FOR MEMBERS-ELECT AND PROVIDING
IMPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS
Sec. 201. Plan for providing for designated staff to prepare for
operation of offices of new Members-elect.
Sec. 202. Improving the orientation experience of new Members.
Sec. 203. Exploring the feasibility of establishing a Congressional
Leadership Academy.
Sec. 204. Requiring annual cybersecurity training for Members and
employees.
TITLE III--MODERNIZING AND REVITALIZING TECHNOLOGY
Sec. 301. Reforming House Information Resources.
Sec. 302. Providing technologies to improve constituent engagement.
Sec. 303. Streamlined approval process for outside technology vendors.
Sec. 304. Enabling early adoption of new technologies and applications
by offices.
Sec. 305. Improving Member feedback regarding outside vendors and HIR
services.
Sec. 306. Leveraging bulk purchasing power of the House.
Sec. 307. Requiring Congressional Research Service to provide rapid
response short fact sheets.
Sec. 308. Establishing nonpartisan constituent engagement and services
page on HouseNet.
TITLE IV--MAKING THE HOUSE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
Sec. 401. Ensuring accessibility of House websites.
Sec. 402. Close captioning of proceedings; captioning service for
videos created by House offices.
Sec. 403. Comprehensive review of accessibility.
TITLE V--IMPROVING ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS
Sec. 501. Adopting standardized format for legislative documents.
Sec. 502. Legislation comparison project.
Sec. 503. Database of information on expiration of authorizations of
programs.
Sec. 504. Database of votes taken in committees.
Sec. 505. Assignment of unique identifiers for reports filed by
registered lobbyists.
Sec. 506. Public availability of reports.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this resolution, the following definitions apply:
(1) The term ``Chief Administrative Officer'' means the Chief
Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives.
(2) The term ``Clerk'' means the Clerk of the House of
Representatives.
(3) The term ``HIR'' means the Office of House Information
Resources.
(4) The term ``Member'' means a Member of the House of
Representatives and a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.
TITLE I--STREAMLINING AND REORGANIZING HUMAN RESOURCES
SEC. 101. CENTRALIZED HUMAN RESOURCES PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment and Operation of Program.--In order to improve recruitment
and retention of a diverse workforce, develop best human resources practices,
and take steps to improve competitive compensation and benefits for employees,
the Chief Administrative Officer shall establish and operate a centralized human
resources program to assist Member, committee, and leadership office staff.
(b) Features of Program.--The program established under this section shall
provide the following services:
(1) Developing a centralized repository of practices collected from
internal and external sources that have proven to be successful in
hiring, promoting, and managing staff, updated from time to time.
(2) Improving diversity recruitment by implementing and promoting
best practices for actively seeking out candidates of various
backgrounds, experiences, and talents, including through outreach to
under-represented colleges and universities, community colleges,
historically black colleges and universities, and organizations for
individuals with disabilities, and compiling a list of such candidates
into the House resume portal.
(3) Reevaluating current Member, committee, and leadership office
employee benefits (including the evaluation of the capacity and costs of
the House child care center and student loan repayment program) and
submitting to the Committee on House Administration on a regular and
ongoing basis recommendations for additions or improvements to such
benefits which will improve recruitment and retention, exploring options
such as telework, flex schedules, returnship programs, and sabbaticals.
(4) Conducting a biennial staff survey as well as offering an
optional exit survey to Member, committee, and leadership office staff.
(5) Making improvements to the House resume portal, including making
such portal into a user-friendly, searchable tool for Member, committee,
and leadership offices to identify talent based on unique criteria, and
including ways to promote and publicize the existence and availability
of such portal to internal and external users.
(6) Providing Members-elect with information on the full range of
services offered to their staff in an easily understandable and
organized format immediately following the certification of their
election results.
(c) Operation of Program.--
(1) Staff.--The Chief Administrative Officer shall designate an
employee of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer who shall be
responsible for the operation of the program established under this
section, using existing staff and resources of the Office.
(2) Location; availability of services online.--The program shall be
located in a physical location which is easily accessible to the offices
using the resources of the program, and shall provide an online portal
through which offices may obtain these services.
(d) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations and take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 102. REPORTS ON OPERATION OF OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.
In accordance with House Resolution 6 (agreed to January 9, 2019), the
Office of Diversity and Inclusion of the House of Representatives shall submit
the following plans and reports:
(1) Not later than 60 days after the appointment of the Director of
the Office, the Office shall submit to the Committee on House
Administration an operational plan for the Office that shall include,
consistent with applicable House rules, regulations, and law, a plan for
appointing and establishing duties for staff of the Office which shall
set forth a proposed maximum number of staff.
(2) Not later than 90 days after submitting the operational plan
under paragraph (1), the Office shall submit a diversity plan to the
Committee on House Administration for the Committee's review and
approval, and shall include in the plan the following:
(A) Policies to direct and guide House employing offices to
recruit, hire, train, develop, advance, promote, and retain a
diverse workforce, consistent with applicable House rules,
regulations, and law.
(B) The development of a survey, in consultation with the
Committee on House Administration, to evaluate diversity in
House employing offices. The Office shall develop, conduct, and
report the results of the survey in a bipartisan manner.
(C) A framework for the annual diversity report required
under paragraph (3).
(D) A proposal for the composition of an Advisory Council
that shall, as necessary, inform the work of the Office.
(E) Any additional components as determined by the Committee
on House Administration.
(3) At the end of each session of Congress, the Office shall submit
a House of Representatives diversity report to the Speaker, the Majority
Leader and Minority Leader, the chair and ranking minority member of the
Committee on House Administration, and the chair and ranking minority
member of the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch of the Committee on
Appropriations. The Office shall ensure that the contents of each such
report are presented in a bipartisan manner.
SEC. 103. EXAMINING FEASIBILITY OF UPDATING STAFF PAYROLL SYSTEM.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 120 days after the date of adoption of this
resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer shall submit to the Committee on
House Administration a report on the feasibility of updating the employee
payroll system in order to address considerations of younger and lower-paid
employees, as well as issues experienced generally by some employees regarding
the current monthly pay schedule.
(b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall include the
following:
(1) The results of any employee surveys regarding the desirability
of changing the employee payroll system or providing both a monthly or
bimonthly system. The report shall present such results in a bipartisan
manner.
(2) An analysis of any costs associated with making changes to the
current employee payroll system, including providing additional options
for the schedule of payments.
(3) An analysis of any impediments or concerns with making any
changes to the current staff payroll system.
(c) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 104. EXAMINING FEASIBILITY OF ADJUSTING THE STATUTORY LIMITATION ON NUMBER
OF EMPLOYEES OF MEMBER OFFICES.
(a) Requirement.--The Chief Administrative Officer shall enter into a
contract with an outside entity under which the entity shall work with the Chief
Administrative Officer to prepare and submit a report examining the feasibility
of adjusting the statutory limitation established in 1975 on the number of
employees who may be employed in the office of a Member.
(b) Contents of Report.--The report described in subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) Information regarding the size and demographic makeup of each
congressional district, including the number and coverage area of each
district office.
(2) The average number of employees for each district office,
including common tasks by position.
(3) Recommendations regarding the optimal number of employees in
both offices located in House office buildings and district offices to
address common office workflows and constituent requests, including
changes in technology that have occurred recently and are expected to
occur in the near future that would have an effect on such number.
(4) Recommendations regarding employee salaries and costs, including
recommendations for necessary changes to the Members' Representational
Allowance that would be necessary to carry out such recommendations.
(c) Deadlines.--
(1) Provision of draft solicitation for contract.--Not later than 60
days after the date of adoption of this resolution, the Chief
Administrative Officer shall provide a draft of the solicitation for the
contract described in subsection (a) to the Committee of House
Administration.
(2) Submission of report.--Under the contract entered into pursuant
to this section, the entity shall submit the report not later than 180
days after the signing of the contract.
SEC. 105. EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION AND SEPARATION PROCESSES.
(a) Establishment of Processes.--The Committee on House Administration shall
design and implement--
(1) a comprehensive and uniform orientation process for new
employees (including interns) of the House to complete within a
designated period of time after appointment; and
(2) a comprehensive and uniform separation process for employees
(including interns) of the House to complete within a designated period
of time prior to termination.
(b) Applicability.--The processes under subsection (a) shall apply only to
employees and interns who have access to the House Network.
(c) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
TITLE II--IMPROVING ORIENTATION FOR MEMBERS-ELECT AND PROVIDING IMPROVED
CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS
SEC. 201. PLAN FOR PROVIDING FOR DESIGNATED STAFF TO PREPARE FOR OPERATION OF
OFFICES OF NEW MEMBERS-ELECT.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer shall submit a report to the
Committee on House Administration that contains a detailed plan for establishing
a program under which, upon the recommendation of an individual by a Member-
elect (other than a Member elected to fill a vacancy), the Chief Administrative
Officer shall appoint the individual for a limited period of time to assist such
Member-elect with administrative and other responsibilities pertaining to the
preparation of the Member's congressional office for operation, and shall
include in the plan a timetable for implementation, an estimate of expected
costs, and the identification of any statutory or regulatory obstacles to the
implementation of such a program.
(b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 202. IMPROVING THE ORIENTATION EXPERIENCE OF NEW MEMBERS.
(a) In General.--In providing orientation services for new Members,
including in-person courses and sessions, the Committee on House Administration
shall carry out the following:
(1) The Committee shall work to ensure that orientation services are
made available to all new Members, including Members elected in a
special election during a Congress.
(2) The Committee shall work to ensure that courses on the Rules of
the House, decorum and debate, and other such courses on practices to
promote civility and respect are made available to Members.
(3) The Committee shall work to ensure that archived audio and
visual recordings of orientation sessions are made available for
reference.
(4) The Committee shall work to provide a range of House training
programs and support services, including courses to promote civility and
encourage decorum, for new Members and the senior staff of new Members
throughout the Members' first term.
(5) To the extent the Committee considers appropriate, the Committee
shall examine the feasibility of providing a ``just in time'' approach
to orientation sessions under which information is provided at the time
at which it will be most useful to the Members.
(b) Providing Services in Nonpartisan Manner.--To the greatest extent
practicable, the Committee on House Administration shall ensure that the
orientation services provided to new Members, including in-person courses and
sessions, are provided in a nonpartisan manner.
(c) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 203. EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
ACADEMY.
(a) Survey of Members.--The Chief Administrative Officer shall conduct a
survey of Members to determine the level of interest in establishing a
Congressional Leadership Academy to provide online and in-person continuing
education opportunities that will promote professional development and
institutional training, including the feasibility of setting up a pilot program
to establish such an Academy.
(b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the adoption of this
resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer shall submit a report to the
Committee on House Administration on the results of the survey conducted under
subsection (a), and shall include in the estimates of costs of establishing and
operating a Congressional Leadership Academy as well as any impediments to
establishing such an Academy, including impediments relating to technology,
security, or content.
SEC. 204. REQUIRING ANNUAL CYBERSECURITY TRAINING FOR MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES.
(a) Requirement for Training.--The Chief Administrative Officer shall carry
out a cybersecurity training program under which each individual who has access
to the House Network (including each Member, officer, employee, intern, and
vendor of the House) annually receives an appropriate amount of cybersecurity
training.
(b) Deadlines for Individuals Not Having Prior Access to Network.--An
individual described in subsection (a) who has not previously had access to the
House Network shall complete the cybersecurity training program under such
subsection not later than 30 days after the individual first has access to the
House Network.
(c) 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--MODERNIZING AND REVITALIZING TECHNOLOGY
SEC. 301. REFORMING HOUSE INFORMATION RESOURCES.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer shall submit a report to the
Committee on House Administration on the operations of the Office of House
Information Resources. Such report shall include--
(1) the identification of solutions to address the challenges HIR
faces in balancing the needs between network security and making
available emerging technologies in a timely manner to satisfy the
operational needs of Member offices, including a detailed marketing and
communications plan to address gaps and disruptions that exist in the
seamless delivery of services between HIR and the offices it supports;
(2) recommendations to improve the quality of HIR services, such as
web design and information technology support;
(3) recommendations for changes to HIR's mission to better align it
with the needs of Member offices;
(4) methods to reduce duplicative spending on information technology
services; and
(5) the identification of steps and actions necessary to ensure that
HIR establishes a single point-of-contact within HIR for each office of
the House so that such point-of-contact is responsible for responding to
requests from the office and coordinating the delivery of products and
services to the office, as well as an analysis of the advantages and
disadvantages of the use of a single point-of-contact for such purposes.
(b) Conducting Outside Review.--The Committee on House Administration may
direct the Chief Administrative Officer to enter into a contract with an outside
entity to provide the Committee with an independent review of the operations of
HIR and to provide independent recommendations to the Committee regarding
strategies and steps for reforming HIR's operations.
(c) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations or take any other steps as may be required to address the report
submitted by the Chief Administrative Officer under subsection (a) and, if
applicable, the recommendations provided by an outside entity pursuant to the
contract entered into under subsection (b).
SEC. 302. PROVIDING TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE CONSTITUENT ENGAGEMENT.
The Committee on House Administration may issue regulations or take any
other steps as may be required to ensure that Member offices have the necessary
technology and software to improve the efficiency and operation of Member
offices and to improve constituent engagement, including, as soon as practicable
after the date of the adoption of this resolution, the implementation of the
following:
(1) The ability of House offices to conduct video calls and video
conferences.
(2) The ability of Members to sign legislation, correspondence, and
constituent consent forms using electronic signatures, in accordance
with guidance developed in coordination with the Clerk of the House of
Representatives.
(3) The ability of Members and employees to securely and seamlessly
access the House Network from any place and at any time.
(4) A plan and timetable to improve the correspondence management
tools available to Member offices, including improving the ability of
the constituents of a Member to upload requests for casework directly to
the Member's official public website.
SEC. 303. STREAMLINED APPROVAL PROCESS FOR OUTSIDE TECHNOLOGY VENDORS.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, HIR shall submit a report to the Committee on House
Administration describing the steps necessary to create a streamlined process
for the approval of outside technology, including a discussion of unique legal,
statutory, or other considerations relating to the House environment, costs,
obstacles to creating and operating such an approval process, and security or
other issues relating to such a process.
(b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 304. ENABLING EARLY ADOPTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS BY
OFFICES.
(a) Requirement.--Not later that 120 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, HIR shall submit a report to the Committee on House
Administration on establishing a program under which Member, committee, and
leadership offices may elect to participate in the early adoption of
technologies or applications developed by an outside vendor prior to the final
approval by the House of the use of such technology or application for such
offices, and shall include in the report a description of the steps necessary to
set up such a program, the operation of such program, the identification of
additional costs that may be incurred by such a program, and the identification
of the steps necessary to ensure security and steps necessary to protect against
jeopardizing the House enterprise.
(b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 305. IMPROVING MEMBER FEEDBACK REGARDING OUTSIDE VENDORS AND HIR SERVICES.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, HIR shall submit a report to the Committee on House
Administration on the steps necessary to--
(1) in compliance with applicable Rules of the House of
Representatives and other regulations and standards of the House, create
an internal customer satisfaction portal on HouseNet that allows Members
and employees to rate and review outside vendors and HIR services;
(2) annually survey district-level staff and district-specific
technology concerns; and
(3) survey Members and employees on what technologies they would
like to use.
(b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 306. LEVERAGING BULK PURCHASING POWER OF THE HOUSE.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer shall submit a report to the
Committee on House Administration on the steps necessary to provide a standard
suite of information technology (as described in subsection (b)) for the use of
offices of Members of the House, including various packages and options, and
shall include in the report an analysis of alternative methods for funding the
purchase of such a suite, including increasing the Members' Representational
Allowances or creating additional accounts. The report shall also include a
detailed marketing and communications plan, including strategies to disseminate
information regarding the standard suite to Member offices.
(b) Contents of Standard Suite.--The standard suite of information
technology described in this subsection consists of the following, in such
quantity and with such features as the Chief Administrative Officer determines
to be appropriate to enable offices of Members of the House to quickly and
effectively carry out their operations in a cost-effective manner:
(1) Desktop and portable computers, including hardware, software,
and related equipment and supplies.
(2) Mobile and stationary telephones, including related equipment
and supplies.
(3) Printers, including hardware, software, and related equipment
and supplies.
(4) Internet products and services, including website development
and administration services.
(5) Related information technology and telecommunications services,
including technical support and customer service.
(6) Subscriptions and subscription services.
(c) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 307. REQUIRING CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE TO PROVIDE RAPID RESPONSE
SHORT FACT SHEETS.
The Committee on House Administration shall work closely with the
Congressional Research Service to ensure that the Service has the capability to
rapidly provide short, nonpartisan fact sheets which may be disseminated by
Member offices.
SEC. 308. ESTABLISHING NONPARTISAN CONSTITUENT ENGAGEMENT AND SERVICES PAGE ON
HOUSENET.
The Committee on House Administration may issue regulations, or take any
other steps as may be required, to establish a nonpartisan constituent
engagement and services page on HouseNet which will better disseminate best
practices and ideas regarding ways to optimize and improve constituent
engagement and service.
TITLE IV--MAKING THE HOUSE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
SEC. 401. ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY OF HOUSE WEBSITES.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer shall submit a report to the
Committee on House Administration detailing a plan to ensure that all House
websites and applications are accessible. Such report shall include--
(1) a schedule for analyzing all House websites and applications to
determine the accessibility level of each such website and application;
(2) an analysis of the resources and assistance necessary to ensure
all relevant systems are compatible with common programs used by major
disability groups; and
(3) a plan to ensure that all updates to such websites and
applications, as well as new websites and applications, are accessible.
(b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 402. CLOSE CAPTIONING OF PROCEEDINGS; CAPTIONING SERVICE FOR VIDEOS CREATED
BY HOUSE OFFICES.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer and the Clerk shall submit a
report to the Committee on House Administration detailing a plan to ensure that
all House proceedings that are broadcast on television or streamed on the
Internet provide closed caption services, and provide a free captioning service
for all web videos created by Member, committee, and leadership offices, as well
as the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer and the Office of the Clerk.
Such report shall include--
(1) a statement of the estimated costs of providing close captioning
services for all such proceedings;
(2) a statement of the estimated costs of providing captioning
service for all such web videos;
(3) an estimated timeline for carrying out the plan; and
(4) a discussion of any barriers to carrying out the plan, including
statutory or regulatory impediments.
(b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 403. COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ACCESSIBILITY.
(a) Report on Accessibility of United States Capitol Buildings and
Grounds.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the adoption of this
resolution, the Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms of the House of
Representatives, and the Executive Director of the Office of Congressional
Workplace Rights, shall provide a joint report to the Committee on House
Administration identifying areas of the Capitol buildings and the United States
Capitol Grounds that are not currently accessible, the estimated costs of making
such areas accessible, including a timetable and plan for making accessibility
modifications, and a discussion of future challenges to ensuring full
accessibility.
(b) Report on Accessibility of Practices and Programming.--Not later than
180 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution, the Chief
Administrative Officer, in consultation with the Director of the Office of
Congressional Accessibility Services and the Librarian of Congress, shall submit
a report to the Committee on House Administration evaluating the accessibility
of the practices and programming used by offices of the legislative branch to
serve the needs of individuals with disabilities.
(c) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
TITLE V--IMPROVING ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS
SEC. 501. ADOPTING STANDARDIZED FORMAT FOR LEGISLATIVE DOCUMENTS.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, the Clerk shall submit a report to the Committee on House
Administration regarding the status of the overall implementation and adoption
of a standardized format for drafting, viewing, and publishing legislation to
improve transparency and efficiency throughout the lawmaking process,
specifically including the status of the overall implementation of the
Extensible Markup Language, or XML, schema known as United States Legislative
Markup.
(b) Initial Report.--The report required under subsection (a) shall include
a detailed plan for completing the overall implementation and adoption of the
format described in such subsection, including a timeline, a statement of the
costs incurred as of the date of such report, and a statement of the expected
costs anticipated to be incurred in the future.
(c) Quarterly Reports.--Not later than 15 days after the last day of each
calendar quarter that begins after the submission of the report under subsection
(a), the Clerk shall submit to the Committee on House Administration a status
report on the progress made during that quarter regarding the overall
implementation and adoption of the format described in such subsection,
including any updates to the timeline and to the costs incurred during that
quarter and expected to be incurred in the future, and a detailed account of
actions taken to implement and adopt the format during the quarter covered by
the report.
(d) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 502. LEGISLATION COMPARISON PROJECT.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, the Clerk shall submit a report to the Committee on House
Administration regarding the status of the completion of the legislative
comparison project required by clause 12 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives.
(b) Initial Report.--The report required in under subsection (a) shall
include a detailed plan for completing the legislative comparison project,
including a timeline, a statement of the costs incurred as of the date of the
report, and a statement of the expected costs anticipated to be incurred in the
future.
(c) Quarterly Reports.--Not later than 15 days after the last day of each
calendar quarter that begins after the submission of the report under subsection
(a), the Clerk shall submit to the Committee on House Administration a status
report on the progress made during that quarter regarding the completion of the
legislative comparison project, including any updates to the timeline and to the
costs incurred during that quarter and expected to be incurred in the future,
and a detailed account of actions taken to complete the legislative comparison
project during the quarter covered by the report.
(d) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 503. DATABASE OF INFORMATION ON EXPIRATION OF AUTHORIZATIONS OF PROGRAMS.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, the Clerk shall submit a report to the Committee on House
Administration regarding the establishment and maintenance, on its public
website, of an up-to-date database that is searchable, sortable, and
downloadable of the expiration dates of all Federal programs and the primary
committee of subject matter jurisdiction over each such program.
(b) Initial Report.--The report required under subsection (a) shall include
a detailed plan for the completion and implementation of such database,
including a timeline and a statement of ongoing and expected costs of
development and implementation, any necessary legal or legislative authorities,
as well as any barriers or difficulties identified regarding the completion and
operation of the database. Such report shall also include a discussion and
recommendations on ensuring that such database--
(1) is updated on a continual and ongoing basis, including requiring
that the Clerk posts all relevant all information not later than 30 days
after receipt; and
(2) includes information provided by standing and select committees
(except the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Ethics, the
Committee on Rules, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence),
as well as recommendations to ensure that such committees provide the
required information on a timely and regular basis.
(c) Annual Reports.--Not later than 15 days after the last day of each
calendar year that begins after the submission of the report under subsection
(a), the Clerk shall submit to the Committee on House Administration a report
regarding the progress made regarding the establishment and maintenance of the
database described in such subsection, including any updates to the timeline and
to the costs incurred or expected to be incurred (as required under subsection
(b)), and a detailed account of actions taken to establish and maintain the
database during the year covered by the report.
(d) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 504. DATABASE OF VOTES TAKEN IN COMMITTEES.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, the Clerk shall submit a report to the Committee on House
Administration regarding the establishment and maintenance, on its public
website, of a separate database for the 116th Congress and each subsequent
Congress of all recorded votes in committees (except for recorded votes taken by
any committee in executive session or recorded votes which, under applicable
rules of the committee, are not required to be made publicly available) that is
sortable, up-to-date, and downloadable.
(b) Initial Report.--The report required under subsection (a) shall include
a detailed plan for completion and implementation of the database described in
such subsection, including a timeline and a statement of the ongoing and
expected costs of development and implementation, any necessary legal or
legislative authorities, as well as any barriers or difficulties identified
regarding the completion and operation of the database. Such report shall also
include a discussion and recommendations on ensuring that such database--
(1) is updated on a continual and ongoing basis; and
(2) requires each standing and select committee to provide to the
Clerk with information respecting recorded votes taken in that committee
(excluding votes which are not required to be included in the database)
within 72 hours of such vote, to include a brief description of the
matter on which the recorded vote was taken, the name of each Member of
the committee voting on that matter, whether the vote was in the
affirmative or the negative, and the total tally of the votes.
(c) Quarterly Reports.--Not later than 15 days after the last day of each
calendar quarter that begins after the submission of the report under subsection
(a), the Clerk shall submit to the Committee on House Administration a report
regarding the progress made regarding the establishment and maintenance of the
database described in such subsection, including any updates to the detailed
timeline and to the costs incurred or expected to be incurred (as required under
subsection (b)), and a detailed account of actions taken to establish and
maintain the database during for the quarter covered by the report.
(d) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 505. ASSIGNMENT OF UNIQUE IDENTIFIERS FOR REPORTS FILED BY REGISTERED
LOBBYISTS.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the adoption of
this resolution, the Clerk shall submit a report to the Committee on House
Administration regarding the status of assigning a unique identification number
with respect to each person who files a registration statement or other report
required to be filed with the Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2
U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), to be used for all purposes under such Act (including the
public availability of such statements and reports) with respect to each
statement or report required to be filed by that person with the Clerk.
(b) Initial Report.--The report required under subsection (a) shall include
a detailed plan for assigning the unique identification numbers described in
such subsection, including a timeline, a statement of the ongoing and expected
costs of carrying out such plan, and a description of any obstacles to carrying
out the plan (including obstacles relating to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of
1995 or other laws).
(c) Quarterly Reports.--Not later than 15 days after the last day of each
calendar quarter that begins after the submission of the report under subsection
(a), the Clerk shall submit to the Committee on House Administration a report
regarding the progress made regarding the overall implementation of the
assignment of the unique identification numbers described in such subsection,
including any updates to the timeline and to the costs incurred or expected to
be incurred as required under subsection (b) and a detailed account of actions
taken to carry out the assignment of such unique identification numbers during
for the quarter covered by the report.
(d) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report required under
subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be required to carry out this
section.
SEC. 506. PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS.
The Committee on House Administration shall take all steps practicable to
make any report required under this resolution publicly available on the
official public website of the Committee or in some other manner.
Attest:
Clerk.
Moving Our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization Resolution
#756 | HRES Congress #116
Policy Area: Congress
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory proceduresBroadcasting, cable, digital technologiesComputer security and identity theftComputers and information technologyCongressional Research Service (CRS)Congressional agenciesCongressional committeesCongressional officers and employeesCongressional operations and organizationCongressional oversightDisability and paralysisEmployee hiringEmployment and training programsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHouse Committee on House AdministrationHouse of Representatives
Last Action: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. (3/10/2020)
Bill Text Source: Congress.gov
Summary and Impacts
Original Text