IV 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 437 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 13, 2011 Mr. Pearce 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 Congressmen and congressional staff need to interact more with constituents; Whereas Congressmen must be more accountable to their constituents; Whereas constituents deserve better access to their Congressman; Whereas constituents must overcome time constraints and high travel costs to travel to Washington, DC, to meet with their Congressman; Whereas Congressmen currently do most of their work from Washington, DC, and travel varying distances to their districts; 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 than they would be if they worked in the district; Whereas the House of Representatives currently demands that Congressmen physically assemble in Washington, DC, to conduct their duties, including holding debates, hearings, meetings, and votes; Whereas recent advances in technology, such as electronic voting, video conferencing, and secure telephone and internet connections, would make it possible for the House of Representatives to hold debates, hearings, meetings, and votes in a virtual setting; Whereas, because of the possibility of another terrorist attack on Washington, DC, there are security and safety concerns about the entire Congress being physically located in a single place; and Whereas Government operating costs are far too high, and Congress must find new and innovative ways to save taxpayer money by decreasing the operating costs of the Government: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)directs the Committee on House Administration to identify the best practices for holding debates, hearings, meetings, and votes of the House of Representatives in a virtual setting; and (2)directs the Committee on House Administration to establish procedures and rules for Congressmen to consider legislation in a virtual setting; and (3)directs the House of Representatives to hold debates, hearings, meetings, and votes in a virtual setting in accordance with the requirement to assemble under section 2 of the 20th Amendment of the Constitution.