[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.