[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 756 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 756
Implementing the recommendations adopted by the Select Committee on the
Modernization of Congress.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 10, 2019
Mr. Kilmer (for himself, Mr. Graves of Georgia, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Rodney
Davis of Illinois, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Woodall, Ms. DelBene, Mrs. Brooks
of Indiana, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Newhouse, Ms. Scanlon, and Mr. Timmons)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on
Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Judiciary, 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
Implementing the recommendations adopted by the Select Committee on the
Modernization of Congress.
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.
TITLE II--IMPROVING ORIENTATION FOR MEMBERS-ELECT AND PROVIDING
IMPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS
Sec. 201. Plan for providing pay and benefits to staff 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 Member offices to beta test new technologies.
Sec. 305. Creating single point of contact between House offices and
HIR.
Sec. 306. Improving Member feedback regarding outside vendors and HIR
services.
Sec. 307. Leveraging bulk purchasing power of the House.
Sec. 308. Requiring Congressional Research Service to provide rapid
response short fact sheets.
Sec. 309. 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 of United States
Capitol Buildings and Grounds.
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. 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 bank, including
making such bank into a user-friendly, searchable portal
through which Member, committee, and leadership offices can
select a range of criteria to narrow down the candidate pool,
and including ways to promote and publicize the existence and
availability of such bank to internal and external users.
(6) Improving and managing the House Vacancy Announcement
and Placement Service.
(7) 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 a Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer who shall be
responsible for the operation of the program established under
this section, using existing staff and resources of the Office
of the Chief Administrative Officer.
(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, One Hundred Sixteenth
Congress, 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.
(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.
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 and the
Inspector General of the House of Representatives 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.
(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) Recommendation of contractors.--Not later than 60 days
after the date of adoption of this resolution, the Chief
Administrative Officer shall identify for the Committee of
House Administration a multiple number of entities who, in the
judgement of the Chief Administrative Officer, are capable of
providing the report described in subsection (a).
(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.
TITLE II--IMPROVING ORIENTATION FOR MEMBERS-ELECT AND PROVIDING
IMPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS
SEC. 201. PLAN FOR PROVIDING PAY AND BENEFITS TO STAFF OF NEW MEMBERS-
ELECT.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
adoption of this resolution, the Clerk of the House shall submit a
report to the Committee on House Administration that includes--
(1) a detailed plan for paying a salary and providing
benefits for an individual to serve as an employee of a Member-
elect during the period beginning on the date on which the
Member-elect is elected and ending on the date on which the
Member-elect takes the oath of office;
(2) a timeline for the implementation of the plan and a
statement of the expected costs of such a plan (including one-
time and ongoing costs); and
(3) a description of any obstacles preventing the
implementation of such a plan, including the need to make
changes in law.
(b) Application to Only New Members.--The plan described in
subsection (a) shall apply only with respect to an individual serving
as an employee of a Member-elect who, at the time the Member-elect is
elected, is not already serving as a Member.
(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. 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, in writing and electronically, 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
Member, officer, and employee of the House receives an appropriate
amount of cybersecurity training each year.
(b) Deadlines.--
(1) New members and employees.--A new Member, officer, or
employee of the House shall receive training under the program
under this section not later than 30 days after beginning
service to the House.
(2) Certification of completion by employees.--Not later
than January 31 of each year, each officer and employee of the
House shall file a certification with the Chief Administrative
Officer that the officer or employee completed an information
security training program as established by this subsection.
(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) a roadmap for addressing the root causes of HIR's
systemic inability to deliver enterprise programs and
information technology services in a timely manner that
satisfies the needs of Member offices;
(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; and
(4) methods to reduce duplicative spending on information
technology services.
(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 individuals to use mobile devices and
computers of the House to initiate and receive video calls,
including through the use of Voice Over Internet Protocol
(VoIP) applications.
(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 individuals to set up a virtual private
network to connect to the network of the House on any mobile
device or computer of the House, in accordance with security
guidelines established by the Chief Administrative Officer.
(4) 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 vendors by
HIR, 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 MEMBER OFFICES TO BETA TEST NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
(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 beta test a new
information technology or application developed by an outside vendor
prior to the final approval by House Information Resources 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. CREATING SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN HOUSE OFFICES AND
HIR.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than 60 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
and actions necessary to ensure that HIR establishes a single point-of-
contact within HIR for each office of the House so that the same
employee of HIR is responsible for responding to requests from the
office and for coordinating the delivery of products and services to
the office, including a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages
of such a single point-of-contact.
(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. 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) create a 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. 307. 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. 308. 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. 309. 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 scanning and 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 OF UNITED STATES
CAPITOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
(a) Requirement.--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) 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 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 of 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 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 the Committee on Ethics
or for any votes taken by any committee in executive session) 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 of 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.
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