[House Hearing, 118 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                   MARKUP OF H.R. 7593 AND H.R. 7592

=======================================================================

                                 MARKUP

                               BEFORE THE

                     SUBCOMMITTEE ON MODERNIZATION

                                 OF THE

                   COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                    ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

                             SECOND SESSION

                               __________

                             APRIL 11, 2024

                               __________

      Printed for the use of the Committee on House Administration
      
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]      


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                   COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

                    BRYAN STEIL, Wisconsin, Chairman

BARRY LOUDERMILK, Georgia            JOSEPH MORELLE, New York,
H. MORGAN GRIFFITH, Virginia              Ranking Member
GREG MURPHY, North Carolina          TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama
STEPHANIE BICE, Oklahoma             NORMA TORRES, California
MIKE CAREY, Ohio                     DEREK KILMER, Washington
ANTHONY D'ESPOSITO, New York
LAUREL LEE, Florida

                       Mike Platt, Staff Director
                  Jamie Fleet, Minority Staff Director

                                 ------                                

                     SUBCOMMITTEE ON MODERNIZATION

                    STEPHANIE BICE, Oklahoma, Chair

MIKE CAREY, Ohio                     DEREK KILMER, Washington,
                                          Ranking Member
                                     JOSEPH MORELLE, New York

               Derek Harley, Subcommittee Staff Director
                         
                         C  O  N  T  E  N  T  S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page

                           Opening Statements

Chairwoman Stephanie Bice, Representative from the State of 
  Oklahoma.......................................................     1
    Prepared statement of Chairwoman Stephanie Bice..............     2
Ranking Member Derek Kilmer, Representative from the State of 
  Washington.....................................................     2
    Prepared statement of Ranking Member Derek Kilmer............     3
Ranking Member Joseph Morelle, Representative from the State of 
  New York.......................................................     4

                       Submissions for the Record

H.R. 7592........................................................     5
H.R. 7593........................................................    10

 
                   MARKUP OF H.R. 7593 AND H.R. 7592

                              ----------                              


                             April 11, 2024

             Subcommittee on Modernization,
                 Committee on House Administration,
                                  House of Representatives,
                                                    Washington, DC.
    The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:02 a.m., in 
room 1310, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Stephanie Bice
    [Chair of the Subcommittee] presiding.
    Present: Representatives Bice, Carey, Kilmer, and Morelle.
    Staff present: Annemarie Cake, Professional Staff and 
Deputy Clerk.

 OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. STEPHANIE BICE, CHAIRWOMAN, A U.S. 
                  REPRESENTATIVE FROM OKLAHOMA

    Chairwoman Bice. The Modernization Subcommittee will come 
to order. I note that a quorum is present.
    Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a 
recess at any time.
    The Subcommittee meets today pursuant to notice to consider 
two bills, H.R. 7592 and H.R. 7593.
    As required by House rules, copies of both measures have 
been made available to the Members and the public at least 24 
hours in advance.
    I now recognize myself for the purpose of making an opening 
statement.
    A few weeks ago, on March 20, the Modernization 
Subcommittee held its first legislative hearing. Today, the 
Subcommittee is holding its first markup.
    I would like to also note that this is the first markup 
that a Subcommittee on House Administration has held in 31 
years. It is a lot of firsts in the span of a few weeks. I 
certainly want to thank Ranking Member Kilmer, Mr. Carey, Mr. 
Morelle for all of the time and effort they have put into 
getting us here today.
    Subcommittees can play an important role in the legislative 
process, and we are demonstrating that through our work here. 
All four Members of this Subcommittee worked together to 
introduce the bills that we are marking up today. These 
measures will help streamline processes and improve the way the 
Congressional Research Service works on behalf of Congress.
    By prioritizing a more efficient Congress, we are saving 
taxpayer dollars.
    H.R. 7592 would eliminate the Constitution Annotated, or 
CONAN, printed requirement and replace it with a digitized 
version. This will eliminate the cost associated with printing 
a hardbound version, which according to CRS and GPO, would save 
just over a million dollars. The digital version is regularly 
updated, and CRS is prepared to continue improving its user 
features.
    For those that may be watching, this is what the 
Constitution Annotated looks like. It is printed every 10 
years, and the minute it is printed, it is almost completely 
out of date because it is being updated so frequently. We are 
trying to move this online.
    H.R. 7593 would modernize CRS' access to Federal agency 
data and information, also creating efficiencies.
    In order to provide timely and accurate research and 
analysis to Congress, CRS needs quick and reliable access to 
data. While CRS' work is held up by bureaucratic processes and 
procedures, our work is held up. That is unacceptable, and our 
constituents deserve better.
    CRS brought these costs and time-saving measures to the 
Subcommittee's attention, and we were happy to work with the 
agency to support their ongoing modernization efforts.

            PREPARED STATEMENT FROM CHAIRWOMAN BICE

    A few weeks ago, on March 20, the Modernization 
Subcommittee held its first legislative hearing. Today, the 
Subcommittee is holding its first markup.
    I would like to also note that this is the first markup 
that a Subcommittee on House Administration has held in 31 
years. It is a lot of firsts in the span of a few weeks. I 
certainly want to thank Ranking Member Kilmer, Mr. Carey, Mr. 
Morelle for all of the time and effort they have put into 
getting us here today.
    Subcommittees can play an important role in the legislative 
process, and we are demonstrating that through our work here. 
All four Members of this Subcommittee worked together to 
introduce the bills that we are marking up today. These 
measures will help streamline processes and improve the way the 
Congressional Research Service works on behalf of Congress.
    By prioritizing a more efficient Congress, we are saving 
taxpayer dollars.
    H.R. 7592 would eliminate the Constitution Annotated, or 
CONAN, printed requirement and replace it with a digitized 
version. This will eliminate the cost associated with printing 
a hardbound version, which according to CRS and GPO, would save 
just over a million dollars. The digital version is regularly 
updated, and CRS is prepared to continue improving its user 
features.
    For those that may be watching, this is what the 
Constitution Annotated looks like. It is printed every 10 
years, and the minute it is printed, it is almost completely 
out of date because it is being updated so frequently. We are 
trying to move this online.
    H.R. 7593 would modernize CRS' access to Federal agency 
data and information, also creating efficiencies.
    In order to provide timely and accurate research and 
analysis to Congress, CRS needs quick and reliable access to 
data. While CRS' work is held up by bureaucratic processes and 
procedures, our work is held up. That is unacceptable, and our 
constituents deserve better.
    CRS brought these costs and time saving measures to the 
Subcommittee's attention, and we were happy to work with the 
agency to support their ongoing modernization efforts.

    At this time, I now recognize Ranking Member Kilmer for 5 
minutes for the purpose of offering an opening statement.

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. DEREK KILMER, RANKING MEMBER, A U.S. 
                 REPRESENTATIVE FROM WASHINGTON

    Mr. Kilmer. Thank you, Madam Chair and my colleagues, for 
joining us here for our first Modernization Subcommittee 
markup. As the Chairwoman mentioned, we have not had a House 
Administration Subcommittee markup in over 30 years. I know 
that we are now tearing it up on C-Span 8, The Ocho.
    Today we are not focusing on the past. We are reviewing two 
bills that bring the Congressional Research Service and, by 
extension, this institution further into the future. Both bills 
we are considering tackle problems we identified on the Select 
Committee on the Modernization of Congress. I want to thank 
everyone on the Subcommittee for partnering with Chair Bice and 
me and for cosponsoring both bills.
    As the Chairwoman mentioned, H.R. 7593, the Modernizing the 
Congressional Research Service's Access to Data Act, speaks to 
the Select Committee's recommendation that states that 
congressional support agencies should report on challenges and 
potential solutions for accessing Federal data.
    CRS statute, developed in the 1970's, states that Federal 
agencies need to comply with data requests from Congress to 
serve Congressional Committees. However, given the lack of 
explicit statutory reference to personal offices, CRS 
leadership has indicated that they at times have struggled to 
access necessary information from Federal agencies to execute 
their mission.
    CRS should be able to update reports on nationally 
significant issues proactively and respond to specific Member 
office requests, and their access should be on par with that 
provided to other leg branch support agencies, like the CBO, 
for example.
    As I mentioned before at this Subcommittee previously, my 
team and I utilize CRS regularly. Thankfully, they have not put 
a restraining order out against my staff for how regularly. The 
legislative work that our office puts forward is better because 
CRS engages with us. It matters that they have access to the 
Federal data that they need to do their jobs.
    Furthermore, the Select Committee recommended that 
Congressional Committees, including this one, should examine 
support agency authorities and determine if they need to be 
updated. In this spirit, CRS brought the CONAN issue to our 
attention. As the Chairwoman mentioned, under existing law, the 
Library of Congress is required to produce terrifically heavy 
hardbound copies of the Constitution with annotations, which is 
awesome for arms day if you are looking for a little exercise, 
not super for taxpayers.
    That is why this bill, if it passes, can save valuable CRS 
staff capacity, as well as nearly a million dollars for 
taxpayers, continuing to ensure that the American people have 
access to the information that they need.
    Thanks again to my colleagues, to the Subcommittee 
Chairwoman, and our Subcommittee colleagues. I look forward to 
moving these bills to modernize CRS forward and to continuing 
the Subcommittee's vital work to improve Congress' ability to 
serve the American people.

         PREPARED STATEMENT FROM RANKING MEMBER KILMER

    As the Chairwoman mentioned, we haven't had a House 
Administration Subcommittee markup in over 30 years. I know 
that we are now tearing it up on C Span 8, The Ocho.
    Today we aren't focusing on the past. We are reviewing two 
bills that bring the Congressional Research Service and, by 
extension, this institution further into the future. Both bills 
we are considering tackle problems we identified on the Select 
Committee on the Modernization of Congress. I want to thank 
everyone on the Subcommittee for partnering with Chair Bice and 
me and for cosponsoring both bills.
    As the Chairwoman mentioned, H.R. 7593, the Modernizing the 
Congressional Research Service's Access to Data Act, speaks to 
the Select Committee's recommendation that states that 
congressional support agencies should report on challenges and 
potential solutions for accessing Federal data.
    CRS statute, developed in the 1970's, states that Federal 
agencies need to comply with data requests from Congress to 
serve Congressional Committees. However, given the lack of 
explicit statutory reference to personal offices, CRS 
leadership has indicated that they at times have struggled to 
access necessary information from Federal agencies to execute 
their mission.
    CRS should be able to update reports on nationally 
significant issues proactively and respond to specific Member 
office requests, and their access should be on par with that 
provided to other leg branch support agencies, like the CBO, 
for example.
    As I mentioned before at this Subcommittee previously, my 
team and I utilize CRS regularly. Thankfully, they have not put 
a restraining order out against my staff for how regularly. The 
legislative work that our office puts forward is better because 
CRS engages with us. It matters that they have access to the 
Federal data that they need to do their jobs.
    Furthermore, the Select Committee recommended that 
Congressional Committees, including this one, should examine 
support agency authorities and determine if they need to be 
updated. In this spirit, CRS brought the CONAN issue to our 
attention. As the Chairwoman mentioned, under existing law, the 
Library of Congress is required to produce terrifically heavy 
hardbound copies of the Constitution with annotations, which is 
awesome for arms day if you are looking for a little exercise, 
not super for taxpayers.
    That is why this bill, if it passes, can save valuable CRS 
staff capacity, as well as nearly a million dollars for 
taxpayers, continuing to ensure that the American people have 
access to the information that they need.
    Thanks again to my colleagues, to the Subcommittee 
Chairwoman, and our Subcommittee colleagues. I look forward to 
moving these bills to modernize CRS forward and to continuing 
the Subcommittee's vital work to improve Congress' ability to 
serve the American people.

    With that, I yield back.
    Chairwoman Bice. Thank you, Representative Kilmer.
    Do either Mr. Carey, Rep. Carey, or Rep. Morelle wish to 
make an opening statement?
    Representative Morelle, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

  OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOSEPH MORELLE, RANKING MEMBER, A 
               U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW YORK

    Mr. Morelle. Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Not so much an opening statement. Two things that occurred 
to me. First of all--not one of the two things, but I thought 
CONAN was just that you had to be Conan the Barbarian to be 
able to lift this thing.
    Just two things I want to point out. First of all, these 
are substantive changes, and they may not set the world on 
fire, but making substantive, positive changes that make the 
place more efficient is something we should all be interested 
in.
    Secondly, I just want to thank the Members, particularly 
the Chair and the Ranking Member. This is really the way we 
ought to be doing things in Congress; Subcommittees meeting, 
talking about substantive issues, trying to find common ground 
and commonsense solutions to challenges and moving along.
    Just wanted to thank you both for your leadership and 
getting this to the Subcommittee and, hopefully, to the full 
Committee for consideration.
    I yield back.
    Chairwoman Bice. Thank you, Representative. I appreciate 
the comments.
    First item on the agenda today is H.R. 7592. The clerk will 
please report the bill.
    The Clerk. H.R. 7592----
    Chairwoman Bice. Without objection, the first reading of 
the bill is dispensed with.
    Also, without objection, the bill shall be considered as 
read and open to amendment at any point.
    [The House bill H.R. 7592 follows:]
    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
    Chairwoman Bice. Do any Members seek recognition to offer 
amendments or speak on the bill?
    Seeing none, if not, the question now occurs on reporting 
H.R. 7592 favorably to the full Committee.
    All those in favor, say aye.
    All those opposed, no.
    In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it, and the bill 
is reported favorably to the full Committee.
    The next item on our agenda is 7593. The clerk will please 
report the bill.
    The Clerk. H.R. 7593----
    Chairwoman Bice. Without objection, the first reading of 
the bill is dispensed with.
    Also, without objection, the bill shall be considered as 
read and open to amendment at any point.
    [The House bill H.R. 7593 follows:]
    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
    Chairwoman Bice. Do any Members wish to seek recognition to 
offer amendments or speak on the bill?
    Seeing none, the question now occurs on reporting H.R. 7593 
favorably to the full Committee.
    All those in favor, say aye.
    Those opposed, no.
    In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it, and the bill 
is favorably reported to the full Committee.
    If there is no further business to come before this 
Subcommittee, without objection, the Subcommittee stands 
adjourned.
    [Whereupon, at 10:10 a.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]
  

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