[House Report 116-707]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                   Union Calendar No. 591


116th Congress  }                                             {  Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                 
2d Session      }                                             {  116-707
_______________________________________________________________________                                     

                                                 


                      THE REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES

                                 of the

                   COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

                               during the

                             116TH CONGRESS

                      together with minority views
                      
                      




 December 31, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
            
            
            
                            ______

              U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 
 42-826                  WASHINGTON : 2021 
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                          House of Representatives,
                         Committee on House Administration,
                                 Washington, DC, December 30, 2020.
Hon. Cheryl L. Johnson,
Clerk of the House,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Ms. Johnson: Pursuant to clause 1(d) of rule XI of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, I present herewith the 
report on the activities of the Committee on House 
Administration for the 116th Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                               Zoe Lofgren,
                                                       Chairperson.
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                                                       
                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page
Letter of Transmittal............................................   III
Jurisdiction.....................................................     1
Rules of the Committee...........................................     2
Membership and Organization of the Committee.....................    12
Oversight Plan for the 116th Congress............................    14
Legislative and Oversight Activities.............................    23
Hearings and Meetings............................................    88
Committee Resolutions............................................    96
Appendix I--Committee Resolutions................................    97
Minority Views...................................................   167





                                                 Union Calendar No. 591
                                                 
                                                 
116th Congress  }                                              {   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session     }                                              {  116-707

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



 
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE 
                             116TH CONGRESS

                                _______
                                

 December 31, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

       Ms. Lofgren, from the Committee on House Administration, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                             MINORITY VIEWS

                                 Report

    Clause 1(d) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives for the 116th Congress requires each standing 
Committee, not later than January 2 of each odd-numbered year, 
submit to the House a report on the activities of that 
Committee, including separate sections summarizing the 
legislative and oversight activities of that Committee during 
that Congress.

                              Jurisdiction


                           RULES OF THE HOUSE

    Clause 1(k) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives for the 116th Congress sets forth the 
jurisdiction of the Committee on House Administration as 
follows--
    (1) Appropriations from accounts for committee salaries and 
expenses (except for the Committee on Appropriations); House 
Information Resources; and allowance and expenses of Members, 
Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, officers, and 
administrative offices of the House.
    (2) Auditing and settling of all accounts described in 
subparagraph (1).
    (3) Employment of persons by the House, including staff for 
Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, and committees; 
and reporters of debates, subject to rule VI.
    (4) Except as provided in paragraph (r)(11), the Library of 
Congress, including management thereof; the House Library; 
statuary and pictures; acceptance or purchase of works of art 
for the Capitol; the Botanic Garden; and purchase of books and 
manuscripts.
    (5) The Smithsonian Institution and the incorporation of 
similar institutions (except as provided in paragraph (r)(11)).
    (6) Expenditure of accounts described in subparagraph (1).
    (7) Franking Commission.
    (8) Printing and correction of the Congressional Record.
    (9) Accounts of the House generally.
    (10) Assignment of office space for Members, Delegates, the 
Resident Commissioner, and committees.
    (11) Disposition of useless executive papers.
    (12) Election of the President, Vice President, Members, 
Senators, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner; corrupt 
practices; contested elections; credentials and qualifications; 
and Federal elections generally.
    (13) Services to the House, including the House Restaurant, 
parking facilities, and administration of the House Office 
Buildings and of the House wing of the Capitol.
    (14) Travel of Members, Delegates, and the Resident 
Commissioner.
    (15) Raising, reporting, and use of campaign contributions 
for candidates for office of Representative, of Delegate, and 
of Resident Commissioner.
    (16) Compensation, retirement, and other benefits of the 
Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, officers, and 
employees of Congress.

    Rules for the Committee on House Administration, U.S. House of 
                    Representatives, 116th Congress


                       (Adopted February 7, 2019)


Rule No. 1--General Provisions

    (a) The Rules of the House of Representatives are the rules 
of the Committee so far as applicable, except that a motion to 
recess from day to day is a privileged motion in the Committee.
    (b) The Committee is authorized at any time to conduct such 
investigations and studies as it may consider necessary or 
appropriate in the exercise of its responsibilities under rule 
X of the Rules of the House of Representatives and, subject to 
the adoption of expense resolutions as required by clause 6 of 
rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, to incur 
expenses (including travel expenses) in connection therewith.
    (c) The Committee is authorized to have printed and bound 
testimony and other data presented at hearings held by the 
Committee, and to make such information available to the 
public. All costs of stenographic services and transcripts in 
connection with any meeting or hearing of the Committee shall 
be paid from the appropriate House account.
    (d) The Committee shall submit to the House, not later than 
January 2 of each odd-numbered year, a report on the activities 
of the committee under rules X and XI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives.
    (e) The Committee's rules shall be made publicly available 
in electronic form and published in the Congressional Record 
not later than 60 days after the Committee is elected in each 
odd-numbered year.

Rule No. 2--Regular and Special Meetings

    (a)(1) The regular meeting date of the Committee shall be 
the second Tuesday of every month when the House is in session 
in accordance with clause 2(b) of rule XI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives. If the House is not in session on the 
second Tuesday of a month, the regular meeting date shall be 
the third Tuesday of that month.
          (2) Additional meetings may be called by the 
        Chairperson of the full Committee as the Chairperson 
        considers necessary, or at the request of a majority of 
        the members of the Committee in accordance with clause 
        2(c) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives.
          (3) The determination of the business to be 
        considered at each meeting shall be made by the 
        Chairperson subject to clause 2(c) of rule XI of the 
        Rules of the House of Representatives. A regularly 
        scheduled meeting may be dispensed with if, in the 
        judgment of the Chairperson, there is no need for the 
        meeting.
    (b) If the Chairperson is not present at any meeting of the 
Committee, the ranking member of the majority party who is 
present shall preside at the meeting.
    (c) The Chairperson, in the case of meetings to be 
conducted by the Committee shall make public announcement of 
the date, place, and subject matter of any meeting to be 
conducted on any measure or matter. Such meeting shall not 
commence earlier than the third calendar day (excluding 
Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is 
in session on such a day) on which members have notice thereof. 
If the Chairperson, with the concurrence of the ranking 
minority member, determines that there is good cause to begin 
the meeting sooner, or if the Committee so determines by 
majority vote, a quorum being present, the Chairperson shall 
make the announcement at the earliest possible date. The 
announcement shall promptly be made publicly available in 
electronic form and published in the Daily Digest.
    (d) The Chairperson, in the case of meetings to be 
conducted by the Committee shall make available on the 
Committee's web site the text of any legislation to be marked 
up at a meeting at least 24 hours before such meeting (or at 
the time of an announcement made within 24 hours of such 
meeting). This requirement shall also apply to any resolution 
or regulation to be considered at a meeting.

Rule No. 3--Open Meetings

    As required by clause 2(g), of rule XI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, each meeting for the transaction of 
business, including the markup of legislation of the Committee 
shall be open to the public except when the Committee in open 
session and with a quorum present determines by record vote 
that all or part of the remainder of the meeting on that day 
shall be closed to the public because disclosure of matters to 
be considered would endanger national security, would 
compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or would tend 
to defame, degrade or incriminate any person, or otherwise 
would violate any law or rule of the House. Provided, however, 
that no person other than members of the Committee, and such 
congressional staff and such other persons as the Committee may 
authorize, shall be present in any business or markup session 
which has been closed to the public. To the maximum extent 
practicable, the Chairperson shall cause to be provided audio 
and video coverage of each hearing or meeting that allows the 
public to easily listen to and view the proceedings and 
maintain the recordings of such coverage in a manner that is 
easily accessible to the public.

Rule No. 4--Records and Rollcalls

    (a)(1) A record vote shall be held if requested by any 
member of the Committee.
          (2) The result of each record vote in any meeting of 
        the Committee shall be made available for inspection by 
        the public at reasonable times at the Committee 
        offices, including a description of the amendment, 
        motion, order or other proposition; the name of each 
        member voting for and against; and the members present 
        but not voting.
          (3) The Chairperson shall make the record of the 
        votes on any question on which a record vote is 
        demanded available on the Committee's website not later 
        than 48 hours after such vote is taken (excluding 
        Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays). Such record 
        shall include a description of the amendment, motion, 
        order, or other proposition, the name of each member 
        voting for and each member voting against such 
        amendment, motion, order, or proposition, and the names 
        of those members of the Committee present but not 
        voting.
          (4) The Chairperson shall make available on the 
        Committee's website not later than 24 hours (excluding 
        Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) after the 
        adoption of any amendment to a measure or matter the 
        text of such amendment.
    (b)(1) Subject to subparagraph (2), the Chairperson may 
postpone further proceedings when a record vote is ordered on 
the question of approving any measure or matter or adopting an 
amendment. The Chairperson may resume proceedings on a 
postponed request at any time.
          (2) In exercising postponement authority under 
        subparagraph (1), the Chairperson shall take all 
        reasonable steps necessary to notify members on the 
        resumption of proceedings on any postponed record vote.
          (3) When proceedings resume on a postponed question, 
        notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous 
        question, an underlying proposition shall remain 
        subject to further debate or amendment to the same 
        extent as when the question was postponed.
    (c) All Committee hearings, records, data, charts, and 
files shall be kept separate and distinct from the 
congressional office records of the member serving as 
Chairperson; and such records shall be the property of the 
House and all members of the House shall have access thereto.
    (d) House records of the Committee which are at the 
National Archives shall be made available pursuant to rule VII 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives. The Chairperson 
shall notify the ranking minority member of any decision to 
withhold a record pursuant to the rule, and shall present the 
matter to the Committee upon written request of any Committee 
member.
    (e) To the maximum extent feasible, the Committee shall 
make its publications available in electronic form.

Rule No. 5--Proxies

    No vote by any member in the Committee may be cast by 
proxy.

Rule No. 6--Power To Sit and Act; Subpoena Power

    (a) For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions 
and duties under rules X and XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee is authorized (subject to 
subparagraph (b)(1) of this paragraph)--
          (1) to sit and act at such times and places within 
        the United States, whether the House is in session, has 
        recessed, or has adjourned, and to hold such hearings; 
        and
          (2) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the 
        attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the 
        production of such books, records, correspondence, 
        memorandums, papers, documents and other materials as 
        it deems necessary, including materials in electronic 
        form. The Chairperson, or any member designated by the 
        Chairperson, may administer oaths to any witness.
    (b)(1) A subpoena may be authorized and issued by the 
Chairperson of the full Committee, in accordance with clause 
2(m) of rule XI of the House of Representatives, in the conduct 
of any investigation or activity or series of investigations or 
activities within the jurisdiction of the Committee, following 
consultation with the ranking minority member.
          (2) In addition, a subpoena may be authorized and 
        issued by the Committee in accordance with clause 2(m) 
        of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives, in the conduct of any investigation or 
        activity or series of investigations or activities, 
        when authorized by a majority of the Members voting, a 
        majority of the Committee being present. Authorized 
        subpoenas shall be signed by the Chairperson or by any 
        Member designated by the Committee.
          (3) At least two business days before issuing any 
        subpoena pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, 
        the Chairperson shall consult with the ranking minority 
        member regarding the authorization and issuance of such 
        subpoena, and the Chairperson shall provide a full copy 
        of the proposed subpoena, including any proposed 
        document schedule, at that time.
          (4) The requirements of paragraph (3) may be waived 
        in the event of an exigent circumstance that does not 
        reasonably allow for advance written notice.

Rule No. 7--Quorums

    No measure or recommendation shall be reported to the House 
unless a majority of the Committee is actually present. For the 
purposes of taking any action other than reporting any measure, 
issuance of a subpoena, closing meetings, promulgating 
Committee orders, or changing the rules of the Committee, one-
third of the members of the Committee shall constitute a 
quorum. For purposes of taking testimony and receiving 
evidence, two members shall constitute a quorum.

Rule No. 8--Amendments

    Any amendment offered to any pending legislation before the 
Committee must be made available in written form when requested 
by any member of the Committee. If such amendment is not 
available in written form when requested, the Chairperson will 
allow an appropriate period of time for the provision thereof.

Rule No. 9--Hearing Procedures

    (a) The Chairperson shall make public announcement of the 
date, place, and subject matter of any hearing to be conducted 
on any measure or matter at least one week before the 
commencement of that hearing. If the Chairperson, with the 
concurrence of the ranking minority member, determines that 
there is good cause to begin the hearing sooner, or if the 
Committee so determines by majority vote, a quorum being 
present, the Chairperson shall make the announcement at the 
earliest possible date. The clerk of the Committee shall 
promptly notify the Daily Digest Clerk of the Congressional 
Record as soon as possible after such public announcement is 
made.
    (b) Unless excused by the Chairperson, each witness who is 
to appear before the Committee shall file with the clerk of the 
Committee, at least 48 hours in advance of his or her 
appearance, a written statement of his or her proposed 
testimony and shall limit his or her oral presentation to a 
summary of his or her statement.
    (c) When any hearing is conducted by the Committee upon any 
measure or matter, the minority party members on the Committee 
shall be entitled, upon request to the Chairperson by a 
majority of those minority members before the completion of 
such hearing, to call witnesses selected by the minority to 
testify with respect to that measure or matter during at least 
one day of hearings thereon.
    (d) All other members of the Committee may have the 
privilege of sitting with any subcommittee during its hearing 
or deliberations and may participate in such hearings or 
deliberations, but no member who is not a member of the 
subcommittee shall count for a quorum or offer any motion or 
amendment or vote on any matter before the subcommittee.
    (e) Committee members may question witnesses only when they 
have been recognized by the Chairperson for that purpose, and 
only for a 5-minute period until all members present have had 
an opportunity to question a witness. The 5-minute period for 
questioning a witness by any one member can be extended as 
provided by clause 2(j) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives. The questioning of a witness in Committee 
hearings shall be initiated by the Chairperson, followed by the 
ranking minority member and all other members alternating 
between the majority and minority. In recognizing members to 
question witnesses in this fashion, the Chairperson shall take 
into consideration the ratio of the majority to minority 
members present and shall establish the order of recognition 
for questioning in such a manner as not to disadvantage the 
members of the majority. The Chairperson may accomplish this by 
recognizing two majority members for each minority member 
recognized.
    (f) The following additional rules shall apply to hearings 
of the Committee as applicable:
          (1) The Chairperson at a hearing shall announce in an 
        opening statement the subject of the investigation.
          (2) A copy of the Committee rules and this clause 
        shall be made available to each witness as provided by 
        clause 2(k)(2) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives.
          (3) Witnesses at hearings may be accompanied by their 
        own counsel for the purpose of advising them concerning 
        their constitutional rights.
          (4) The Chairperson may punish breaches of order and 
        decorum, and of professional ethics on the part of 
        counsel, by censure and exclusion from the hearings; 
        and the Committee may cite the offender to the House 
        for contempt.
          (5) If the Committee determines that evidence or 
        testimony at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or 
        incriminate any person, it shall--
                  (A) afford such person an opportunity 
                voluntarily to appear as a witness;
                  (B) receive such evidence or testimony in 
                executive session; and
                  (C) receive and dispose of requests from such 
                person to subpoena additional witnesses.
          (6) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of this 
        subsection, the Chairperson shall receive, and the 
        Committee shall dispose of, requests to subpoena 
        additional witnesses.
          (7) No evidence or testimony taken in executive 
        session may be released or used in public sessions 
        without the consent of the Committee.
          (8) In the discretion of the Committee, witnesses may 
        submit brief and pertinent sworn statements in writing 
        for inclusion in the record. The Committee is the sole 
        judge of the pertinence of testimony and evidence 
        adduced at its hearing.
          (9) A witness may obtain a transcript copy of his 
        testimony given at a public session or, if given at an 
        executive session, when authorized by the Committee.

Rule No. 10--Procedures for Reporting Measures or Matters

    (a)(1) It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to report or 
cause to be reported promptly to the House any measure approved 
by the Committee and to take or cause to be taken necessary 
steps to bring the matter to a vote.
          (2) In any event, the report of the Committee on a 
        measure which has been approved by the Committee shall 
        be filed within 7 calendar days (exclusive of days on 
        which the House is not in session) after the day on 
        which there has been filed with the clerk of the 
        Committee a written request, signed by a majority of 
        the members of the Committee, for the reporting of that 
        measure. Upon the filing of any such request, the clerk 
        of the Committee shall transmit immediately to the 
        Chairperson notice of the filing of that request.
    (b)(1) No measure or recommendation shall be reported to 
the House unless a majority of the Committee is actually 
present.
          (2) With respect to each record vote on a motion to 
        report any measure or matter of a public character, and 
        on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, the 
        total number of votes cast for and against, and the 
        names of those members voting for and against, shall be 
        included in the Committee report on the measure or 
        matter.
    (c) The report of the Committee on a measure or matter 
which has been approved by the Committee shall include the 
matters required by clause 3(c) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.
    (d)(1) If, at the time any measure or matter is ordered 
reported by the Committee, any member of the Committee gives 
notice of intention to file supplemental, minority, additional, 
or dissenting views, that member shall be entitled to not less 
than two additional calendar days after the day of such notice, 
commencing on the day on which the measure or matter(s) was 
approved, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, in 
which to file such views, in writing and signed by that member, 
with the clerk of the Committee.
          (2) All such views so filed by one or more members of 
        the Committee shall be included within, and shall be a 
        part of, the report filed by the Committee with respect 
        to that measure or matter.
          (3) The report of the Committee upon that measure or 
        matter shall be printed in a single volume which--
                  (A) shall include all supplemental, minority, 
                additional or dissenting views, in the form 
                submitted, by the time of the filing of the 
                report, and
                  (B) shall bear upon its cover a recital that 
                any such supplemental, minority, additional, or 
                dissenting views (and any material submitted 
                under subparagraph (c)) are included as part of 
                the report. This subparagraph does not 
                preclude--
                          (i) the immediate filing or printing 
                        of a Committee report unless timely 
                        request for the opportunity to file 
                        supplemental, minority, additional, or 
                        dissenting views has been made as 
                        provided by subsection (c); or
                          (ii) the filing of any supplemental 
                        report upon any measure or matter which 
                        may be required for the correction of 
                        any technical error in a previous 
                        report made by the Committee upon that 
                        measure or matter.
          (4) shall, when appropriate, contain the documents 
        required by clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
        the House.
    (e) The Chairperson, following consultation with the 
ranking minority member, is directed to offer a motion under 
clause 1 of rule XXII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives relating to going to conference with the 
Senate, whenever the Chairperson considers it appropriate.
    (f) If hearings have been held on any such measure or 
matter so reported, the Committee shall make every reasonable 
effort to have such hearings published and available to the 
members of the House prior to the consideration of such measure 
or matter in the House.
    (g) The Chairperson may designate any majority member of 
the Committee to act as floor manager of a bill or resolution 
during its consideration in the House.

Rule No. 11--Committee Oversight

    (a) The Committee shall conduct oversight of matters within 
the jurisdiction of the Committee in accordance with clauses 2 
and 4 of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
    (b) Not later than March 1 of the first session of a 
Congress and in accordance with clause 2(d) of rule X of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee shall 
prepare an oversight plan for that Congress.

Rule No. 12--Review of Continuing Programs; Budget Act Provisions

    (a) The Committee shall, in its consideration of all bills 
and joint resolutions of a public character within its 
jurisdiction, ensure that appropriation for continuing programs 
and activities of the Federal Government will be made annually 
to the maximum extent feasible and consistent with the nature, 
requirement, and objectives of the programs and activities 
involved. For the purposes of this paragraph a Government 
agency includes the organizational units of government listed 
in clause 4(e) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives.
    (b) The Committee shall review, from time to time, each 
continuing program within its jurisdiction for which 
appropriations are not made annually in order to ascertain 
whether such program could be modified so that appropriations 
therefore would be made annually.
    (c) The Committee shall, in accordance with clause 4(f)(1) 
of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, submit 
to the Committee on the Budget (1) its views and estimates with 
respect to all matters to be set forth in the concurrent 
resolution on the budget for the ensuing fiscal year which are 
within its jurisdiction or functions, and (2) an estimate of 
the total amounts of new budget authority, and budget outlays 
resulting there from, to be provided or authorized in all bills 
and resolutions within its jurisdiction which it intends to be 
effective during that fiscal year.
    (d) Whenever the Committee is directed in a concurrent 
resolution on the budget to determine and recommend changes in 
laws, bills, or resolutions under the reconciliation process it 
shall promptly make such determination and recommendations, and 
report a reconciliation bill or resolution (or both) to the 
House or submit such recommendations to the Committee on the 
Budget, in accordance with the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974.

Rule No. 13--Broadcasting of Committee Hearings and Meetings

    Whenever any hearing or meeting conducted by the Committee 
is open to the public, those proceedings shall be open to 
coverage by television, radio, and still photography, as 
provided in clause 4 of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, subject to the limitations therein. Operation 
and use of any Committee Internet broadcast system shall be 
fair and nonpartisan and in accordance with clause 4(b) of rule 
XI of the Rules of the house of Representatives and all other 
applicable rules of the Committee and the House.

Rule No. 14--Committee Staff

    The staff of the Committee on House Administration shall be 
appointed as follows:
    (a) The staff shall be appointed by the Chairperson except 
as provided in paragraph (b), and may be removed by the 
Chairperson, and shall work under the general supervision and 
direction of the Chairperson;
    (b) All staff provided to the minority party members of the 
Committee shall be appointed by the ranking minority member, 
and may be removed by the ranking minority member of the 
Committee, and shall work under the general supervision and 
direction of such member;
    (c) The appointment of all professional staff shall be 
subject to the approval of the Committee as provided by, and 
subject to the provisions of, clause 9 of rule X of the Rules 
of the House;
    (d) The Chairperson shall fix the compensation of all staff 
of the Committee, after consultation with the ranking minority 
member regarding any minority party staff, within the budget 
approved for such purposes for the Committee.

Rule No. 15--Travel of Members and Staff

    (a) Consistent with the primary expense resolution and such 
additional expense resolutions as may have been approved, the 
provisions of this rule shall govern travel of Committee 
members and staff. Travel for any member or any staff member 
shall be paid only upon the prior authorization of the 
Chairperson or her or his designee. Travel may be authorized by 
the Chairperson for any member and any staff member in 
connection with the attendance at hearings conducted by the 
Committee and meetings, conferences, and investigations which 
involve activities or subject matter under the general 
jurisdiction of the Committee. Before such authorization is 
given there shall be submitted to the Chairperson in writing 
the following:
          (1) The purpose of the travel;
          (2) The dates during which the travel will occur;
          (3) The locations to be visited and the length of 
        time to be spent in each; and
          (4) The names of members and staff seeking 
        authorization.
    (b)(1) In the case of travel outside the United States of 
members and staff of the Committee for the purpose of 
conducting hearings, investigations, studies, or attending 
meetings and conferences involving activities or subject matter 
under the legislative assignment of the committee, prior 
authorization must be obtained from the Chairperson. Before 
such authorization is given, there shall be submitted to the 
Chairperson, in writing, a request for such authorization. Each 
request, which shall be filed in a manner that allows for a 
reasonable period of time for review before such travel is 
scheduled to begin, shall include the following:
                  (A) the purpose of the travel;
                  (B) the dates during which the travel will 
                occur;
                  (C) the names of the countries to be visited 
                and the length of time to be spent in each;
                  (D) an agenda of anticipated activities for 
                each country for which travel is authorized 
                together with a description of the purpose to 
                be served and the areas of committee 
                jurisdiction involved; and
                  (E) the names of members and staff for whom 
                authorization is sought.
          (2) At the conclusion of any hearing, investigation, 
        study, meeting or conference for which travel outside 
        the United States has been authorized pursuant to this 
        rule, members and staff attending meetings or 
        conferences shall submit a written report to the 
        Chairperson covering the activities and other pertinent 
        observations or information gained as a result of such 
        travel.
    (c) Members and staff of the Committee performing 
authorized travel on official business shall be governed by 
applicable laws, resolutions, or regulations of the House and 
of the Committee on House Administration pertaining to such 
travel.

Rule No. 16--Staff Deposition Authority

    The Chairperson may authorize the staff of the Committee to 
conduct depositions pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 6, 
116th Congress, and subject to any regulations issued pursuant 
thereto.

Rule No. 17--Number and Jurisdiction of Subcommittees

    (a) There shall be one standing subcommittee, with party 
ratios of members as indicated. The subcommittee shall have 
jurisdiction as stated by these rules, may conduct oversight 
over such subject matter, and may consider such legislation as 
may be referred to them by the Chairperson. The name and 
jurisdiction of the subcommittee shall be:
          (1) Subcommittee on Elections (3/1)--.Matters 
        relating to voting rights issues and such other matters 
        as may be referred to the subcommittee.
    (b) No subcommittee shall meet during any full Committee 
meeting or hearing.
    (c) The Chairperson may establish and appoint members, 
consistent with the ratio between majority and minority members 
serving on the Subcommittee on Elections, to serve on task 
forces, panels, special, or select subcommittees of the 
Committee, to perform specific functions for limited periods of 
time, as the Chairperson deems appropriate.

Rule No. 18--Referral of Legislation to Subcommittees

    The Chairperson may refer legislation or other matters to a 
subcommittee as the Chairperson considers appropriate. The 
Chairperson may discharge the subcommittee of any matter 
referred to it.

Rule No. 19--Powers and Duties of Subcommittees

    The subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings, 
receive evidence and report to the full committee on all 
matters referred to it. No subcommittee shall meet during any 
Committee meeting.

Rule No. 20--Other Procedures and Regulations

    The Chairperson may establish such other procedures and 
take such actions as may be necessary to carry out the 
foregoing rules or to facilitate the effective operation of the 
committee.

Rule No. 21--Designation of Clerk of the Committee

    For the purposes of these rules and the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, the staff director of the Committee shall 
act as the clerk of the Committee.

  Membership and Organization of the Committee on House Administration


                     ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

                   COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

                              (Ratio: 6-3)

                  Zoe Lofgren, California, Chairperson
Jamie Raskin, Maryland               Rodney Davis, Illinois, Ranking 
Susan Davis, California                  Member
G. K. Butterfield, North Carolina    Mark Walker, North Carolina
Marcia L. Fudge, Ohio                Barry Loudermilk, Georgia
Pete Aguilar, California

                        SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

                       SUBCOMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS

                              (Ratio: 3-1)

                      Marcia L. Fudge, Ohio, Chair
G. K. Butterfield, North Carolina    Rodney Davis, Illinois, Ranking 
Pete Aguilar, California                 Member

                         Committee Organization

    The Committee on House Administration organized on February 
7, 2019, the Honorable Zoe Lofgren presiding. During the 
organizational meeting the Committee adopted the Rules of the 
Committee for the 116th Congress Committee Resolution 116-01). 
The Committee also reconstituted the Subcommittee on Elections 
and established its jurisdiction and membership (Committee 
Resolution 116-02). The Committee approved five additional 
Committee Resolutions: Committee Resolution 116-03, to adopt 
the Parking Policy for the 116th Congress; Committee Resolution 
116-04, to promulgate regulations regarding mandatory anti-
harassment and anti-discrimination policies for House offices; 
Committee Resolution 116-05, to promulgate regulations 
regarding the use of exercise facilities; Committee Resolution 
116-06, to promulgate regulations regarding Eligible 
Congressional Member Organizations; and Committee Resolution 
116-07, to promulgate regulations regarding displaying a 
statement of rights and protections provided to House 
employees.

                            COMMITTEE STAFF
                             MAJORITY STAFF

    Jamie Fleet, Staff Director
   Khalil Abboud, Deputy Staff 
             Director
 Enumale Agada, Oversight Counsel 
      (October 2020-Present)
 Aaron Allen, Professional Staff 
     (February 2019-June 2019)
  Hector Arias, Staff Assistant 
      (April 2019-June 2020)
Patrick Briggs, Professional Staff 
    Member (April 2020-Present)
  Sydney Burns, Staff Assistant 
    (January 2019-August 2019)
Georgina Cannan, Elections Counsel 
      (October 2019-Present)
  Kylie Carpenter, Professional 
    Staff--Franking (July 2019-
             Present)
Hannah Carr, Staff Assistant (May 
           2019-Present)
  Meredith Connor, Professional 
  Staff (January 2019-July 2019; 
   September 2019-November 2019)
  Matt Defreitas, Franking Staff 
             Director
  Arwa Dubad, Professional Staff-
  Franking (October 2019-Present)
    Eddie Flaherty, Chief Clerk
  Mannal Haddad, Press Secretary 
       (March 2019-May 2020)
   Kemba A. Hendrix, Diversity 
Director (January 2019-March 2020)
Robert Henline, Director of Member 
             Services
   Elizabeth L. Hira, Elections 
  Counsel (January 2019-October 
               2019)
 Kaluni Jalata, Elections Counsel 
     (September 2019-Present)
Brandon Jacobs, Legislative Clerk 
       (March 2020-Present)
  Sean Jones, Legislative Clerk 
   (January 2019-February 2020)
 Aaron Lasure, Professional Staff 
       (March 2019-Present)
  Mariam Malik, Staff Assistant 
   (January 2019-September 2020)
  Jose Morales, Staff Assistant 
      (February 2020-Present)
Teri Morgan, Deputy Staff Director
  Sarah Nasta, Elections Counsel 
       (March 2019-Present)
 Giancarlo Pellegrini, Elections 
  Counsel (November 2019-Present)
  Tanya Sehgal, Senior Elections 
  Counsel (January 2019-January 
               2020)
 Stephen E. Spaulding, Elections 
  Counsel (January 2019-October 
               2020)
   Matt Schlesinger, Oversight 
   Counsel (August 2019-Present)
Sai Singh, Staff Assistant (August 
           2020-Present)
   Daniel Taylor, Deputy Staff 
Director and Chief Counsel (March 
           2019-Present)
 David Tucker, Senior Counsel and 
          Parliamentarian
   Peter Whippy, Communications 
             Director
 Gina Wright, Professional Staff--
  Franking (April 2019-September 
               2019)
  Sean Wright, Senior Elections 
  Counsel (October 2020-Present)
  Natalie Young, Press Secretary 
        (July 2020-Present)

                             MINORITY STAFF

   Jen Daulby, Republican Staff 
 Director (February 2019-Present)
   Jaide Barja, Staff Assistant 
      (October 2020-Present)
Kimberly Betz, Republican General 
      Counsel (January 2019)
 Thomas Blanford, Staff Assistant 
     (February 2019-May 2019)
    Jeyben Castro, Director of 
 Diversity & Inclusion (February 
          2020-May 2020)
    Austin Cho, Administrative 
     Assistant (January 2019)
 Elisabeth Conklin, Professional 
    Staff (April 2019-Present)
 Nick Crocker, Director of Member 
             Services
    Mary S. Englund, Director, 
  Administration and Operations 
      (January 2019-May 2020)
Roberto Estrada Lobo, Professional 
    Staff, (April 2019-Present)
 Cole Felder, Republican General 
  Counsel (February 2019-August 
               2020)
 Caleb Hays, Chief Legal Counsel 
    for Elections (August 2020-
             Present)
Daniel Jarrell, Professional Staff 
   (January 2019-February 2019)
 Susannah Johnston, Professional 
  Staff (September 2019-Present)
   Keighle Joyce, Counsel Clerk 
      (October 2019-Present)
Joy Lee, Counsel (March 2019-July 
               2019)
Tim Monahan, Deputy Staff Director
     Aubrey Neal, Director of 
    Modernization Initiatives 
      (December 2020-Present)
 Courtney Parella, Communications 
 Director (January 2019-May 2020)
  Brittany Randall, Director of 
  Member Services (January 2019-
           January 2020)
 Jesse Roberts, Counsel (February 
       2019-September 2020)
    Janet Schwalb, Director of 
          Administration
   Timothy Sullivan, Republican 
 Franking Staff Director (January 
       2019-September 2020)

                 Oversight Plan for the 116th Congress

    Clause 2(d) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives states:
          (d)(1) Not later than March 1 of the first session of 
        a Congress, the chair of each standing committee (other 
        than the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on 
        Ethics, and the Committee on Rules) shall--
          (A) prepare, in consultation with the ranking 
        minority member, an oversight plan for that Congress;
          (B) provide a copy of that plan to each member of the 
        committee for at least seven calendar days before its 
        submission; and
          (C) submit that plan (including any supplemental, 
        minority, additional, or dissenting views submitted by 
        a member of the committee) simultaneously to the 
        Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Committee on 
        House Administration.
    Accordingly, the Committee submitted the following 
oversight plan in accordance with this provision:

                   COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION


                 Oversight Plan for the 116th Congress


                   Committee on House Administration


                            MEMBER SERVICES

     Oversee Members' allowance amounts, including 
structure and regulations.
     Provide guidance and outreach to congressional 
offices to ensure compliance with committee regulations.
     Review and revise the Members' Congressional 
Handbook, a set of regulations governing the appropriate use of 
the Members' Representational Allowance.
     Review and revise the guide to outfitting and 
maintaining an office of the United States House of 
Representatives, a set of regulations governing the 
acquisition, transfer, and disposal of furnishings, equipment, 
software, and related services.
     Review the calculation of the Members' 
Representational Allowance and ensure that all members have 
adequate resources for representing their constituents.
     Oversee the processing of vouchers and direct 
payments, including those for payroll. Continue to monitor the 
implementation of the electronic vouchering system.
     Work with the Officers of the House, the Architect 
of the Capitol and the legislative branch agencies to provide 
meaningful outreach to member offices and provide that the 
views of member offices are incorporated into their ongoing 
work.

New Member Orientation

     Plan, implement, and oversee the New Member 
Orientation program for newly-elected Members of Congress.
     Oversee the planning and implementation of the 
Congressional Research Service new member issues seminar in 
Williamsburg.
     Work with the Congressional Research Service and 
other support agencies to make available additional on-going 
professional development services for new members and staff.

Intern program

     In coordination with the Senate Committee on Rules 
and Administration, organize, administer, and oversee the 
intern lecture series.
     Review and consider revising the intern handbook 
and other publications and communication materials used in 
support of the intern program.
     Continue and expand the Gregg and Livingston 
Harper congressional internship program for individuals with 
intellectual disabilities.

                    COMMITTEE FUNDING AND OVERSIGHT

     Review monthly reports on committee activities and 
expenditures.
     Review the Committees' Congressional Handbook 
regulations governing expenditure of committee funds and update 
regulations as needed.
     Review primary and any secondary expense 
resolutions and approve authorization of committee-funding 
levels in committee and by House Resolution.
     Review committees' franking expenditures.
     Review the use of consultant contracts.

                CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995

     Monitor implementation of the Congressional 
Accountability Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-1, 109 Stat. 3) and the 
reforms provided for in P.L. 115-397 (132 Stat. 5297).
     Monitor the development and deployment of the 
climate survey.
     Review data on workplace rights information.
     Review regulations adopted by the Office of 
Congressional Workplace Rights.
     Evaluate resources available to the Office of 
Congressional Workplace Rights and House employing offices to 
facilitate implementation of the Act.
     Conduct general oversight of the office of Office 
of Congressional Workplace Rights.
     Conduct specific oversight of the implementation 
of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights IT system.
     Monitor ongoing judicial proceedings to determine 
the impact on the Congressional Accountability Act.
     Monitor for the ongoing anti-harassment and anti-
discrimination workplace rights training, including development 
of the curriculum and administration of in district trainings.
     Oversee the Office of Employee Advocacy.

                          FRANKING COMMISSION

     Oversee the Members' use of the congressional 
frank and other unsolicited mass communications by providing 
guidance, advice, and counsel through consultation or advisory 
opinions.
     Review proposals to modernize the franking 
practices of Members, and regulations governing such mailings 
and communications.
     Monitor current prohibition on mass mailings 90 
days before a primary or general election.
     Oversee efforts to ensure compliance with franked 
mailings and communications reporting requirements, and the 
Chief Administrative Officer's (CAO) implementation of new 
digital form procedures.
     Implement approved procedures to increase 
transparency and improve the accounting of franked mail costs.
     Revise the regulations on the use of the 
congressional frank and rules on practice in proceedings before 
the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards.
     Coordinate with the Member Services team to 
update, refine, and modernize policies related to the official 
use of communications resources.
     Coordinate with the Clerk of the House and CAO to 
identify and implement new applications, resources, and 
procedures for the House to be more transparent, accountable, 
accessible, and to meet Member and Committee office's 
obligations related to official communications.

                  HOUSE OFFICERS AND HOUSE OPERATIONS

     Coordinate with House Officers and officials to 
develop long term plans and goals for the administrative, 
financial and administrative functions of the House.
     Oversee an effort to recruit and retain a more 
diverse workforce among all the House Officers.
     Work with House Officers to identify and reduce 
spending and create more cost effective and efficient 
operations within the House.
     Analyze management improvement proposals and other 
initiatives submitted by the House Officers, the Inspector 
General, the Capitol Police Board, the Architect of the 
Capitol, the Library of Congress, and other legislative branch 
agencies.
     Coordinate with the Subcommittee on Legislative 
Branch Appropriations on matters impacting operations of the 
House and joint entities.
     Provide policy guidance to the House Officers, 
Inspector General and the joint entities as appropriate.
     Oversee compliance with the House Employee 
Classification Act (2 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 291 et seq.).
     Assure coordination among officers and joint 
entities on administrative and technology matters, including 
reviewing existing IT security policies.
     Provide policy guidance and conduct oversight of 
security and safety issues and congressional entities charged 
with such roles.
     Assure coordination among officers and joint 
entities on the development of a comprehensive district office 
support program.

Chief Administrative Officer

     Provide policy direction for the Chief 
Administrative Officer. Continue the review of functions and 
administrative operations assigned to the Chief Administrative 
Officer.
     Review existing asset management processes.
     Review House procurement policies and monitor the 
effectiveness of the Chief Administrative Officer's procurement 
and contract management functions. Review procedures for 
processing contracts with the House that exceed the threshold 
of $350,000.
     Continue to review ongoing process and technology 
upgrades to the House financial management system and ensuring 
appropriate internal controls are in place.
     Monitor reforms to the Office of Finance and 
Payroll and Benefits as provided for by the Inspector General 
and outside consultants.
     Review and oversee information technology services 
provided, maintained or hosted by House Information Resources. 
Continue oversight of failsafe procedures to guarantee 
continuity of operations.
     Review new technology initiatives to better serve 
members, committees, and the public.
     Review semi-annual financial and operational 
status reports; oversee implementation of changes in operations 
to improve services and increase efficiencies.
     Review training offerings available to members and 
staff through the congressional staff academy.
     Review the development and roll-out of the CAO's 
customer advocate program.
     Review the operations of the House gift shop and 
its management.
     Continued review of House restaurant operations; 
furniture policy, inventory and selection; and alternatives to 
the current mail delivery process to strengthen the services 
and tools available to members and staff.
     Examine Chief Administrative Officer's role in 
assuring accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, the 
House office buildings and other House facilities consistent 
with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
     Review staff benefits offered by the House and 
proposals to modify benefits.
     Review the Wounded Warrior Program and develop 
recommendations, in consultation with veteran's organizations, 
about improvements to the program.
     Review the officially sanctioned ``Congressional 
App Challenge.''

Clerk of the House

     Review and approve contracts and requests for 
proposals by the Clerk that exceed the $350,000 spending 
threshold.
     Review the Clerk's current IT configuration and 
redundancy posture.
     Oversee the House document repository.
     Review standards for the electronic exchange of 
legislative information among the houses of congress and 
legislative-branch agencies.
     Coordinate on matters under the jurisdiction of 
the House Fine Arts Board and the Capitol Preservation Board.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Clerk.
     Review of semi-annual financial and operational 
status reports; recommend changes in operations to improve 
services and increase efficiencies.
     Review the printing needs of the Clerk to evaluate 
the potential for eliminating duplication.
     Review the application programming interface 
incorporated in the Clerk's newly-developed website.
     Oversee preparation of congressionally-authorized 
publications.

Sergeant-at-Arms

     Review and oversee security operations in the 
House, including the House Chamber, the galleries, the Capitol, 
House Office Buildings, Capitol Grounds, and district offices.
     Review and oversee initiatives designed to 
increase security and security awareness for Members and staff 
in district offices.
     Review annual financial and operational status 
reports; recommend changes in operations to improve services 
and increase efficiencies.
     Review impact of electronic access to controlled 
spaces.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Sergeant-at-Arms.
     Review the security operation of House parking 
facilities, regulations, and allocation of parking spaces.
     Consult with the Sergeant-at-Arms on policies 
adopted by the Capitol Police Board.
     Review the policies and procedures for visitor 
access to the Capitol.
     Examine Sergeant-at-Arms' role in assuring 
accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, the House 
Office Buildings, and other House facilities consistent with 
the Americans with Disabilities Act.
     Review staff ID standards.
     Review the impact on staff of garage security 
implementation.
     Review the use of technology generally in the 
protection of the House of Representatives.
     Review the effectiveness of district office 
security program, including the law enforcement coordinator 
program, enterprise-wide security system contract, and 
processes for mail sent to the district offices.

House Inspector General

     Review, and approve, proposed audit plan and audit 
reports, including the annual financial statements audit.
     Ensure that audits and their prioritization is 
based upon the assessment of risk to the operations of the 
House.
     Review comprehensive financial and operational 
audits of the House, investigate any irregularities uncovered, 
and monitor necessary improvements.
     Monitor progress of House audits.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Inspector General.
     Direct Inspector General to conduct management 
advisories to improve implementation and operation of key House 
functions.

House Diversity Office

     Pursuant to House Resolution 6, oversee and direct 
implementation of the diversity office.
     Collaborating with the legislative branch 
appropriations subcommittee, oversee requirement for employment 
related survey of the congressional workforce.
     Review and assess diversity plan for each 
legislative branch agency.

           OVERSIGHT OF LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND OTHER ENTITIES

Information and technology coordination

     Oversee, in conjunction with the Senate, forums 
for the sharing of technology plans and capabilities among the 
legislative branch agencies.
     Oversee, in conjunction with the Senate, the 
legislative branch cybersecurity working group with the goal of 
developing and implementing it standards across the legislative 
branch.
     Oversee management of the congress.gov website.
     Oversee work of the legislative branch financial 
managers' council.
     Provide direction to the Bulk Data Task Force.

Library of Congress

     Conduct a review of the progress that the Library 
has made in providing public access to government information, 
especially in electronic form.
     Continue oversight of the development of the 
Library's Visitor Experience project.
     Continue oversight of Library of Congress 
operations, including inventory and cataloguing systems.
     Continue oversight of Law Library operations.
     Continue oversight of Congressional Research 
Service operations and consider any need to modify management 
and organizational structure of the service.
     Review implementation of the Library of Congress 
Fiscal Operations Improvement Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-481, 114 
Stat. 2187), the Veterans' Oral History Project Act (P.L. 106-
380, 114 Stat. 1447), the National Recording Preservation Act 
of 2000 (P.L. 106-474, 114 Stat. 2085), and the History of the 
House Awareness and Preservation Act (P.L. 106-99, 113 Stat. 
1330).
     Consider human-resources legislation proposed by 
the Library.
     Review the use of technology generally in Library 
of Congress operations, and specifically the ongoing work to 
centralize technology operations consistent with the guidance 
from the general accountability office.
     Continue oversight of the Library's technology 
hosting environment transition.
     Review reports by Library of Congress Inspector 
General and implementation of audit recommendations. Examine 
options to improve operation and structure of the Library of 
Congress Inspector General's office.
     Focus oversight on national library services to 
provide the most effective service to their library partners, 
explore ways to increase the number of users under 65, review 
the format and content for those users and review proposals for 
a new physical headquarters.

Copyright Office

     Review the progress that the Copyright Office has 
made in providing copyright application and registration data 
(both past and current) online.
     Review the use of technology generally in 
Copyright Office operations, and specifically the office's 
modernization efforts.
     Conduct a review of the Copyright Office's efforts 
to communicate its modernization efforts to stakeholders.
     Conduct a review of security measures and 
processes for e-deposits submitted to both the Copyright Office 
and Library of Congress.
     Conduct a review of the Copyright Office's 
spending authority and its ability to budget for multi-year 
capital projects.
     Conduct a review of the examination process with a 
focus on the Copyright Office's initiatives aimed at improving 
examination efficiencies and reducing application pendency.
     Review availability of customer service support 
options available to applicants.
     Review Copyright Office rulemaking authority and 
processes.
     Review Copyright Office fee setting authority and 
the office's process for determining the actual cost of 
services they provide.

United States Capitol Police (USCP)

     Monitor administrative operations of the agency, 
including budgetary management, over-time use, civilian 
component, attrition rates, recruitment efforts and incentive 
programs for officers and civilian employees.
     Review proposals for additional USCP authorities, 
facilities and equipment.
     Review analysis of uniformed officer post/duty 
assignments to determine and authorize force levels to meet the 
agency's security requirements within the Capitol complex to 
include the Capitol Visitor Center, the Library of Congress, 
and U.S. Botanic Garden.
     Conduct oversight on House-garage security 
implementation.
     Conduct oversight of the effectiveness of USCP 
pre-screeners.
     Review and consider proposals to improve USCP 
training program for new recruits, and in-service training.
     Authorize and oversee the installation and 
maintenance of new security systems and devices proposed by the 
police board.
     Review and authorize regulations prescribed by the 
police board for use of law enforcement authority by the 
Capitol Police.
     Examine Capitol Police role in assuring 
accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, House Office 
Buildings and other facilities consistent with the Americans 
with Disabilities Act.
     Review reports by USCP Inspector General and 
implementation of audit recommendations. Examine options to 
improve operation and structure of the USCP Inspector General's 
Office.
     Review processes for ensuring adequate physical 
security for Members of Congress.

Government Publishing Office (GPO)

     Oversee operations of the Government Publishing 
Office, including the Superintendent of Documents.
     Review and adopt legislative proposals to reform 
government printing by eliminating redundancies and unnecessary 
printing, increasing efficiency, and enhancing public access to 
government publications.
     Continue efforts to reform title 44, United States 
Code, particularly provisions related to the Federal Depository 
Library Program.
     Monitor implementation of remedial actions taken 
by management to address audit issues identified by the GPO 
Inspector General and outside financial auditors.
     Review the printing needs of the House of 
Representatives to identify the potential for eliminating 
duplication.
     Examine current GPO printing and binding 
regulations to determine advisability of change.
     Oversee Superintendent of Documents' sales and 
depository library programs.
     Review GPO labor practices and labor agreements.
     Review use of GPO facilities and other assets to 
identify possible alternatives enhancing value to the Congress 
and the public.

Architect of the Capitol (AOC)

     Review the operations and organizational structure 
of the office of the Architect.
     Participate in the selection process of a 
permanent Architect of the Capitol.
     Review the electronic and procured services 
provided by the Architect.
     Oversee Architect of the Capitol's maintenance of 
House Buildings and the House side of the Capitol, and review 
plans for rehabilitation of House Buildings, including 
oversight over the Cannon House Office Building renovation.
     Continue oversight of life safety measures, 
accessibility measures, and improved evacuation mechanisms in 
House buildings.
     Review the AOC office of sustainability's efforts 
to reduce energy and waste consumption by the Capitol Complex.
     Oversee operations of the Capitol Visitor Center 
including the re-design of Exhibition Hall, in conjunction with 
the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
     Review and identify ways to create organizational-
wide efficiencies and standards across all divisions of the 
AOC.
     Review reports by Architect of the Capitol 
Inspector General and implementation of audit recommendations. 
Examine options to improve operation and structure of the 
Architect of the Capitol Inspector General's office.
     Inventory space requirements for unmet and growing 
child care needs to employees of the legislative branch and 
incorporate child care space planning into the master campus 
plan.
     Review the pest management practices of the AOC.

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services

     Oversee management and operations of Office of 
Congressional Accessibility Services, such as the 
implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), in 
conjunction with Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

Smithsonian Institution

     Review the Smithsonian Inspector General's reports 
on the status of the Smithsonian, with a focus on 
cybersecurity.
     Oversee general museum and research facility 
operations of the Smithsonian Institution.
     Review and evaluate the Smithsonian Institution's 
use of authorized public funds.
     Review proposed appointments of citizen regents to 
the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents.
     Review proposals for authorization of new 
Smithsonian facilities, including the National Women's History 
Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino. Review 
Smithsonian policies regarding initiation of planning, design, 
and construction of projects.
     Review operations of the National Zoo.
     Oversee Smithsonian science and research 
facilities including the work being conducted in Panama.
     Oversee the development of the partnership with 
the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England.
     Review operations and conduct oversight of 
Smithsonian enterprises.
     Review any proposals to charge fees for admission 
to any Smithsonian exhibits.

                      TECHNOLOGY USE BY THE HOUSE

     Continue oversight of House Information Resources 
and other technology functions of the House to improve 
technology governance, services and the electronic 
dissemination of information.
     Review and consider recommendations made by the 
National Academy of Public Administration in regard to 
enhancing technology assessment capabilities within the 
legislative branch.
     Review cyber security measures and develop 
strategic plans to improve policies.
     Review technology standards for hearing rooms as 
they relate to the committee broadcast program.
     Oversee and continue to implement an enterprise 
House disaster recovery program for House offices, standing and 
select Committees, and Member offices.
     Task the House Officers to develop and coordinate 
a House strategic technology plan.
     Oversee plan for deployment of 5G (the fifth-
generation technology standard for broadband cellular 
networks).
     Oversee continuation and streamlining of House 
technology assessment in both new media and cloud services.
     In cooperation with Member Services, review 
available technology necessary to support New Member 
Orientation.
     Review procedures and standards for technology 
services provided by outside vendors, individuals, and other 
entities.
     Work with legislative branch agencies to 
communicate available technology services to all Member, 
Committee and Leadership Offices.

            OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL ELECTION LAW AND PROCEDURES

     Recommend disposition of House election contests 
pending before the committee; monitor any disputed election 
counts.
     Use authority under Article I, Section 4 of the 
United States Constitution to provide equivalent opportunities 
for voters to participate in federal elections.
     Review operations of the Federal Election 
Commission (FEC) and evaluate possible changes to improve 
efficiency, improve enforcement of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act, and improve procedures for the disclosure of 
contributions and expenditures. Consider authorization issues 
and make recommendations on the FEC's budget.
     Review federal campaign-finance laws and 
regulations, including presidential and congressional public 
financing, and consider potential reforms.
     Examine the role and impact of political 
organizations on federal elections.
     Review operations of the Election Assistance 
Commission (EAC) and evaluate possible changes to improve 
efficiency and improve implementation of the Help America Vote 
Act (HAVA).
     Examine the impact of amendments made by HAVA and 
the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE Act) to 
the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act 
(UOCAVA) and consider proposals to improve voting methods for 
those serving and living abroad.
     Build the congressional record in support of a 
reauthorized national Voting Rights Act.
     Review state and federal activities under the 
National Voter Registration Act to identify potential for 
improvement to voter registration and education programs and 
reducing costs of compliance for state and local government.
     Review all aspects of registration and voting 
practices in federal elections. Monitor allegations of fraud 
and misconduct during all phases of federal elections and 
evaluate measures to improve the integrity of the electoral 
process.

  ADDITIONAL MINORITY VIEWS ON OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL ELECTION LAW AND 
                               PROCEDURES

    The majority election oversight plan covers the 
jurisdiction of the Committee and we share in most of these 
objectives. However, we differ in the priority of these 
objectives. As the 116th Congress progresses we hope to work 
with the majority in ensuring the integrity of our nation's 
election infrastructure, the rights of states to run their own 
elections without undue federal regulation, and the prohibition 
against predatory election tactics such as ballot harvesting.

                  Legislative and Oversight Activities


                                OVERVIEW

    The Committee is responsible for providing oversight over 
the operations of the House, House Officers, the Smithsonian 
Institution, the Library of Congress, and federal elections.

Federal Elections

    The Committee conducted extensive oversight of the federal 
elections process during the 116th Congress. Examining all 
facets of the voting experience, the Committee and Subcommittee 
on Elections held numerous hearings and sent oversight letters 
gathering critical information on the U.S. election process. 
The Committee held five full committee hearings, examining 
equitable access to American democracy, the security of our 
elections, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), election 
machine vendors, and voting safely during the COVID-19 
pandemic. The Committee sent three oversight letters to the 
EAC, three oversight letters to the Federal Election Commission 
(FEC), and two oversight letters to voting system vendors.
    In addition, the Subcommittee on Elections held eight 
hearings and a listening session in 2019 examining the state of 
voting rights and election administration across America. These 
hearings enabled the American people to relate their 
experiences in voting and gathered evidence of the ongoing 
discrimination and voter-suppression efforts happening 
throughout the country, especially efforts that immediately 
followed the United States Supreme Court decision in Shelby 
County v. Holder.\1\ The Committee issued a report prepared by 
staff of the Subcommittee on Elections, which was led by 
Chairperson Marcia L. Fudge, Voting Rights and Election 
Administration in the United States of America, which was 
included in the report accompanying H.R. 4--the Voting Rights 
Advancement Act.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\570 U.S. 529 (2013).
    \2\Comm. on Judiciary, Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019, 109-
251, H. Rept. 116-317, 116th Cong. (2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In 2020, the Subcommittee held hearings on Native American 
voting rights, the impact of COVID-19 on voting, voting in the 
U.S. territories, and combatting misinformation in the 2020 
election. Additionally, the Committee supported election 
administration oversight efforts in connection with U.S. Postal 
Service (USPS) issues leading up to the 2020 election, joining 
an oversight letter sent to USPS. The Committee also joined the 
Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, of the Committee 
on Oversight and Reform, to send oversight letters to election 
officials in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Wisconsin, with an 
additional oversight letter sent to Texas.

Legislative Branch Operations

    House Officers are provided for in the U.S. 
Constitution.\3\ During the 116th Congress, the Committee 
worked extensively with the House Officers to develop and 
implement long term plans, increase efforts to recruit and 
retain a more diverse workforce, improve efficiency, review 
proposed management improvements, provide general policy 
guidance, oversee policy compliance, facilitate coordination 
among the House Officers, oversee security and safety issues 
and create a comprehensive district office support program.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\``The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and 
other officers'' (U.S. Const. art. I, sect. 2, cl.5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Committee conducted robust oversight over the Clerk of 
the House, reviewing relevant contracts, information technology 
capabilities, standards for electronic exchange of legislative 
information within the Legislative Branch, the development and 
launch of a new website, House printing needs and other 
business practices. The Committee also oversaw the House 
Document Repository, the preparation of congressionally 
authorized publications such as Women in Congress and the 
activities of the House Fine Arts Board and Capitol 
Preservation Board.
    The Committee's oversight activities with respect to the 
House Sergeant-at-Arms included a general review of House 
security operations. It also included oversight of the 
implementation of initiatives designed to increase security at 
district offices and a review of electronic access to 
controlled spaces, financial and operational status reports, 
security in House parking facilities, visitor access policies, 
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, staff ID 
standards and technology in general.
    The Committee provided significant policy direction and 
oversight to the CAO, reviewing processes pertaining to asset 
management, procurement, contract management, financial 
management, payroll and benefits, information technology, 
Member and staff training, customer service (including the 
customer advocate program), the House gift shop, restaurants, 
mail and furniture, accessibility, staff benefits, officially-
sanctioned contests such as the Congressional App Challenge and 
programs like the Wounded Warrior Program. The Committee also 
established in the CAO the SPF Sean Cooley and SPC Christopher 
Horton Congressional Gold Star Family Fellowship Program, 
modeled after the successful Wounded Warrior Program.
    The Committee worked closely with House Information 
Resources (HIR), a CAO business unit dedicated to information 
technology and cybersecurity. The Committee conducted oversight 
of HIR and other technology functions of the House to improve 
technology governance, services and electronic information 
dissemination. The Committee reviewed cybersecurity measures, 
hearing room technology standards, and procedures and standards 
with respect to external vendors and oversaw a streamlining of 
technology assessment procedures. The Committee continues to 
oversee the House Disaster Recovery Program and continues to 
work with HIR on a strategic plan with respect to technology. 
Additional detail on HIR oversight can be found within this 
report.
    The Committee also exercises oversight authority over the 
House Office of Inspector General, which provides nonpartisan 
recommendations for improving the performance, accountability, 
and integrity of House operations. The Committee worked with 
the Office of Inspector General to review and approve its audit 
plan and reports, including the annual financial statements 
audit, considering the various risks to House operations. The 
Committee also directed the Inspector General to conduct 
management advisories and continued to review the Office of 
Inspector General's administrative operations.
    The Committee worked to stand up and conduct oversight of 
the new House Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Together with 
the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, the 
Committee oversaw an employment survey and reviewed diversity 
plans for legislative branch agencies.
    The Committee oversaw the establishment of the House Office 
of the Whistleblower Ombudsman, created in the House Rules 
package passed at the outset of the 116th Congress, to develop 
best practices for whistleblower intake for House offices and 
provide trainings to House offices on how to safely and 
confidentially receive information from whistleblowers.
    The Committee's oversight work extends to other Legislative 
Branch entities, including the Library of Congress (Library) 
United States Capitol Police (USCP), Government Publishing 
Office (GPO), Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of 
Congressional Accessibility Services, and the Smithsonian 
Institution. The Committee provided oversight of plans for 
collaboration among these entities, particularly in the context 
of technology and cybersecurity. The Committee also provided 
oversight of the Legislative Branch Financial Managers' Council 
and provided general direction to the Bulk Data Task Force.
    The Committee provided extensive oversight of the Library 
of Congress, including the Visitor Experience project and other 
initiatives designed to increase youth engagement, digitization 
of government information, and information technology 
modernization and centralization. The Committee also reviewed 
implementation of several initiatives required by law, such as 
the Veterans' Oral History Project Act and the Library of 
Congress Fiscal Operations Improvement Act. Moreover, the 
Committee provided detailed oversight on several Library units, 
including the Law Library, Congressional Research Service and 
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. 
Particular emphasis was placed on the United States Copyright 
Office (USCO), which is in the process of a technology 
modernization initiative designed to make the USCO systems more 
secure, efficient, and stakeholder friendly. This initiative 
takes into account stakeholder input and addresses recordation, 
registration and other vital copyright functions.
    The Committee provided detailed oversight of the USCP. The 
Committee's activities included monitoring agency operations, 
reviewing USCP proposals for new trainings and additional 
authorities, analyzing force levels, and conducting oversight 
of the garage-security program, pre-screeners and new security 
systems and devices. The Committee also reviewed and authorized 
regulations set forth by the Capitol Police Board, examined the 
USCP role in ensuring compliance with the Americans with 
Disabilities Act, reviewed USCP Inspector General reports and 
recommendations, and continually reviewed processes for 
ensuring adequate physical security for Members, their 
families, and staff. It should be noted that further 
accountability measures were included in the omnibus funding 
and coronavirus legislation, H.R. 133, the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2021, that was agreed to by 
both the House and Senate on December 21, 2020 and signed by 
the President on December 27, 2020.
    The Committee also conducted oversight activities with 
respect to GPO. The Committee conducted oversight of general 
GPO operations, including the Superintendent of Documents. It 
also worked with GPO leadership to enact legislation to reform 
operations to increase efficiency, continued to review 
potential changes to The Federal Depositary Library Program, 
monitored the remediation of management issues identified by 
the GPO Inspector General, and reviewed House printing needs, 
GPO printing and binding regulations, labor practices and labor 
agreements, and use of GPO facilities and other assets.
    The Committee worked closely with the AOC in an oversight 
capacity. Much of the Committee's focus centered on the Cannon 
House Office Building Rehabilitation project. Phase Two of the 
project will be complete and delivered by the transition to the 
117th Congress. The Committee also reviewed the operations and 
organizational structure of the AOC, participated in the 
selection of Brett Blanton as the new Architect, and oversaw 
maintenance of the House side of the Capitol and House Office 
Buildings, life safety and accessibility measures, 
sustainability efforts, and operations of the Capitol Visitor 
Center, including the redesign of Exhibition Hall. The 
Committee's oversight activities also included reviews of AOC 
Inspector General recommendations, opportunities to create 
organizational wide efficiencies and standards, the pest 
management practices, and inventory space requirements.
    The Committee conducted oversight of the Office of 
Congressional Accessibility Services. This oversight included 
general monitoring of the implementation of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act and ensuring that the Capitol complex, along 
with Legislative Branch websites, are accessible.
    With respect to Member Services, the Committee provided 
oversight of the Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) by 
providing guidance to Member offices and revised the Members' 
Congressional Handbook which governs, among other things, the 
MRA. The Committee also worked with Member and Committee 
offices to ensure compliance with relevant regulations; 
reviewed and revised relevant handbooks; reviewed regulations 
pertaining to acquisition, transfer, and disposal of House 
furnishings, equipment, and software; and collaborated with 
House Officers and other Legislative Branch entities to ensure 
that the views of Member offices are heard and understood. The 
Committee also worked with the CAO as it continued to implement 
the electronic vouchering system as a means of streamlining the 
payment of vendors. With respect to committees specifically, 
the Committee reviewed expense resolutions, approved committee 
funding levels, and reviewed the use of consultant contracts.
    In addition, the Committee facilitated the longest New 
Member Orientation program in the history of the House of 
Representatives. Notwithstanding the challenges posed by the 
COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee worked with the Congressional 
Research Service to provide issues briefings and professional 
development services for new Members and their staff which, for 
the first time, included a paid transition aide.
    In another first, the Committee oversaw the creation of a 
paid internship program. The Committee also reviewed and 
revised publications and communications used to support the 
intern program and continued to support the Gregg and 
Livingston Harper congressional internship program.
    The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) requires 
Congress and legislative branch entities to follow many of the 
same employment and workplace safety laws applied to private 
business and the rest of the federal government. During the 
116th Congress, the Committee conducted oversight of the Office 
of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR) and other House 
entities with responsibility for enforcement of the 
Congressional Accountability Act. The Committee reviewed the 
content development and deployment of the climate survey as 
provided for by P.L. 115-397 (132 Stat. 5297) and oversaw the 
completion of a new IT intake system for complaints allowing 
employees to file online. The Committee also oversaw changes to 
the updated the Workplace Rights and Responsibilities training 
program to more specifically tailor the courses to different 
members of the House community, including Members, supervisory 
staff and more junior staff, both in the districts and in 
Washington, D.C. The Committee continues to monitor judicial 
proceedings to determine the impact on the CAA and continues to 
oversee the Office of Employee Advocacy.
    The House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, 
commonly known as the Franking Commission, is responsible for 
issuing regulations governing the proper use of official 
communications resources, providing advice and counsel to 
Members and committees through advisory opinions, and hearing 
formal complaints against Members who have allegedly violated 
relevant law and regulations. During this Congress, and in 
coordination with the Select Committee on the Modernization of 
Congress, the Commission revised the regulations on the use of 
the official communications resources to more reasonably 
reflect the realities of contemporary digital communications. 
These changes will also simultaneously provide more 
transparency to the public and more flexibility for Members. In 
addition, the Committee continued its general oversight on use 
of the frank, monitored compliance with the blackout on 
official communications 90 days before a primary or general 
election, coordinated with the Office of the Clerk to increase 
transparency and accountability through technology, and 
investigated and disposed of complaints regarding misuse of the 
franking privilege.

                           COMMITTEE FUNDING

    The Committee reports a biennial primary expense resolution 
by which standing and select committees of the House (except 
the Committee on Appropriations) are authorized operating funds 
for each Congress. During the first three months of each new 
Congress, clause 7 of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives authorizes interim funding authority for 
committees to operate until the House adopts a primary expense 
resolution. This funding authority is based on upon funding 
levels from the second session of the previous Congress.
    The funding process begins at the beginning of each new 
Congress when each House subcommittee introduces a separate 
House resolution requesting a specific funding level for 
committee operations. These resolutions are referred to the 
Committee on House Administration.
    On March 12, 2019, the Committee held a hearing titled 
``Committee Funding for the 116th Congress.'' By prior 
agreement between Chairperson Lofgren and Ranking Member Davis, 
it was determined that committees that submitted a bipartisan 
budget request would not be required to appear before the 
Committee. The Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on 
Oversight and Reform appeared before the Committee and provided 
testimony regarding that Committee's budget request for the 
116th Congress.
    On March 21, 2019, H. Res. 245, Providing for the expenses 
of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the 
One Hundred Sixteenth Congress was introduced and referred to 
the Committee. The Committee met on March 25, 2019, to mark up 
the resolution and ordered the resolution reported by voice 
vote. The House agreed to H. Res. 245 on March 27, 2019.
    The amounts provided each committee are as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            1st Session        2nd Session           Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee on Agriculture...............................         $5,756,664         $5,756,664        $11,513,328
Committee on Armed Services............................          8,175,111          8,175,111         16,350,222
Committee on the Budget................................          5,190,212          5,190,212         10,380,424
Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.................          1,890,750          1,890,750          3,781,500
Committee on Education and Labor.......................          7,289,357          7,289,357         14,578,714
Committee on Energy and Commerce.......................         10,573,692         10,573,692         21,147,384
Committee on Ethics....................................          3,507,696          3,507,696          7,015,392
Committee on Financial Services........................          8,538,931          8,538,931         17,077,862
Committee on Foreign Affairs...........................          8,120,362          8,120,362      16,240,724\4\
Committee on Homeland Security.........................          7,654,001          7,654,001         15,308,002
Committee on House Administration......................          5,172,211          5,472,211         10,664,422
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.............          6,231,500          6,231,500         12,463,000
Committee on the Judiciary.............................          7,930,297          7,930,297         15,860,594
Sel. Comm. on the Modernization of Congress............            450,000             37,500            487,500
Committee on Natural Resources.........................          6,947,963          6,947,963         13,895,926
Committee on Oversight and Reform......................          9,495,034          9,495,034         18,990,068
Committee on Rules.....................................          3,327,189          3,327,189          6,654,378
Committee on Science, Space and Technology.............          5,539,827          5,539,827         11,079,654
Committee on Small Business............................          3,098,148          3,098,148          6,196,296
Comm. on Transportation and Infrastructure.............          8,915,165          8,915,165         17,830,330
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.........................          4,138,192          4,138,192          8,276,384
Committee on Ways and Means............................          9,133,432          9,133,432         18,266,864
Reserve Fund...........................................          1,500,000          6,500,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On July 26, 2019, the Committee agreed to Committee 
Resolution 116-12 (via Committee Poll No. 5) to allocate 
$450,000 from the First Session Reserve Fund to the Select 
Committee on the Modernization of Congress. In addition, the 
Committee, on January 16, 2020, agreed to Committee Resolution 
116-14 (via Committee Poll No. 8) to allocate an additional 
$912,500 from the Second Session Reserve Fund to the Select 
Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\The amount provided to the Committee on Foreign Affairs includes 
$410,000 ($205,000 for the first session and $205,000 for the second 
session) to provide funding for the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    On March 23, 2020, the Committee agreed to Committee 
Resolution 116-18 (via Committee Poll No. 12) to allocate funds 
from the Second Session Reserve Fund. These amounts were as 
follows:
    Committee on Armed Services, $385,000
    Committee on Education and Labor, $400,000
    Committee on Energy and Commerce, $600,000
    Committee on Foreign Affairs, $190,000
    Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, $450,000
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs, $375,000
    Committee on Ways and Means, $400,000

                  MEMBERS' REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCE

    The Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) is the annual 
authorization made to each Member of the House to obligate U.S. 
Treasury funds not to exceed a certain amount. These funds may 
be used by the Member to pay ordinary and necessary business 
expenses incurred by the Member and his or her congressional 
office employees in support of the Member's official and 
representational duties. The Committee oversees the use of 
appropriations from the accounts of the U.S. House of 
Representatives for the MRA as well as official travel by 
Members and staff. In addition, the Committee oversees the 
compensation, retirement, and administration of benefits of 
Member office employees. The annual MRA is available for one 
legislative year (i.e., January 3 of one year through January 2 
of the following year).
    In March 2019, Chairperson Lofgren wrote to the 
Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch of the Appropriations 
Committee and asked the Subcommittee to ``consider a 
substantial increase for the MRA.'' Noting that ``investing in 
the MRA account helps Congress attract and retain qualified 
staff, and communicate effectively with our constituents,'' the 
Committee has sought to authorize a notable increase in the 
allowance after years of decline, which had reduced the ability 
of the House to conduct its constitutional duties. Accordingly, 
the MRA for 2020 was increased an average of 4.5 percent. This 
represents the greatest increase in eight years for the 
authorization for the MRA. The Committee supports fiscally 
responsible increases to the MRA so Members have sufficient 
resources to perform their duties.

          HOUSE COMMISSION ON CONGRESSIONAL MAILING STANDARDS

    The Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, also 
known as the Franking Commission, was established by Public Law 
93-191 (87 Stat. 737). It is composed of six Members appointed 
by the Speaker of the House: three from the majority, and three 
from the minority. The Speaker designates the Chairperson of 
the Franking Commission who must be: (1) one of the Members 
appointed to the Commission, and (2) must also be a Member of 
the Committee on House Administration.
    In the 116th Congress, the Commission was chaired by Rep. 
Susan A. Davis of California, with Rep. Bryan Steil of 
Wisconsin serving as Ranking Member. The Chairperson and 
Ranking Member were joined by Commission Members Rep. Brad 
Sherman of California, Rep. Debra A. Haaland of New Mexico, 
Rep. Robert E. Latta of Ohio, and Rep. Mark Walker of North 
Carolina.
    The primary functions of the Franking Commission, are as 
follows:
    1. To prescribe regulations governing the proper use of the 
franking privilege and other official communications resources 
by those entitled to use the privilege in connection with the 
mailing or contemplated mailing of franked mail under 39 U.S.C. 
sections 3210, 3211, 3212, 3213(2), 3218, 3219 or in connection 
with the operation of section 3215; in connection with any 
other Federal law (other than any law which imposes any 
criminal penalty), or in connection with any Rule of the U.S. 
House of Representatives relating to franked mail (2 U.S.C. 
Sec. 501(d)).
    2. Upon the request of any person entitled to use the 
franking privilege and other official communication resources, 
to provide guidance, assistance, advice, and counsel, through 
advisory opinions or consultations, in connection with the 
distribution or contemplated distribution of franked mail or 
official communications regarding the application and/or 
compliance with applicable Federal statutes and House rules and 
regulations. The staff assigned to the Commission are delegated 
authority by the Commission to perform advisory and counseling 
functions, subject to review by the Commission (2 U.S.C. 
501(d), House rule XXIV, and the Regulations of the Committee 
on House Administration).
    3. To investigate, decide, and dispose of complaints 
regarding the misuse of the franking privilege (2 U.S.C. 
Sec. 501(e)).
    The Franking Commission's mission throughout the 116th 
Congress was to modernize and harmonize the content rules 
governing the use of official communication resources and 
platforms. The Commission Members engaged with Congressional 
Leadership, the Committee on House Administration, the Select 
Committee on the Modernization of Congress, and other Members 
of Congress and their staff on how to best achieve this goal. 
The first step was to replace the House manual governing 
official communications content with a new, simpler set of 
rules which prevent the misuse of taxpayer funds, while 
creating greater Member accountability, expediting the approval 
process, and giving Members the ability to better adapt to 
changing technology.
    In her role as Chairperson of the Franking Commission, Rep. 
Davis testified before the Select Committee on the 
Modernization of Congress (SCMC) on two occasions throughout 
the 116th Congress. On March 12, 2019, she described the intent 
of the Franking Commission's mission for the next two years 
based on the principles of making the franking rules more 
fitting for modern communications alongside the goal of 
increasing transparency and accountability. In addition, she 
asked for support in pushing Congress to adopt more real-world 
constituent outreach technology and practices.
    On October 31, 2019, Chairperson Davis again, appeared 
before the SCMC to update it on the progress the Commission had 
made in achieving its stated goals. At this hearing, 
Chairperson Davis also advocated for SCMC's support in 
consolidating the jurisdiction of all official communications 
content rules under the Commission, to allow for broader 
communication subscription options for constituents to receive 
communications from their Representatives, to consider methods 
for permitting transferal of social media followers from 
campaign accounts to official accounts, to improve the House's 
unsolicited mass email hygiene and practices, and to update 
reporting measures for the use of the frank.
    On December 17, 2019, the Franking Commission agreed 
unanimously to approve Commission Poll 116-1, which became 
effective on January 7, 2020. This included the adoption of a 
brand new manual, the House of Representatives Communications 
Standards Manual (Manual) which replaced and superseded the 
Regulations on the Use of the Congressional Frank by Members of 
the House of Representatives and Rules of Practice in 
Proceedings Before the House Commission on Congressional 
Mailing Standards. To increase transparency and accountability, 
it also established a public disclosure webpage found on the 
Clerk of the House's website for all Advisory Opinions issued 
by the Franking Commission, starting from January 3, 2018. 
Prior to the creation of this webpage, the public only had 
access to Advisory Opinions through in-person requests at the 
Legislative Resource Center. In addition, the Commission took 
steps to rename the Commission on Congressional Mailing 
Standards to the House Communications Standards Commission, and 
to set an agenda to update the Rules of Practice and Procedures 
of the Commission.
    On February 12, 2020, the Committee on House Administration 
adopted Committee Resolution 116-16 which amended language in 
the Members' Congressional Handbook and Committees' 
Congressional Handbook to grant the Commission jurisdiction on 
content regulations related to official communications 
resources beyond that of the franking privilege. This included 
official website and social media content, telephone town 
halls, mass SMS messaging, email newsletters, flyers and other 
publications, and advertisements across digital, television, 
and radio platforms.
    The Commission took steps to address the COVID-19 pandemic 
to waive the pre-election blackout restrictions for non-franked 
mail communications discussing resources, safety instructions, 
and government actions related to addressing this threat to 
life safety. On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, 
and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law by 
President Trump. It included a provision amending 39 U.S.C. 
Sec. 3210(a)(6)(D), granting the Commission the ability to 
waive the pre-election blackout restriction for unsolicited 
postal mail sent in response to or to addressing threats to 
life safety. Upon the signing of the CARES Act, the Franking 
Commission agreed to Commission Poll 116-2 which included 
conforming updates to the Manual, and to apply the waiver in 
response to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic for franked mail 
along with all other forms of unsolicited mass communication 
previously waived.
    On July 9, 2020, Chairperson Davis introduced H.R. 7512, 
the Communications Outreach Media and Mail Standards (COMMS) 
Act. The bill would amend U.S. Code to rename the ``House 
Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards'' the ``House 
Communications Standards Commission,'' expand the authority of 
the Commission to regulate, provide guidance to authorized 
users, and hear complaints related to the use of official 
communications, to revise required disclaimers, and to revise 
restrictions on postal mail content and communication 
distribution periods. The COMMS Act passed the House on July 
30, 2020 by unanimous consent. The COMMS Act was included in 
H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 
2021, which was signed by the President on December 27, 2020.
    All written staff Advisory Opinions issued on or after 
January 3, 1996, are available for public review and 
photocopying. In addition, mass mailings issued prior to that 
date are available for inspection. The Legislative Resource 
Center has made these materials available to the public. As 
previously mentioned, the Commission took steps to make 
Advisory Opinion widely available online. As of December 22, 
2020, the Legislative Resource Center had received 29 in-person 
requests to review Advisory Opinions throughout the 116th 
Congress. According to analytics on the public disclosure web 
page, there have been 3,195 views since its launch on January 
7, 2020.
    As of December 22, 2020, the Commission staff reviewed 
19,136 requests throughout the 116th Congress. This is an 
increase of over 31 percent from the 115th Congress, and while 
the pre-election blackout exemption for COVID-19 related 
communications could be accounted for an increase in the second 
session of the 116th Congress, the Commission staff reviewed 
the highest number of requests for Advisory Opinions ever 
recorded throughout the first session of the 116th Congress. No 
official complaints related to the use of official 
communications were reported to the Commission.

                            JOINT COMMITTEES

The Joint Committee on the Library

    Established in 1802, the Joint Committee on the Library 
(JCL) is the oldest continuing joint committee in the history 
of the Congress and is made up of certain Members of the 
Committee on House Administration (Committee), the chair of the 
Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, and certain 
members of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.\5\ 
Chairpersonship of the JCL switches between chambers each 
Congress with the Senate chairing the Joint Committee for the 
116th Congress. Members of the JCL are appointed by resolution 
agreed to by the respective chambers.\6\ For the 116th 
Congress, the House Members of the JCL are Vice Chairperson Zoe 
Lofgren of California, Rep. G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina, 
Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio, Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois, and Rep. 
Barry Loudermilk of Georgia.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\2 U.S.C. Sec. 132b, P.L. 110-5.
    \6\H. Res. 226, 116th Congress.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The House and Senate met on April 30, 2019, to formally 
organize the JCL and adopt the rules of the joint committee.
    Per statute, the JCL is responsible for acceptance and 
oversight of works of fine art in the Capitol collection as 
well as supervision of the National Statuary Hall Collection 
(Statuary Hall).\7\\8\ For the 116th Congress, the JCL approved 
the following state requests, each at varying stages of the 
statue replacement process:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\2 U.S.C. Sec. 2132.
    \8\2 U.S.C. Sec. 2133.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
           April 2019: Approved Nebraska's final bronze 
        statue and granite pedestal for display in Statuary 
        Hall.
           May 2019: Approved Utah's maquette.
           November 2019: Approved Florida's request to 
        replace a statue in Statuary Hall.
           December 2019: Approved Nebraska's maquette.
           February 2020: Approved Missouri's request 
        to replace a statue in Statuary Hall.
           April 2020: Approved Arkansas's request to 
        replace both statues in Statuary Hall.
           June 2020: Approved Florida's maquette.
           June 2020: Approved Kansas' full-scale clay 
        model and pedestal design.
           September 2020: Approved Virginia's request 
        to replace a statue in Statuary Hall.
           October 2020: Approved Florida's full-scale 
        clay model and pedestal design.
           October 2020: Approved Missouri's maquette.
           December 2020: Approved Nebraska's full-
        scale clay model and pedestal design.
    On July 23, 2020, the House passed H.R. 7573, directing the 
JCL to remove the bust of Justice Roger Taney from the Old 
Supreme Court Chamber, to be replaced with a bust of Justice 
Thurgood Marshall, and to remove the statues of Charles 
Brantley Aycock, John Caldwell Calhoun, and James Paul Clarke 
from Statuary Hall as well the bust of John Cabell Breckinridge 
from the Senate wing of the Capitol. The Senate has yet to 
consider the legislation.

The Joint Committee on Printing and the Government Publishing Office

    In addition to the its standalone authority over the 
Government Publishing Office (GPO), the Committee also conducts 
oversight of GPO through the Joint Committee on Printing (JCP), 
a statutorily created joint committee, the House component of 
which consists of the Chairperson of the Committee and four 
other Committee members.\9\ Like the JCL, Members of the JCP 
are elected by a resolution agreed to by the respective 
chambers. In the 116th Congress, the House appointed 
Chairperson Lofgren, Representative Jamie Raskin, 
Representative Susan Davis, Representative Rodney Davis, and 
Representative Barry Loudermilk. Chairperson Lofgren chaired 
the JCP for the 116th Congress.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \9\44 U.S.C. Sec. 101 ``The Joint Committee on Printing shall 
consist of the chairman and four members of the Committee on Rules and 
Administration of the Senate and the chairman and four members of the 
Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives.''
    \10\Supra, note 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The House and Senate met on April 30, 2019, to formally 
organize the JCP and adopt the rules of the joint committee.
    The JCP, per statute and various joint committee 
resolutions, has broad authority over GPO operations and 
government printing. Statute provides JCP with the authority to 
``use any measures it considers necessary to remedy neglect, 
delay, duplication, or waste in the public printing and binding 
and the distribution of Government publications'' while JCP 
Resolution #2 stipulates JCP's authority extends to ``all 
matters involving GPO personnel.''\11\ Statute also charges JCP 
with approval authority of collectively bargained wages between 
GPO and its trade union.\12\ After nearly five years without a 
contract, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 
and the Fraternal Order of Police reached agreements with 
management and the House's stewardship of JCP restored long 
absent labor peace to the agency.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \11\44 U.S.C. Sec. 103, Joint Committee on Printing Resolution #2 
adopted May 11, 1982.
    \12\44 U.S.C. Sec. 305.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Before making certain expenditures, GPO must first obtain 
JCP approval. In the 116th Congress, JCP authorized nearly $300 
million in investments to improve agency operations, 
particularly in XPub, a state-of-the-art technology for XML-
based publishing; the NextGen Passport program, an initiative 
designed to enhance passport security with more advanced 
construction and design; and health and safety enhancements to 
protect GPO's workforce.
    The House-chaired JCP also oversaw the appointment of GPO's 
first permanent Director in over two years after Hugh Halpern 
was confirmed by the Senate on December 4, 2019. On March 3, 
2020, the Committee held a hearing titled Oversight of the 
Government Publishing Office. Committee Members heard testimony 
from Director Halpern, Inspector General Michael Leary, and 
Superintendent of Documents Laurie Hall. Notably, it was 
Director Halpern's first appearance as a witness at a 
Congressional oversight hearing.
    In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and for the 
safety of Members and staff, the JCP, working with the Clerk of 
the House and GPO, JCP established a regime to allow for the 
electronic endorsement of extensions of remarks for publication 
in the Congressional Record for the first time in the House's 
history.

                OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Clerk of the House

    The Clerk's primary responsibilities involve the 
legislative activities of the House. This includes managing the 
bills originating in the House and overseeing the voting 
system. The Office of the Clerk also performs a variety of 
administrative functions under the oversight of the Committee. 
The Office of the Clerk is comprised of eight divisions, in 
addition to the Clerk's Immediate Office. These divisions 
include: Office of Legislative Operations, Office of Art and 
Archives, Office of Official Reporters, Office of House 
Employment Counsel, Legislative Resource Center, Legislative 
Computer Systems, Office of Communications, and Capitol Service 
Groups.
    The Committee conducted monthly oversight meetings with the 
Clerk and her senior staff on all aspects of the Clerk's 
operations, including oversight of vacant offices, election 
certifications, financial disclosures, the Posey Comparative 
Print Project, implementation of the updated Clerk website and 
overall IT posture. Additionally, the Committee worked closely 
with the Office of the Clerk to produce an updated edition of 
Women in Congress,\13\ which was undertaken by the Office of 
Art and Archives together with the House Historian and 
Government Publishing Office.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \13\Women in Congress, 1917-2020, prepared under the direction of 
the Committee on House Administration of the United States House of 
Representatives, by the Office of the Historian and Office of the 
Clerk, United States House of Representatives, U.S. Government 
Publishing Office, Washington, DC, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Notably, during the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee 
worked with the Office of the Clerk to implement vital changes 
to legislative operations. These temporary changes allowed the 
House to continue its to work on behalf of the American people, 
notwithstanding the danger of gathering in places like 
committee rooms and the House Floor. For example, in April 
2020, the Speaker of the House directed the creation of an 
electronic hopper to allow for virtual submission of bills, 
resolutions, co-sponsors and extensions of remarks. Since then, 
as of December 22, 2020, 2,816 measures have been filed 
electronically, while just 159 were manually filed using the 
traditional process. The Office of the Clerk was instrumental 
in executing on this direction from the Speaker.
    On May 15, 2020, the House passed House Resolution 965, 
which authorized remote voting by directed proxy during the 
COVID-19 public health emergency. This Resolution requires 
Members not physically in Washington, D.C. to submit a signed 
letter to the Clerk designating a specific Member to serve as 
proxy. Designated proxies were only permitted to vote as 
explicitly directed by the Member not located in Washington, 
D.C. The Clerk maintained a list of designated proxies and 
helped facilitate the voting process on the House Floor. As of 
December 22, 2020, the House has conducted 142 roll call votes 
that included proxy votes. Those votes included 6,253 
individual votes cast by Members of both parties by proxy. 
Several measures passed with proxy votes have been signed by 
the President and enacted into law. These votes were 
accomplished without incident.
    The Rules of the House for the 116th Congress established, 
for the first time, a House Consensus Calendar. The House 
Consensus Calendar allows for consideration, on the House 
Floor, of certain unreported House bills and resolutions that 
enjoy broad support. More specifically, a House-originated 
measure must: (1) not have been reported by its committee of 
jurisdiction; (2) have gained the support of at least 290 
cosponsors; (3) have been subject to a motion to place the 
measure on the Consensus Calendar; and (4) have maintained at 
least 290 cosponsors for 25 legislative days following the 
filing of the motion. A total of 12 motions for consideration 
on the Consensus Calendar were made during the 116th Congress.
    The Clerk also continued to co-chair the Bulk Data Task 
Force and worked with Committee staff to increase transparency 
by digitizing legislative material. As part of these duties, 
the Clerk led and participated in the Committee sponsored 
Legislative Data and Transparency Conference held on October 
17, 2020, in the Capitol Visitor Center. The conference brought 
individuals from Legislative branch agencies together with data 
users and transparency advocates to discuss strengthening 
access to the legislative process.
    The Committee, working with the Clerk and the CAO, 
initiated a pilot program regarding field hearings where, for 
the first time, the Clerk would provide official reporters and 
the House Recording Studio would directly handle broadcast 
responsibilities. Prior to this initiative, reporters were 
hired locally, and broadcast efforts were often incomplete. 
This initiative, widely applauded by House committees, has 
resulted in field hearings that are consistent in terms of 
professionalism and quality with hearings held in Washington, 
D.C.

Sergeant-at-Arms

    The House Sergeant-at-Arms (HSAA) dates back to the first 
Congress in 1789 and is the principal law enforcement official 
for the House. HSAA is responsible for the security of the 
House of Representatives, the buildings located on the House 
side of the Capitol and its campus, as well as Members of 
Congress, congressional employees, and visitors. HSAA directs 
emergency responses and continuity of government operations for 
the House. Under clause 3 of rule II of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, the HSAA is responsible for maintaining 
order and decorum in the House Chamber. HSAA coordinates 
special events for the House of Representatives in conjunction 
with other House and Senate Offices, the U.S. Capitol Police 
(USCP) and external entities. The HSAA, the Senate Sergeant-at-
Arms, and the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) make up the 
Capitol Police Board (CPB) which oversees the USCP.
    The Committee held two hearings where the HSAA testified: 
``House Officer Priorities for 2019 and Beyond,'' on April 9, 
2019, and ``Oversight of the United States Capitol Police,'' on 
July 16, 2019.
    Beginning early in 2019 the Committee instituted standing 
monthly oversight meetings with the executive teams of the HSAA 
to provide oversight over HSAA activities and operations.
    In addition to oversight hearings, the Committee worked 
closely with HSAA to further key initiatives. These initiatives 
include:

Joint Audible Warning System

    The current audible emergency annunciator system was 
installed as a temporary measure following the September 11, 
2001, terrorist attacks. The current system components are 
beyond their end-of-life dates, battery components are no 
longer produced, and vendor support is limited. The current 
system is unable to work in conjunction with the Joint 
Emergency Mass Notification System (JEMS) or the Public Address 
System (PAS). HSAA has worked with the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, 
USCP, and AOC to procure a new Joint Audible Warning System 
(JAWS) to replace the current system in all five HOBs and the 
Capitol Visitor Center. JAWS will incorporate multiple 
encrypted systems to provide life safety alerts to Members, 
staff, employees, and visitors and work with JEMS and PAS. The 
Committee looks forward to the successful implementation of the 
new JAWS and its contribution to increasing the safety and 
security of the House.

District Security Service Center

    The District Security Service Center (DSSC) serves as a 
single point of contact regarding district security matters. 
The DSSC ``has documented over 17,000 interactions with 
district office staff . . . [and] coordinated the installation 
or upgrade of 540 security systems[.]''\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \14\Testimony of Paul D. Irving, Sergeant-at-Arms, U.S. House of 
Representatives, Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Submission Before the 
Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Committee on Appropriations, March 
3, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The threats to Members and their families have steadily 
increased. The DSSC has improved interactions with Members and 
Members' District Offices nationwide and has put in place a 
program to assess and evaluate information received from 
Members and their District Offices in order to better align law 
enforcement resources to address threats, emergencies and 
logistical issues. In addition, DSSC has worked with the USCP 
to provide risk assessments to Members regarding off-campus 
events held in the Washington, D.C., area as well as Members' 
District Offices. HSAA now pays District Offices security 
monitoring fees and as of November 2020 added a second 
nationwide security contractor to assist with District Office 
security enhancement requirements. DSSC provided Members and 
Members' District Office staff with threat awareness training 
and provided enhanced outreach to District Offices which 
experienced natural disasters, active shooter incidents, 
environmental disasters, security incidents, protests, and 
COVID-19 pandemic matters during the 116th Congress. In 
addition, HSAA and CAO have begun an initiative to visit 
District Offices in order to better tailor the services 
provided to these offices and staff, with an annual goal of 150 
visits. The Committee has encouraged these efforts to more 
effectively integrate Members' District Offices into the work 
of the House and the House community.
    In April 2019, the Committee directed the HSAA and CAO to 
work together to make customer service and training more 
comprehensive for District Office staff. This led to the Joint 
District Office Training Program which was launched in June 
2019. HSAA worked with the Congressional Staff Academy to 
establish on-line Law Enforcement Coordinator (LEC) training 
classes to aid District Office staffers assigned as LECs and 
published an updated LEC Handbook in the spring of 2020.

Garage Security Enhancement Project

    Nearly seven years ago, the HSAA commenced the Garage 
Security Enhancement Project as part of a security initiative 
to incorporate all House Office Buildings (HOBs) into a secure 
perimeter, in line with Senate Office Buildings as well as the 
Capitol, and bring the entire Capitol Complex closer to 100 
percent security screening. During the 116th Congress, HSAA 
completed Phase II and III of the Project and began the final 
Phase IV in October 2020. HSAA estimates a completion date of 
January 2022.
    The HSAA completed its goal of pushing initial screening of 
all individuals at pedestrian and garage entries at HOBs. This 
has reduced the need for redundant screening locations in HOBs 
and permitted the USCP to reassign officers to other important 
security assignments. Security screening improvements have also 
proved beneficial in improving the effectiveness of the Office 
of Attending Physician's (OAP) recommended enhanced screening 
safety protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

    On February 28, 2020, the HSAA and the OAP issued an e-Dear 
Colleague Notice titled ``Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for 
House Offices.'' The HSAA with OAP and House Leadership issued 
subsequent guidance on March 27, 2020, via an e-Dear Colleague 
Notice titled ``Procedures for March 27, 2020'' outlining House 
COVID-19 protocols while in session. This marked the first time 
voting on the House floor would be conducted to keep Members 
and staff safe while following OAP and Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 guidelines. The HSAA and 
OAP further refined the House floor guidance and COVID-19 
protocols through December 2020 to ensure the continued safety 
of Members and staff.
    HSAA, in coordination with CAO and AOC began issuing 
personal protective equipment (PPE) to the House community 
beginning on April 22, 2020. Through November 30, 2020, over 
13,000 boxes of masks, nearly 36,000 bottles of hand sanitizer, 
over 5,500 cannisters of cleaning wipes, and nearly 13,000 
boxes of gloves have been distributed. In addition, HSAA has, 
as of December 10, 2020, had 958 discrete contacts with the 
House community of COVID-19 outreach, including checking office 
status, PPE inquiries, or related efforts. The DSSC has 
documented 5,471 interactions with District Offices since the 
start of 2020, including 3,290 related to COVID-19.

Chief Administrative Officer

    The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is a 
non-partisan House office that provides support services and 
business solutions to Members and staff. The CAO is tasked with 
supporting the finance, procurement, logistics and information 
technology needs of the House. The Committee is charged with 
overseeing the CAO, which in the 116th Congress was led by 
Chief Administrative Officer Phil Kiko. In consultation with 
the Committee, the CAO entered the 116th Congress focusing on 
improving customer service, increasing innovation and 
modernizing House business practices. On December 22, 2020, 
Kiko announced that he would not serve another term as CAO. 
Chairperson Lofgren issued a public statement thanking him for 
his many years of service to make the House of Representatives 
work for Members of Congress and the people they serve.
            House Information Resources
    The Committee continued to work closely with House 
Information Resources (HIR) to improve technology services and 
security for the House. With oversight from the Committee, HIR 
continued efforts to modernize its services. A key feature of 
this modernization is the migration to the Office 365 suite. 
Office 365 provides House staff with the ability to access 
software through mobile devices, securely store files, and 
collaborate on documents with colleagues from anywhere. As will 
be discussed below, this capability was vital when the House 
moved to a maximum telework posture due to the COVID-19 
pandemic.
    In March 2020, the Committee provided oversight and 
guidance as the HIR Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery team 
operationalized its plans to support offices during the COVID-
19 pandemic. More than 1,500 laptops were rapidly procured and 
imaged, and new tools were deployed to support expanded 
telework. HIR leveraged the deployment of cloud services, 
Office 365 and collaboration tools such as Teams, Webex, and 
Zoom to ensure that legislative activities and constituent 
services could continue unimpeded. For example, Teams Live 
Events were made available to the House community. This 
provided the capability of hosting both large town hall events 
and smaller meetings.
    Working with other CAO business units, HIR established a 
Telework Readiness Center in the Rayburn Cafeteria to provide 
software upgrades, security updates, and new equipment for 
Member offices. HIR also collaborated with the Customer 
Experience Center and House Recording Studio to provide House 
staff with training and tutorials on collaboration tools and 
other key aspects of remote work. Moreover, in response to 
House Resolution 965, HIR facilitated remote committee 
hearings, meetings and markups. As of December 17, 2020, as 
discussed later in this report, House committees held 169 
entirely remote hearings, 130 hybrid hearings, 4 entirely 
remote markups, and 36 hybrid markups. This included the 
reconfiguration of the Capitol Visitor Center Congressional 
Auditorium to broadcast a hybrid Committee hearing held by the 
House Judiciary Committee.
    Like any governmental entity, the House must be cognizant 
of the evolving nature of cybersecurity threats. In 
consultation with the Committee, HIR continued to review the 
House security policies and procedures and made improvements 
where needed. For example, HIR promulgated House Information 
Security Policy (HISPOL) 8, governing configuration and use of 
mobile devices; HISPOL 11, governing information security in 
the context of telecommuting; and HISPOL 19, governing all 
information systems that utilize active directory. HIR also, 
among other activities, conducted cloud risk reviews, hosted a 
cybersecurity fair and deployed new identity management service 
software. At the same time, it ensured that it was able to 
block unauthorized scans and screen questionable emails.
    The Committee provided oversight of myriad other efforts to 
enhance the technology user experience for Members and staff. 
For example, HIR vetted and deployed cloud solutions to the 
House, improved the House public WiFi, enhanced the House 
network for district offices, migrated Member websites to the 
cloud, and added digital signatures to Member website forms.
    Finally, HIR is also working to migrate the House's data 
centers off campus to geographically dispersed, Tier 3 data 
centers. Despite delays due to COVID-19, HIR teams worked hard 
to ensure the project remained on schedule with an initial 
operating date of April 2021.
            Finance
    The CAO built on efforts initiated during the previous 
Congress to improve and streamline the Office of Finance. 
Namely, the Office of Finance began using in-house knowledge 
management technology for CAO employees to establish and share 
precedents, creating an institutional record of organizational 
knowledge. In addition, the Office of Finance partnered with 
the Congressional Staff Academy to create trainings for both 
CAO staff and House Financial Administrators on various 
financial services and processes. The Office of Finance also 
improved its customer outreach activities by relaunching its 
newsletter, hosting open houses for staff, and implementing 
``MyServiceRequests''' to facilitate financial counseling 
services. Finally, the Office of Finance established a Quality 
Assurance team, led by a Director of Quality Assurance, which 
focuses on improving Member-facing activities and coordinating 
with other CAO business units.
            Food Services
    The Committee has continued its oversight of the 
administration of food service contracts. In response to 
feedback from the House community, the CAO facilitated the 
arrival of several new branded food options, including Au Bon 
Pain, Jamba, Steak n' Shake, and &pizza. These dining options 
provide additional choice and options to members of the public 
who visit the Capitol, as well as legislative branch staff. In 
addition, the Members' Dining Room was opened to the general 
public at times when the House was out of session. Furthermore, 
in response to the pandemic, the CAO worked closely with the 
Office of Attending Physician to ensure all House eateries 
operated safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, while still 
providing food to the essential workers on campus. These 
efforts included increased cleaning, installing safety shields, 
limiting self-serve selections, and placing social distancing 
decals and signage at appropriate locations.
            Congressional Staff Academy
    The Committee also continued its oversight of the 
Congressional Staff Academy. The Staff Academy partnered with 
HIR to create a cloud-based learning management system that 
provides for easy access to online courses and in-person course 
registration. The Staff Academy also completed a renovation of 
its classrooms, providing for increased capacity. The classroom 
renovations also simplified the process for hosting and 
participating in webinars, allowing district office staff to 
utilize the services of the Staff Academy more easily.
            Paid Intern Program
    In April 2019, the House Paid Internship program was 
enacted with interim regulations established by the Committee. 
All Members of Congress were allocated $20,000 to pay interns 
in their Washington, D.C., office through this program. These 
funds are separate from the Members' Representational Allowance 
and are disbursed by the CAO. In May 2020, the Committee issued 
new regulations that provided each Member of Congress $25,000 
to pay interns and allowed paid interns to work in district 
offices.
            Workplace Rights and Responsibilities Training
    In conjunction with the Committee and the Office of House 
Employment Counsel, the CAO updated the Workplace Rights and 
Responsibilities training program to include separate courses 
designed for non-supervisory staff, supervisory staff, and 
Members. Furthermore, the CAO implemented a new registration 
system to improve the experience for users looking to find, 
register, and track completion of their training.
            COVID-19 Pandemic Response Activities
    In addition to increased information technology 
requirements, the COVID-19 pandemic required significant 
changes to normal House operations. In consultation with the 
Committee, the CAO Asset Management team facilitated the 
acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the 
provision thereof to district offices.
    The Office of Employee Assistance (OEA) continued to be a 
valuable resource for Members and staff. OEA's caseload more 
than doubled during the pandemic, and specialized programming 
was created for chiefs of staff, district directors, staff 
directors, caseworkers and other members of the House 
community. In addition, the House Wellness Center facilitated 
webinars on teleworking and created a COVID-19 toolkit. 
Moreover, the CAO worked with House vendors in an effort to 
prevent their employees--contract workers in places like House 
eateries--from being furloughed as a result of the pandemic. In 
addition, under guidance from the Committee, in-person 
operations like the House Child Care Center, when permitted to 
reopen under relevant public health guidelines, modified 
protocols and processes to minimize risk of exposure and spread 
of COVID-19.
            Other Initiatives
    The Committee directed the creation of a new and innovative 
program to provide televisions to House offices, leveraging 
bulk purchasing while saving an estimated $1.3 million over the 
next six years. Previously, Members were responsible for 
purchasing office televisions, which resulted in a medley of 
different television brands, sizes, and quality. When Members 
moved offices, these televisions would also have to be moved, 
increasing costs and adding to the end-of-Congress workload of 
House employees. The new program, which will standardize House 
office televisions, will provide Members with televisions that 
will remain the property of the CAO. These televisions will be 
eligible to be upgraded every six years.
    Additionally, the Committee worked with the CAO to 
establish a new Equipment Modernization Initiative for New 
Members of Congress. Building upon the Select Committee on the 
Modernization of Congress' bulk purchasing for technology 
recommendation, the CAO will provide computer-related equipment 
to new Members of Congress. Prior to this initiative, Members 
were responsible for outfitting their offices with computer-
related equipment--the new initiative will realize savings due 
to the House's ability to buy equipment in bulk.
    The Committee, in a letter dated June 24, 2019, requested 
the CAO to enter into negotiations with the General Services 
Administration (GSA) to enter into a revised Memorandum of 
Agreement (MOA) covering District Office leases. The existing 
MOA in place was entered into in 1997 and revised with an 
addendum in 2000 and, in the Committee's view, was outdated and 
not providing adequate protection and benefit to the House. The 
CAO successfully renegotiated the MOA to the satisfaction of 
both the House and GSA and a revised MOA was executed toward 
the end of 2020.

                            FINE ARTS BOARD

    The House Fine Arts Board (Board), established by 2 U.S.C. 
Sec.  2121, consists of the House members of the JCL and is 
chaired by the Chairperson of the Committee. The Board is 
primarily charged with supervision of fine arts on display in 
House-controlled areas of the Capitol complex and in the House 
collection generally. The Board also administers the 
portraiture process for Committee chairs for display in the 
House's committee rooms.
    In February 2020, the Board, on behalf of the House, 
accepted a statue of Pierre L'Enfant from the government of the 
District of Columbia, for display in a House-controlled space.
    In June 2020, the Board oversaw the removal of Confederate 
portraiture from the Speaker's Lobby in the Capitol.

                      THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

    The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is responsible for the 
maintenance, operation, development, and the preservation of 
the entire Capitol Complex, which includes 17.4 million square 
feet of building space and 460 acres of land. The Committee 
oversees the AOC with respect to the House side of the Capitol 
campus, with the exception of certain decisions that affect the 
House Office Buildings.
    During the 115th Congress, Inspector General Christopher 
Failla underscored a clear commitment to institutional 
integrity and the judicious use of taxpayer dollars. The 
Committee, also committed to those same values and 
transparency, has ensured that resources for audits and 
investigations of the AOC's large-scale construction projects 
and other vital services necessary for obligations to Congress 
are available to the OIG. The AOC OIG Annual Work Product 
Report dated December 8, 2020, shows more than a 550 percent 
increase in the number of investigations from 2018, as well as 
six major audits per year for 2019 and 2020, compared to a 
total of nine during the 115th Congress.
    On September 10, 2019, the Committee held an oversight 
hearing titled, ``Oversight of the Renovation of the Cannon 
House Office Building.'' This was the first hearing on the 
Cannon House Office Building Renewal Project (``Cannon 
Project'' or ``Project'') since the commencement of active 
construction. The previous hearing had been held on May 6, 
2009. The hearing provided clear oversight direction and led to 
the disclosure by the AOC of a substantial cost overrun of 10-
15 percent, representing $75 million to $100 million in 
additional costs. Testifying at the hearing were Thomas J. 
Carroll, Acting Architect of the Capitol, Christopher P. 
Failla, Architect of the Capitol Inspector General, Terrell G. 
Dorn, Government Accountability Office Managing Director of 
Infrastructure Operations, and Brian A. Abt, Clark 
Construction, Division CEO, Mid-Atlantic Region.
    During the September oversight hearing, the OIG announced 
the independent contractor, Cotton & Company, LLC, would begin 
Cannon construction and contract audits to assess the 
effectiveness of phases 0 and 1 contract modifications and 
potential change orders. The audit began on August 13, 2019, 
and the OIG issued a final report on May 29, 2020.
    In addition, Cotton & Company, LLC performed a second audit 
of the Cannon Renewal Project's invoices for phases 1 and 2 to 
ensure the cost and payments were made in accordance with 
contract requirements, AOC policies and procedures, and 
industry standards. The OIG issued a final audit report on 
August 25, 2020.
    Following the hearing, the Committee committed to 
increasing its oversight of the Cannon Project and increasing 
coordination and communication. Weekly meetings were held with 
senior staff from the AOC, CAO, USPC, and HSAA to gain a better 
understanding of the interdependencies of these internal 
stakeholders and to improve transparency.
    On December 9, 2019, President Trump nominated Brett 
Blanton as the 12th Architect of the Capitol and he was sworn 
in on January 16, 2020. In addition, the AOC hired David Wilder 
as Superintendent to the House Office Buildings in October 
2020. Thomas Carroll, Assistant to the Architect resigned 
December 11, 2020, after more than a decade of service to the 
AOC. The Committee appreciates Mr. Carroll's public service and 
many contributions to the Congress. The AOC, responsible for 
the delivery of the Cannon House Office Building Renewal 
(CHOBr), is in the process of completing Phase II and preparing 
to start Phase III.
    In responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AOC, in 
coordination with the House Office of Attending Physician (OAP) 
and the Committee, implemented a strict mask policy with 
monitors and incorporated a cleaning protocol to help reduce 
the transmission of COVID-19. As the 116th Congress draws to a 
close, a national spike in infections and deaths has reached an 
all-time high. Despite these challenges, phase II of the Cannon 
Project was delivered on time with some punch list items that 
will continue until the start of the 117th Congress. Phase III 
will begin in January 2021.
    The Committee continued to conduct oversight of the Capitol 
Visitor Center (CVC) with a significant portion focused on the 
redesign work associated with the Exhibition Hall. The physical 
renovation began in the spring of 2019. Oversight of this 
project is conducted by the Committee along with the Senate 
Committee on Rules and Administration. The CVC anticipates 
reopening Exhibition Hall sometime in 2022. In March, the CVC 
was closed to the public due to COVID-19 and as of the date of 
this report, it has not re-opened to the general public. The 
CVC, AOC, and Committee continue to monitor the status of the 
COVID-19 pandemic and have collaborated on a phased reopening 
plan. To better serve the public until the implementation of 
the phased reopening plan is safe, the CVC continues to provide 
virtual resources for the public, including educational 
resources and video tours. The video tours are geared both 
toward general audiences and middle school students.
    The Committee also continues to work with the AOC to 
identify potential statutory reforms that would allow it to 
work more efficiently and effectively. To that end, the 
Committee and AOC worked to amend the statute governing the 
Deputy Architect position. This reform, which was included in 
the year-end omnibus appropriations and coronavirus relief 
package sent to the White House for the President's signature, 
provides the Architect with additional flexibility in 
delegating duties to the Deputy Architect and other AOC 
officials.
    Finally, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the many 
logistical elements required to support New Member Orientation, 
the Committee worked with the AOC, House Superintendent, USCP, 
HSSA, and the OAP to develop and execute a plan to ensure a 
smooth transition for the new and departing Members. The plan 
incorporated virtual activities as much as possible and for in-
person activities. In addition, a COVID-19 testing program was 
accessible to all Members-elect and designated aides who 
travelled to Washington, D.C., for the program, as well as to 
others who worked on orientation. In addition, cleaning 
protocols were in place and CDC guidance was followed including 
the wearing of masks and appropriate social distancing 
measures.

                           INSPECTOR GENERAL

    The Committee worked with the House Office of the Inspector 
General (OIG) to implement its annual workplan for the 
continued improvement of House operations. The plan focused on 
technology, efficiency, and financial stability of the House.
    Despite the COVID-19 pandemic presenting challenges to 
carrying out its audit function, the House OIG was able to 
conduct ten audits this Congress, with six audits being 
conducted during the pandemic.
    The OIG issued another unmodified financial statement audit 
for Fiscal Year 2019, marking the twenty second consecutive 
year for the House to receive a clean report. An unmodified 
audit means that no material weaknesses were found in internal 
control over financial reporting and that the House was in 
accordance with all material respects with U.S. generally 
accepted accounting principles.

                      UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE

    The United States Capitol Police (USCP) force protects 
Members, staff, the public, and the Capitol campus to allow 
Congress to fulfill its constitutional and legislative 
responsibilities in a safe, secure, and open environment.
    Commencing in March 2019, the Committee instituted monthly 
oversight meetings with USCP and the USCP Office of Inspector 
General (USCP OIG) throughout the 116th Congress. In addition, 
recognizing the importance of rank-and-file officer input, the 
Committee held bi-weekly meetings with the Fraternal Order of 
Police Labor Union (FOP/Labor). The Committee also held regular 
meetings with law enforcement entities and non-profit advocacy 
organizations to discuss the USCP's operations, effectiveness, 
and transparency, as well as its interaction with Members, 
employees, and visitors.
    The Committee held an oversight hearing on July 19, 2019, 
titled ``Oversight of the United States Capitol Police.'' At 
this hearing, Chairperson Lofgren stated:

          The Committee's oversight includes ensuring the 
        United States Capitol Police continue to critically 
        review its policing practices to ensure those practices 
        evolve and are refined based on best practices and new 
        information. We want to make sure the [USCP] is focused 
        on its core mission, protecting Congress, and has 
        enough resources to do so.

    And:

          [The USCP] must seek to ensure the diversity of its 
        employees by establishing sound recruiting practices 
        and sound employee diversity training. A diverse 
        workforce is a strong workforce and investing in 
        training and development will telegraph to the rank-
        and-file officers of the Department that Congress is 
        committed to investing in you and your career and that 
        there are more opportunities for you to compete for 
        roles of increasing and different responsibilities.

Strategic Plan for 2021-2025

    The Committee worked with stakeholders to develop key 
oversight areas to incorporate into the USCP's new five-year 
strategic plan. The USCP used a third-party vendor to compile 
views and concerns of customers and to identify items deemed 
critical to the success of the USCP. The Committee's 
recommendations were incorporated into the new five-year plan 
which will serve as a roadmap with clearly defined benchmarks 
in order to assess and evaluate the USCP's progress in meeting 
its stated goals. The USCP's Human Capitol Strategic Plan, 
2021-2025 complements and directly supports its strategic plan.

Cyber and Technology Issues

    On February 27, 2020, the Committee received the USCP-OIG 
report ``Review of the United States Capitol Police Cyber-
Investigation Capabilities.'' The USCP-OIG assessed the USCP 
had ``adequate procedures for cyber capabilities but did not 
adequately document those procedures in guidance,'' noting that 
the USCP did not have a formal Memorandum of Understanding 
(MOU) with the U.S. Secret Service and that it also had an 
outdated Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation. The Committee worked with USCP and HSAA 
recognize these challenges and to incorporate new 
administrative processes to formalize MOUs and MOAs on a 
regular basis into the Strategic Plan 2021-2025 and Human 
Resource Strategic Plan 2021-2025.
    In August 2020 the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police 
Department informed the USCP it would be replacing its current 
COLBALT Data base system which must be used by all federal law 
enforcement agencies conducting law enforcement arrests in the 
District of Columbia. The USCP's old license agreement 
prevented the USCP from appropriately interfacing with the 
COLBALT system and transfer critical data to its systems. The 
USCP's transition to the new system would allow it to use 
critical data in its intelligence assessment evaluations as 
well as keep accurate records of all individuals with which it 
has contact. The Committee fully supports the acquisition of a 
new Mark43 cloud-based software system which is expected to be 
completed in February 2021.

Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action

    During August 2020, the Committee engaged the USCP to 
ascertain the status regarding the Office of Inclusion, 
Diversity, Equity and Action (IDEA) efforts to engage its 
workforce, especially after the summer of national civil 
protests relating to the tragic killings of George Floyd, 
Ahmaud Arbrey, and Breonna Taylor, among others. On September 
2, 2020, the USCP provided a formal briefing of its intent to 
conduct Race, Equity, and Policing Town Halls in October 2020. 
The Department successfully provided Race, Equity, and Policing 
Town Hall sessions October 26, 2020, which were well received, 
and the FOP/Labor commended the USCP's efforts to engage sworn 
officers in a productive manner. The USCP vowed that IDEA would 
be fully integrated throughout the USCP's infrastructure and be 
a critical element in its Department Strategic Plan 2021-2025 
and Human Capital Strategic Plan 2021-2025.

Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

    The USCP and FOP/Labor currently are operating under a CBA 
last ratified on June 8, 2010. The Committee worked to improve 
the trust between the USCP and FOP/Labor and strongly 
recommended the formal start of new CBA negotiations. On 
September 9, 2019, FOP/Labor notified the USCP and the 
Committee that it had failed to reach an extension agreement 
concerning the existing CBA and it had selected a new FOP/Labor 
CBA negotiation team. On October 9, 2019, the USCP notified 
FOP/Labor and the Committee that it too had selected a new USCP 
CBA negotiation team.
    On January 29, 2020, FOP/Labor informed the Committee it 
was pleased with the CBA negotiations to date. FOP/Labor 
President indicated the FOP/Labor CBA team reported the 
negotiations were positive, productive, and professional. Non-
disclosure agreements had been finalized and were signed by all 
participating USCP and FOP/Labor teams as well as participating 
attorneys on February 19, 2020. The USCP noted the negotiations 
and discussions have been positive and productive. On February 
24, 2020, Department informed the Committee that there had been 
six formal meetings to establish a new CBA.
    As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing 
infection numbers, on March 20, 2020, the USCP notified the 
FOP/Labor and the Teamsters Union of its decision to suspend 
both CBAs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The USCP requested the 
FOP/Labor CBA Negotiation Team continue with CBA negotiations; 
however, FOP/Labor informed the USCP it could not continue CBA 
negotiations in good faith with the entire CBA being suspended 
under the exigent circumstances the USCP outlined. On March 23, 
2020, FOP/Labor issued a press release outlining its opposition 
to the suspension of the entire CBA and its efforts to get the 
USCP to reconsider the unprecedented suspension of the entire 
CBA. The CBA remained suspended for April, May, and June of 
2020. The USCP reinstated minor article portions of the FOP/
Labor Union CBA on July 15, 2020. The USCP and followed with 
further reinstatement of other articles on August 14, 2020. On 
September 17, 2020, Chief Sund and the FOP/Labor and Teamsters 
Unions re-initiated bi-weekly meetings. On October 6, 2020, 
FOP/Labor informed Committee it was notifying the Department it 
had reinstated the FOP/Labor Committee CBA Team and was ready 
to restart formal CBA negotiations.

Training and Development

    On January 29, 2020, the Committee held a meeting with 
USCP's Chief Administrative Officer concerning training and 
development programs for sworn and civilian personnel. The 
USCP--CAO informed Committee staff that the USCP did not have 
any regulations in place or mandatory training program for 
employees which aided in their professional development. 
Further, the USCP--CAO also advised that there was no 
established requirement or program for supervisors to complete 
advanced leadership training prior to promotions. The Committee 
had previously recommended that the USCP--OIG review training 
issues. The Committee recognized the USCP had systemic 
leadership development and training deficiencies as reported in 
the USCP--OIG report, ``Assessment of the United States Capitol 
Police Leadership Training Program,'' Report Number OIG-2020-
07, dated March 2020. The OIG assessed, ``While it had a 
program providing new Sergeants and Lieutenants with leadership 
training, the [USCP] did not offer formalized leadership 
refresher training to Supervisors. The [USCP] also did not 
offer leadership training to develop future potential leaders. 
Without appropriate supervisory and leadership training, [USCP] 
leaders may have lacked the leadership skills necessary to 
perform their jobs.''
    As a result of the Committee's oversight, the USCP 
Strategic Plan 2021-2025 identifies Goal 1--Invest in the USCP 
workforce. The USCP identified five objectives to successfully 
attain Goal--1: 1.1 Deliver valuable human capital management 
services aligned with the USCP's mission and strategic goals; 
1.2 Cultivate a diverse, inclusive culture of transparency, 
collaboration, and equity that leverages employees' unique 
talent, skills, and perspectives; 1.3 Recruit and retain the 
workforce needed to meet the USCP's mission now and into the 
future; 1.4 Train and develop sworn and civilian personnel to 
ensure a ready, able and professional USCP workforce; and 1.5 
Enhance performance management practices to support and sustain 
a high performing USCP workforce. The USCP-approved 
reorganization in October 2019 placed a Deputy Chief over the 
Training Division to ensure appropriate oversight, guidance and 
creation of codified mandatory employee and leadership basic/
advanced training programs.

Reorganization

    On August 21, 2019, Chief Sund forwarded a USCP 
reorganization request letter to the Committee. The Chief 
requested the Committee's approval to conduct a structural 
reorganization of USCP. The reorganization would create new 
division level entities; Employee Wellness and Resiliency 
Division, Internal Controls and Risk Management Division, 
Badging and Credentialing Division, and the Employment and 
Suitability Division under the auspice of the Chief 
Administrative Officer (CAO). The request also outlined the 
renaming of the Protective Service Bureau/Intelligence Analysis 
Division to Intelligence and Interagency Coordination Division; 
the renaming of the Operational Services Bureau/Patrol/Mobile 
Response Division to Special Operations Division; and the 
renaming of the Office of Human Resources/Human Capital 
Strategy, Recruitment and Employment Division to Human Capital 
Strategy, Staffing and Employment Division. The Capitol Police 
Board was briefed regarding this request and endorsed the 
structural reorganization proposal.
    The reorganization would include the creation of a new 
Assistant Chief of Police, Inspector, and Captain executive 
positions. The new Assistant Chief of Police would oversee the 
Protective Services Bureau (PSB), comprised of the Intelligence 
and Interagency Coordination Division (IICD), Dignitary 
Protection Division (DPD), and the Investigations Division 
(ID). This position would also have responsibility over the 
Security Service Bureau (SSB), which manages the Physical 
Security Division (PSD), and the Technical Countermeasures 
Division (TCD). The Chief stated this reorganization would 
provide better oversight of the IICD and DPD which has had 
noted deficiencies outlined by the USCP OIG regarding a failure 
of appropriate command oversight, a lack of professionalized 
intelligence production/reviews, as well as integration of IICD 
and DPD with other department bureaus and divisions.
    A second Assistant Chief of Police would have 
responsibility over Uniformed Operations, comprised of the 
largest contingent of sworn USCP officers. The Assistant Chief 
of Police would also have responsibility over the Command and 
Coordination Bureau, Operational Services Bureau, and the 
Uniformed Services Bureau (USB). The proposal requested the 
addition of a new Captain position within the USB House 
Division to oversee the O'Neill House Office Building and the 
implementation of pre-screening and House Garage Security.
    The USCP proposal requested the formation of the Employee 
Wellness and Resiliency Division (EWRD) and the Internal 
Controls and Risk Management Division (ICRMD) under the 
responsibility of the CAO. EWRD would address all manners of 
employee physical, mental, and financial well-being while ICRMD 
will address audits, reviews, policy directives working with 
the OIG. The Chief's proposal requested the formation of two 
new divisions under the guidance of the CAO within the Office 
of Background Investigations and Credentialing (OBIC) would be 
the Badging and Credentialing Division (BCD) and the Employment 
Suitability Division (ESD).
    The USCP proposal requested the addition of an Inspector 
position to be assigned to the Office of the CAO to ``allow for 
a regular rotation within the core administrative element to 
learn and gain an in-depth understanding of the administrative 
and support functions . . . thereby preparing personnel at this 
rank for greater responsibilities and business acumen at the 
rank of Deputy Chief. On October 17, 2019, the Committee 
approved the USCP reorganizational proposal.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

    The COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse effect upon USCP and 
USCP-OIG operational activities including recruiting and 
training programs from March 2020 through December 2020. The 
Committee worked with the USCP, to modify security and 
screening procedures and other operations to ensure that the 
USCP could continue to carry out its critical core mission to 
``Protect the Congress--its Members, employees, visitors, and 
facilities--so it can fulfill its constitutional and 
legislative responsibilities in a safe, secure and open 
environment.''
    The Committee engaged all parties to ensure consistent 
communication concerning the modification of Capitol Complex 
security and safety measures were provided to Members, 
employees, and visitors. Since March 2020, the USCP issued over 
100 Bulletins and notices to its employees. The USCP initiated 
on-line support services and working with the FOP/Labor took 
its safety suggestion and initiated a nationwide best practice 
of providing hotel lodging and meals for employees assigned for 
duty to prevent them from exposing their families if they 
should have contracted COVID-19 during their shift. The USCP 
provided over 40,000 lunches to all shifts as well as made 
available 1,100 hotel rooms to prevent COVID-19 transmission to 
families. The USCP provided N-95 (limited) and personal 
protective equipment (PPE) to all employees. Over 3,000 cloth 
masks and gloves were issued and all screening posts in HOBs 
were fitted with plexiglass barriers for extra protection for 
sworn officers as well as extra PPE working in conjunction with 
the Committee, HSAA, CAO, and AOC.
    The USCP reported FLETC training facilities in Brunswick, 
Georgia, and Cheltenham, Maryland, were closed, and training 
suspended in March 2020. The USCP had Class 209 and Class 210 
sent home from training in FLETC--Brunswick, Georgia and Class 
208 from FLETC--Cheltenham, Maryland. FLETC restarted classes 
after mandatory 14-day quarantine of students recalled to 
complete training on June 1, 2020. The USCP had 33 recruits 
affected by the COVID-19 delay. The USCP-OIG reported two of 
its investigators' training was extended for two weeks after 
FLETC--Brunswick, Georgia shut down all activity in November 
2020 due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility. The two USCP-
OIG investigators will graduate in December 2020. The USCP-OIG 
was successful in hiring investigators during FY 2020 and for 
the first time was fully staffed with 10 investigators 
increasing its capability to address matters in a more 
efficient and effective manner.
    On December 11, 2020 the USCP reported to the Committee its 
90th employee COVID-19 infection, with 64 employees having 
recovered and returned to work. The USCP negotiated with OAP 
and the District of Columbia to have priority testing available 
to employees exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

                        SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

    The Committee serves as the primary legislative and 
oversight body for the Smithsonian Institution, a quasi-federal 
institution of 19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, 
numerous research centers, and several education centers. 
Approximately two-thirds of the Smithsonian's funding is from 
federal appropriations.
    The Smithsonian is overseen by a Board of Regents, which is 
composed of the Chief Justice, Vice President, Members of the 
House and Senate, and other private citizens known as ``Citizen 
Regents.'' Citizen Regents are appointed to six-year terms by 
joint resolution of Congress. During the 116th Congress, the 
Smithsonian Board of Regents nominated five individuals to 
serve as Citizen Regents: John Fahey, Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey, 
Michael Lynton, Denise O'Leary, and Franklin Raines. The 
Committee met with the new nominees prior to their appointment. 
Mr. Fahey, Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey, and Mr. Lynton were reappointed 
to the Board of Regents via S.J. Res. 65, S.J. Res. 67 and H.J. 
Res. 87, respectively. Ms. O'Leary and Mr. Raines were 
appointed to their first term on the Board of Regents via S. J. 
Res. 66 and H. J. Res. 88, respectively.
    The Institution's day-to-day operations are led by the 
Secretary of the Smithsonian. The current Secretary, Lonnie G. 
Bunch III, assumed his position on June 16, 2019. Secretary 
Bunch was previously the founding Director of the Smithsonian's 
National Museum of African American History and Culture.
    On September 18, 2019, the Committee held a hearing 
entitled, ``Oversight of the Smithsonian Institution.'' 
Witnesses at the hearing included Secretary Bunch and Cathy L. 
Helm, the Smithsonian's Inspector General. The hearing provided 
an opportunity for the Committee to discuss Secretary Bunch's 
vision, as well as some of the issues and challenges facing the 
Institution. Such issues and challenges included the renovation 
of the National Air and Space Museum, a growing deferred 
maintenance backlog, a lack of diversity, collections 
management, and information technology/security.
    The Committee continues to work with the Smithsonian to 
address the above referenced issues. For example, in response 
to the deferred maintenance backlog, the Committee sent a 
bipartisan letter to the Appropriations Committee requesting 
that the appropriation for maintenance match industry standards 
and be available until expended. The Committee is also working 
with the Smithsonian on solutions to collections management 
problems and its information technology/security challenges.
    The Committee focused extensively on increasing diversity 
within the Smithsonian during the 116th Congress. As will be 
described herein, the Committee's efforts culminated in the 
authorization of two new museums honoring Latinos and women, 
respectively. As of this writing, authorizations for both 
museums have passed both chambers of Congress and are awaiting 
the President's signature.
    On February 5, 2020, the Committee held a hearing entitled, 
``Oversight of the Smithsonian Institution: Opportunities for 
Growth by Honoring Latino Americans and Asian Pacific 
Americans.'' The hearing centered on two bills, H.R. 2420, the 
National Museum of the American Latino Act, which would 
authorize the creation of the National Museum of the American 
Latino, and H.R. 4132, the Commission to Study the Potential 
Creation of National Museum of Asian Pacific American History 
and Culture Act. This bill would create a commission to study 
the feasibility of creating a museum dedicated to Asian Pacific 
American History. Governmental witnesses at the hearing 
included Reps. Jose Serrano and Will Hurd, the two sponsors of 
H.R. 2420; Rep. Grace Meng, who sponsored H.R. 4132, and 
Secretary Bunch. Additional witnesses included Henry Munoz, 
Chair of the National Museum of the American Latino Commission; 
Dr. Beth Lew-Williams, Associate Professor of History at 
Princeton University; Lisa Sasaki, Director of the Smithsonian 
Asian Pacific American Center; and Dr. Eric Petersen, a 
Specialist in American National Government at the Congressional 
Research Service. The hearing included a constructive 
conversation with the witnesses about the importance of 
diversifying the Smithsonian and ways in which H.R. 2420 and 
H.R. 4132 could help achieve that goal. On July 27, 2020, the 
House agreed to H.R. 2420 under suspension of the rules.
    On December 21, 2020, both the House and Senate agreed to 
the provisions of H.R. 2420 and incorporated the bill into H.R. 
133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2021, 
which was signed by the President on December 27, 2020. This 
represents the culmination of more than 15 years of efforts to 
make the National Museum of the American Latino a reality.
    In addition to the bill establishing the National Museum of 
the American Latino, the Committee also shepherded H.R. 1980, 
the Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act, to passage on the 
House Floor. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, was 
marked up by the Committee on November 12, 2020. The bill was 
ordered favorably reported to the House by voice vote and, on 
February 11, 2020, was agreed to by the House under suspension 
of the rules. On December 21, 2020, the House and Senate agreed 
to the provisions of the bill establishing a national women's 
history museum and included it in H.R. 133, the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which was signed by 
the President on December 27, 2020. When the authorization to 
create this museum is signed into law, it will be the result of 
more than 25 years of efforts to establish this vitally 
important museum. Appropriately, this bill passed during the 
100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, 
which granted women the constitutional right to vote.
    Finally, the Committee met regularly with the Smithsonian 
and the Smithsonian Office of Inspector General to conduct 
oversight and perform site visits. Topics discussed during 
these meetings included, for example, information security, new 
programming, collections management, deferred maintenance, the 
COVID-19 pandemic and impacts to the Institution and 
Smithsonian Enterprises.

                          LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

    The Committee met regularly with Library of Congress 
(Library) management and the Library Office of Inspector 
General during the 116th Congress to monitor and review 
operations, services and planning initiatives. Areas of focus 
for the Committee included information technology (IT) 
modernization, Copyright Office modernization, reimagination of 
the Library visitor experience, the operations of the 
Congressional Research Service (CRS), the Library's response to 
the COVID-19 pandemic, overseas offices, Congress.gov, the 
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, and 
the Law Library.

Information Technology

    As technology has advanced and the needs of Library patrons 
have changed, the Library has increased its reliance on IT. In 
2015, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed IT 
management at the Library and produced a report with wide-
ranging recommendations to improve IT. In response, and with 
oversight from the Committee, the Library has undertaken an IT 
modernization effort that has continued into the 116th 
Congress. This modernization effort includes an overhaul of 
records storage, utilization of both the cloud and a new data 
center, a more stabilized core IT structure, improved IT 
governance and a more centralized and professionalized IT 
workforce.
    The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) aligned 
the Library's IT governance with the new centralized structure. 
To ensure the Library's IT efforts worked in concert with its 
strategic plan, OCIO implemented a FY 2019-2023 directional 
plan in May 2019. Efforts under this directional plan include a 
transition to a new data center and enterprise cloud 
environment, and implementation of multifactor authentication 
for all Library users.
    In addition, OCIO worked closely with the various Library 
business units on IT modernization. Modernization of the U.S. 
Copyright Office, including IT modernization, will be discussed 
in greater detail below.
    Moreover, the Library has experienced record web traffic on 
its various websites, including Congress.gov and Copyright.gov. 
This is attributed, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Additionally, the Library created new streams of programming, 
including the Library Engage and Families blog, to provide 
content to users impacted by the pandemic and the Library's on-
site closure. Programming traditionally held in person, such as 
the National Book Festival, was successfully transitioned to 
fully virtual events. In all, in FY 2020, total Library page 
views were up 56 percent, total visits were up 46 percent, and 
mobile visits were up 83 percent. Included in this data is 
traffic to Library of Congress educational websites. The 
Committee worked with the Library to provide educational 
websites to Members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Members then 
sent this information to parents and teachers within their 
districts.

Visitor Experience and Thomas Jefferson Building Renovations

    The Committee provided oversight of renovations to the 
Thomas Jefferson Building, made as part of the effort to 
enhance the visitor experience. This project includes the 
creation of a new youth center, improvement to exhibit 
infrastructure through the creation of a treasures' gallery, 
and the means to provide more collection-based civics and 
history education to visitors. The youth center will be made up 
of ``learning labs''' that will let young people interact with 
the Library's collections. In addition, the Library is 
constructing a new orientation space where visitors will be 
able to look up through an oculus to view the main reading 
room. The project is funded through a public-private 
partnership that provides $40 million in appropriated funds and 
$20 million in matching private funds raised by the Library.
    The Committee continues to provide oversight over the 
various elements of the project, including the treasures 
gallery, scheduled to open to the public in December 2022, the 
youth center, scheduled to open to the public in December 2023, 
and the orientation gallery. Conceptual design directions for 
the orientation gallery are expected in early 2021.

United States Copyright Office

    As part of the Library's broader modernization efforts, the 
United States Copyright Office (USCO) is in the process of 
implementing an office-wide initiative to build a new 
enterprise copyright IT system with a user-centered, flexible 
design. The new copyright system is intended to streamline 
processes and policies and improve access. It includes, among 
other projects, reimagined registration and recordation 
systems, as well as an improved application process. The 
Committee has focused a significant portion of its oversight 
efforts with respect to the Library on USCO modernization.
    The new Enterprise Copyright System (ECS) will include the 
UCO registration, recordation, public records, and licensing IT 
applications. A copyright public records application pilot is 
now available inside the USCO and will be launching to the 
public later in December 2020. A copyright recordation 
application pilot was launched in April 2020. New features will 
continue to be added through the end of FY2024. A new web-based 
application for registration is in development. Foundational 
design was completed in April 2020. The full registration 
application development process began soon thereafter and will 
run through the end of FY2024. Development of a licensing 
application began in FY2020. The application has a dedicated 
user experience design and initial automated workflow. 
Development efforts will accelerate through FY2021. Finally, an 
updated user experience and platform is in development. The 
goal is to ensure the ECS is easy to operate. This project 
began in September 2020 and will continue through September 
2021.
    The above referenced work is now taking place under a new 
Register of Copyrights. Shira Perlmutter, who previously served 
as Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs 
at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, assumed this 
role on October 26, 2020.

Congressional Research Service

    On June 20, 2019, the Committee held a hearing entitled, 
``Oversight of the Congressional Research Service.'' CRS 
provides nonpartisan, confidential research and analysis on a 
wide range of issues for Members of Congress and staff. The 
primary focuses of the CRS hearing were the identification of 
both challenges facing the agency and solutions therefor. The 
Committee heard testimony from the Director of CRS, Mary 
Mazenac, and President of the Congressional Research Employees 
Association, Dr. Susan Thaul. The main challenges identified at 
the hearing pertained to the CRS workforce. The CRS workforce 
has been declining steadily since 2010, with the service 
experiencing an overall attrition rate of approximately 10 
percent. In addition, lack of diversity and declining morale 
were also identified as issues by CRS employees. The Committee 
continues to work with CRS to address these issues and has held 
numerous follow-up meetings with CRS and other stakeholders 
within the Congressional community.

                OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL WORKPLACE RIGHTS

    The beginning of the 116th Congress marked the start of a 
number of reforms to the Office of Congressional Workplace 
Rights (OCWR), formerly named the Office of Compliance. The end 
of the 115th Congress saw the enactment of the Congressional 
Accountability Act Reform Act (CAARA) the first major update to 
the 1995 Congressional Accountability Act (CAA), which first 
applied 13 workplace and accessibility laws to Congress and 
created the Office of Compliance to administer and enforce the 
CAA.\15\
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    \15\P.L. 115-397, 132 Stat. 5297.
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    The Committee worked on a bipartisan and bicameral basis to 
provide guidance to OCWR on implementing several key reforms by 
their statutory deadlines.

Treasury Repayment Reporting

    Among other key reforms, CAARA mandated that Members of 
Congress be held personally liable for their acts of harassment 
and retaliation; and that the Committee would be responsible 
for establishing a timetable and procedures for withholding 
amounts from the compensation of a Member who is required to 
reimburse any portion of an award or settlement under the 
Congressional Accountability Act (CAA); and that the Committee 
issue rules establishing the content, format, and other 
requirements for an annual public report that the OCWR is 
required to make to Congress and the public about payments made 
for settlements and awards under the CAA.
    The Committee worked with OCWR and other stakeholders to 
establish the new requirements in accordance with these 
reforms, resulting in the successful publication of semiannual 
reports in both the first and second sessions of this Congress.
    Despite the absence of a mandate in the CAARA to hold 
Members equally liable for their personal acts of 
discrimination and retaliation, the Committee worked with the 
Committee on Rules to establish in the 116th Congress for the 
first time that Members will be held to the same repayment 
standard for acts of discrimination as they are for harassment 
or retaliation.

Online Employee Claims System

    Another key reform required OCWR to develop an online 
system for legislative branch employees to file a claim 
regarding allegations of prohibited workplace misconduct.
    Staff from the Committee and the Senate Committee on Rules 
and Administration met with OCWR staff individually and jointly 
in advance of the statutory deadline to ensure OCWR would meet 
the various requirements set forth by the reform act. The 
Committees convened a bicameral, bipartisan meeting with staff 
from OCWR and the LOC to discuss the online filing system. The 
system was launched as the Secure Online Claims Reporting and 
Tracking E-Filing System (SOCRATES).
    The Committee continued its oversight responsibilities 
through the COVID-19 pandemic monitoring the potential impact 
to employees on the claims process. All claims, hearings and 
mediations continued to be processed in accordance with 
statutory deadlines. Nine claims were filled during the 
pandemic via SOCRATES and two administrative hearings were 
conducted remotely via Webex.

Permanent Posting of Workplace Rights Information

    The CAARA added a requirement for all employing offices to 
erect permeant postings in a conspicuous location of employee's 
workplace rights, along with information about the alternative 
dispute resolution process. The Committee worked to establish 
rules and a timeline for House employing offices to comply with 
this change.\16\
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    \16\Committee Resolution 116-7.
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    Additionally, the committee worked with OCWR to ensure the 
House community was made aware of the free dissemination of 
workplace posters and where and how to obtain any additional 
posters in order to be compliant with the new law and 
regulations.
    These notices will help to ensure that new and current 
employees are informed of their rights.

Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy for House Offices

    While not included in the CAARA, the Committee acted to 
further strengthen workplace rights by establishing an anti-
discrimination and anti-harassment policy by working with the 
Committee on Rules to include in the House Rules package for 
the 116th Congress a requirement that all employing House 
offices have a written anti-discrimination, anti-harassment 
policy, to be provided to employees. Employees include interns, 
paid and unpaid, and fellows. The Committee worked to establish 
and pass guidelines to establish a minimum set of standards for 
the policy and worked with other stakeholders to provide a 
model policy or guide for offices to build their policy 
language around.

Climate Survey

    Section 202 of the CAARA provided for a first-ever 
legislative branch-wide workplace climate survey. House and 
Senate oversight committees worked in a bipartisan and 
bicameral way to develop methodologies for a comprehensive 
climate survey. From the Committee's work with other oversight 
committees in overseeing and giving feedback, the creation of a 
comprehensive survey with emphasis on the respondents' 
attitudes towards harassment and discrimination was launched.
    Due to the unforeseen circumstances of the COVID-19 
pandemic and holiday launch of the first survey, all the 
surveys had to be extended and the last surveys of the 
legislative branch will be concluded by the end of the year.

Mandatory Workplace Rights Education Training

    As a result of an OCWR 102(b) recommendation, the Committee 
constructed and passed a resolution establishing a mandatory 
anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training program that 
would be required to be taken annually by every employee and 
Member.\17\ The program is now in its third year and has 
trained over 14,000 employees each year.
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    \17\This recommendation can be found in numerous 102(b) annual 
reports, but most recently for the 116th, 115th and 114th Congresses.
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    The Committee worked to establish training guidelines and 
regulations to govern both sessions of Congress, however the 
committee had to quickly pivot during the early stages of the 
coronavirus pandemic.
    During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee closely 
monitored and regularly consulted with the OAP, House Officers, 
and others about impacts on the House community. As a result, 
the Committee cancelled all live-in person training classes and 
rescheduled live interactive webinars which counted as 
completing the mandatory training requirement for the rest of 
the 2020 year.

                 OFFICE OF THE WHISTLEBLOWER OMBUDSMAN

    Established during the 116th Congress by Section 104(e) of 
H. Res. 6 (116th Congress), the Office of the Whistleblower 
Ombudsman (Office) is charged with promulgating best practices 
for Congressional offices to receive whistleblower disclosures 
and providing training and resources to equip offices to 
effectively administer all stages of whistleblower claims, from 
initial disclosures to an ultimate disposition.
    After an extensive public search and interview process 
conducted by the bipartisan staffs of the Committee, Shanna 
Devine was appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the inaugural 
director of the Office. In July 2020, the Committee issued 
hiring regulations establishing the internal structure of the 
office and authorizing the Director to hire personnel.\18\
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    \18\Committee Resolution 116-22, 116th Congress, adopted July 30, 
2020.
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    The Office responds to individual Member and Committee 
office requests for trainings and other resources and regularly 
conducts virtual trainings through the Congressional Staff 
Academy. To date, the Office has conducted nearly 100 such 
sessions.

                           FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Overview

    From the opening days of the 116th Congress, the Committee 
swiftly reasserted its historic role in conducting oversight of 
federal elections, election administration, the integrity of 
U.S. elections, and ensuring access to the franchise for all 
Americans. In contrast to the 115th Congress, where the 
Committee held one hearing on elections, in the 116th Congress 
the Committee held five full Committee hearings on elections. 
These hearings included examining critical democracy reforms, 
securing America's election systems, oversight of the Election 
Assistance Commission (EAC), the first hearing calling all 
three major election systems vendors before Congress together, 
and voting safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    The Committee reported out, and shepherded through House 
passage, three major pieces of elections legislation: H.R. 1, 
the For the People Act of 2019; H.R. 2722, the Securing 
America's Federal Elections Act; and H.R. 4617, the Stopping 
Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy Act. 
These bills addressed critical election issues such as 
equitable access to American democracy, strengthening election 
infrastructure, and combatting foreign interference in American 
elections.
    The Committee conducted oversight over the two federal 
agencies under its purview, the Federal Election Commission 
(FEC) and the EAC, examined how Americans could vote safely 
during the COVID-19 pandemic, extensively revamped the 
Committee's contested elections program, and sent observers to 
more than 20 Congressional races during the 2020 general 
election.
    One of the first actions taken by the Committee at the 
start of the 116th Congress was the reconstitution of the 
Committee's Subcommittee on Elections. The Subcommittee on 
Elections conducted extensive oversight of federal elections 
administration and access to the franchise, taking Congress to 
the American people by convening an inaugural listening session 
and seven field hearings, as well as five additional hearings 
during the 116th Congress.
    The Committee also responded to the once-in-a-generation 
challenges of voting during a global pandemic by holding 
hearings on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on voting, 
voting safely during a pandemic, and preparing legislation to 
protect voters, support state and local election 
administrators, and secure our elections.

Legislation

    The Committee reported out, and the House passed, three 
major pieces of election reform legislation in the 116th 
Congress. H.R. 1, the ``For the People Act of 2019,'' is the 
most ambitious pro-democracy reform package and most 
significant overhaul of the American election system in modern 
history, expanding access to the franchise for all Americans, 
removing dark money from politics, and strengthening ethics in 
government. H.R. 2722, the ``Securing America's Federal 
Elections (SAFE) Act,'' would provide critical resources to 
states and localities to bolster election infrastructure while 
ensuring necessary funding to replace aging voting equipment 
with voter-verified paper ballot systems and implementing 
additional cybersecurity protocols. Finally, H.R. 4617, the 
``Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting 
Democracy (SHIELD) Act,'' is comprehensive legislation that 
strengthens the resilience of our democracy and protects 
against foreign interference in elections, including by foreign 
governments.
            H.R. 1--For the People Act of 2019
    H.R. 1, the ``For the People Act of 2019'' was introduced 
by Rep. John P. Sarbanes of Maryland on January 3, 2019. It 
represents the culmination of years of legislative work, 
containing provisions introduced over the years by many Members 
of Congress. H.R. 1 addresses the democratic promise--the 
advancement of a responsive, fully representative government.
    The Federalist No. 57 states:

          Who are to be the electors of the federal 
        representatives? Not the rich, more than the poor; not 
        the learned, more than the ignorant; not the haughty 
        heirs of distinguished names, more than the humble sons 
        of obscurity and unpropitious fortune. The electors are 
        to be the great body of the people of the United 
        States.\19\

    \19\Federalist No. 57, in The Federalist Papers, available at 
https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-51-60#s-lg-box-wrapper-
25493433. A series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James 
Madison, and John Jay, appeared anonymously in New York newspapers 
under the pen name ``Publius.'' Federalist No. 57 is considered to be 
the work of either Alexander Hamilton or James Madison.

    It is the promise of American democracy that the people 
choose their representatives, not the other way around. H.R. 1 
would help fulfill that promise.
    For far too long, many Americans have chosen not to 
participate in the electoral process, feeling shut out and as 
though their vote does not matter or does not make a 
difference. Though this was the highest turnout in 50 years, 
only about half of the voting-eligible population voted in the 
2018 midterm elections.\20\ H.R. 1 would implement nationwide 
automatic voter registration to enfranchise 50 million eligible 
citizens, provide for same day voter registration, and online 
voter registration. It would also prohibit deceptive practices, 
increases access to the polls for voters with disabilities, 
provide grants to states to replace outdated voting 
infrastructure, and require the disclosure of dark money 
donors--not limiting their speech but simply asking them to 
stand by it. H.R. 1 incorporates key provisions of the late 
Rep. John Lewis of Georgia's H.R. 1275, the ``Voter Empowerment 
Act,'' and dismantles systemic, discriminatory barriers to 
voting by ending the indiscriminate purging of eligible voters 
from the rolls, restores voting rights to individuals with 
felony convictions after they have completed their prison 
sentences, and expands access to absentee and early voting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \20\Camila Domonoske, ``A Boatload of Ballots: Midterm Voter 
Turnout Hit 50-Year High,'' NPR (Nov. 8, 2018), available at https://
www.npr.org/2018/11/08/665197690/a-boatload-of-ballots-midterm-
voterturnout-hit-50-year-high.
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    Prior to the passage of H.R. 1, on February 14, 2019, the 
Committee held a two-panel, full Committee hearing, entitled 
``For the People: Our American Democracy.'' Expert witnesses 
testified to the policies included in H.R. 1, while others 
testified to their personal experiences trying to navigate the 
democratic process. Witnesses included Chiraag Baines, Director 
of Legal Strategies, Demos; Peter Earle, Wisconsin Civil Rights 
Trial Lawyer; Brandon A. Jessup, Data Science and Information 
Systems Professional; Executive Director, Michigan Forward; 
Alejandro Rangel-Lopez, Senior at Dodge City High School, Dodge 
City, Kansas and plaintiff in LULAC & Rangel-Lopez v. Cox; 
Wendy Weiser, Director, Democracy Program, Brennan Center for 
Justice; Fred Wertheimer, President, Democracy 21; David 
Keating, President, Institute for Free Speech; and Kim Wyman, 
Secretary of State, Washington.
    H.R. 1 was marked-up by the Committee on February 26, 2019, 
and ordered reported favorably. When H.R. 1 was considered on 
the House floor, more than 50 amendments were offered by more 
than 40 Representatives. H.R. 1 passed the House on March 8, 
2019, by a vote of 234 to 193.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \21\U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Clerk, Roll Call 
118, Bill Number: H.R. 1, 116th Congress, 1st Session, available at 
https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2019118.
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            H.R. 2722, Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act
    The legitimacy of our representative system of self-
government rests on every eligible voter casting a ballot with 
the confidence that it will count. Aging equipment, under-
resourced jurisdictions, and interference by foreign entities 
or non-state actors leave the system vulnerable to exploitation 
that undermines confidence in our election outcomes. Following 
Russian interference in the 2016 election, Congress did not do 
nearly enough to tackle these problems. The risks posed by the 
previously exploited vulnerabilities remained. Despite the 
overwhelming evidence of these vulnerabilities, the White House 
failed to direct resources toward securing the nation's 
election infrastructure.
    In 2016, Russian hackers targeted state voting systems, and 
sought to infiltrate voter registration databases and the 
networks of election technology vendors. This attack exposed 
the numerous vulnerabilities in our nation's election 
infrastructure. Many states had not kept pace with changing 
voting technology. At the time of the SAFE Act, in at least 40 
states, elections were carried out using voting machines that 
were purchased more than a decade ago.\22\ The Mueller Report 
largely confirmed what was already known about Russian 
interference in the 2016 election; however, it did reveal that 
a Florida county had been breached by hackers. Several Trump 
administration officials, and one former official, made public 
comments emphasizing the seriousness of the threat and urgent 
need for action. Experts were unequivocal in their assessment 
that foreign interference would continue in the lead up to the 
2020 election.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \22\Brennan Center for Justice, New Analysis Shows Voting Machines 
Remain Vulnerable Ahead of 2020 Elections, (Mar. 5, 2019), available at 
https://www.brennancenter.org/press-release/new-analysisshows-voting-
machines-remain-vulnerable-ahead-2020-election.
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    To address these issues, Chairperson Lofgren introduced 
H.R. 2722, the Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act 
on May 14, 2019. The SAFE Act provides critical resources to 
states and localities to bolster election infrastructure, helps 
states plan for the future by providing ongoing maintenance 
funding on a biannual basis, provides grant programs for states 
to implement required risk-limiting audits, institutes 
accountability for election technology vendors so that they 
abide by cybersecurity standards, and spurs innovation by 
awarding grants for research and development that will improve 
the accessibility of election infrastructure.
    Prior to marking-up the SAFE Act, the Committee held a 
hearing on election security on May 8, 2019. The Committee 
heard testimony from witnesses Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of 
State, Michigan; Joseph L. Hall, Chief Technologist and 
Director, Center for Democracy and Technology; Lawrence Norden, 
Deputy Director, Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Justice; 
Marian Schneider, President, Verified Voting Foundation; and 
John Merrill, Secretary of State, Alabama.
    The SAFE Act was marked-up by the Committee on June 21, 
2019 and ordered reported favorably. It passed the House on 
June 27, 2019 by a vote of 225 to 184.
            H.R. 4617, Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a 
                    Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act
    During the 2016 and 2018 elections, Russian state actors 
attempted to influence our elections. Special Counsel Robert 
Mueller concluded in his March 2019 report on the investigation 
into Russian election interference that the ``Russian 
government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in 
sweeping and systematic fashion.''\23\ The attempts to 
interfere did not stop in 2016. Special Counsel Mueller 
testified before Congress in 2019 that ``[t]hey're doing it as 
we sit here.''\24\ The ease with which foreign entities 
interfered in the 2016 presidential election emboldens future 
adversaries to interfere in elections to come. In 2019, then-
Director of National Intelligence Dan R. Coats issued a stern 
warning about likely foreign interference in the upcoming 2020 
elections: ``Our adversaries and strategic competitors probably 
already are looking to the 2020 US elections as an opportunity 
to advance their interests.''\25\ Additionally, these views 
were shared by FBI Director Christopher Wray. In July 2019 he 
testified in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that ``[t]he 
Russians are absolutely intent on trying to interfere with our 
elections.''\26\
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    \23\Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III, Report on the 
Investigation Into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential 
Election, Volume I, pg. 1, available at https://www.justice.gov/
storage/report.pdf.
    \24\Transcript of the Hearing: ``Former Special Counsel Robert S. 
Mueller III on the Investigation Into Russian Interference in the 2016 
Presidential Election,'' July 24, 2019, U.S. House of Representatives, 
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, at p. 66.
    \25\Daniel R. Coats, Statement for the Record: Worldwide Threat 
Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community, Jan. 29, 2019, pg. 7, 
available at https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/2019-ATASFR---
SSCI.pdf.
    \26\Doina Chiacu, REUTERS, ``FBI Director Wray: Russia Intent on 
Interfering with U.S. Elections,'' July 23, 2019, available at https://
www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-security/fbi-director-wray-
russia-intenton-interfering-with-us-elections-idUSKCN1UI1XW.
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    H.R. 4617, the SHIELD Act is a comprehensive piece of 
legislation that strengthens the resilience of our democracy 
and protects against foreign interference in elections, 
including interference by foreign governments. The bill 
requires political committees to report foreign contacts that 
involve offers of unlawful campaign assistance to the FBI and 
FEC. It also modernizes campaign finance law to uphold 
Americans' right to know who is behind election-related 
advertising and disinformation, including better disclosure of 
the sources of online political advertisements. Additionally, 
the bill closes gaps in the law that foreign nationals 
(including foreign governments) can exploit to influence 
elections.
    The Committee marked-up the SHIELD Act on October 16, 2019, 
and ordered the bill reported favorably. The House passed the 
SHIELD Act on October 23, 2019, by a vote of 227 to 181.

Additional Legislative Activities

    On October 29, 2019, Chairperson Lofgren managed the Floor 
debate for H.R. 1623, the ``Help America Run Act (HARA),'' a 
bill introduced by Rep. Katie Porter of California and referred 
to the Committee. H.R. 1623 was considered under suspension of 
the rules agreed to by the House on October 29, 2019. HARA 
removes barriers to running for office by allowing for certain 
personal use services to be considered as campaign committee 
expenditures, including childcare, elder care, and health 
insurance if the services are necessary to enable the candidate 
to participate in campaign-connected activities. This would 
only apply to candidates for federal office who are not current 
federal office holders.
    The Committee also discharged consideration of H.R. 4990, 
the Election Technology Research Act of 2020, a bill introduced 
by Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, which directs the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the 
National Science Foundation (NSF), and other agencies to 
support research on voting systems. H.R. 4990 was considered 
under suspension of the rules and passed on the House Floor on 
September 16, 2020.
    Additionally, the Committee worked with the House Armed 
Services Committee to include two voting-related provisions in 
H.R. 6395, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2021 (NDAA).'' One provision, offered by Rep. Susan Davis 
of California, would require the chief state election official, 
in coordination with local election jurisdictions, to establish 
and operate an absentee ballot tracking program. The second, 
offered by Rep. Michael Turner of Ohio, Rep. Jason Crow of 
Colorado, and Committee Ranking Member Rodney Davis of 
Illinois, would require the Secretary of Defense to take 
actions necessary to ensure that an absent uniformed services 
voter who is absent from the United States by reason of active 
duty or service at a diplomatic and consular post is able to 
receive and transmit balloting materials in the same manner and 
with the same rights and protections as a uniformed services 
voter absent by reason of active duty or service at a military 
installation.

Hearings

    The Committee held a number of other hearings. On May 21, 
2019, the Committee held an oversight hearing with the 
Commissioners from the EAC. Commissioners Benjamin Hovland, 
Thomas Hicks, Christy McCormick, and Donald Palmer testified 
before the Committee. The EAC was created by the Help America 
Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002\27\ to administer the newly created 
grant program, to develop guidance to assist states in meeting 
HAVA requirements, and to serve as a national clearinghouse of 
information on election administration. In addition, the EAC 
tests and certifies voting machines, provides guidance on 
managing election technology, and works with state and local 
officials to assist them in preparing for elections.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \27\P.L. 107-252, 116 Stat. 1666.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    For the first time in several years, the Committee sought 
to strengthen, and not shutter, the EAC. With a full slate of 
EAC commissioners in place, the Committee focused on oversight, 
addressing personnel and morale issues at the agency, working 
to ensure the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) updates 
were back on track, and addressing resourcing issues.
    On January 9, 2020, the Committee held a hearing titled 
``2020 Election Security--Perspectives from Voting Vendors and 
Experts,'' in which the heads of each of the three major 
election machine vendors appeared before Congress for the first 
time together. Witnesses included Tom Burt, President and CEO, 
Election Systems & Software; Julie Mathis, President and CEO, 
Hart InterCivic; and John Poulos, President and CEO, Dominion 
Voting Systems. The vendors called to appear for this hearing, 
Election Systems & Software (ES&S), Dominion, and Hart 
InterCivic, sell more than 80 percent of the voting systems in 
use today.\28\ While the EAC produces the Voluntary Voting 
System Guidelines (VVSG), the vendors themselves are free from 
federal oversight.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \28\Kim Zetter, N.Y. TIMES MAGAZINE, The Crisis of Election 
Security: As the midterms approach, America's electronic voting systems 
are more vulnerable than ever. Why isn't anyone trying to fix them?, 
(Sept. 26, 2018), available at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/26/
magazine/election-security-crisis-midterms.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    During questioning at the hearing, all three vendor CEOs 
expressed support for federal regulations requiring vendors to 
disclose ownership and foreign investment. The CEOs expressed 
support regarding requirements to disclose company 
cybersecurity practices, cyberattacks experienced by the 
companies, background checks done on employees, foreign 
investments in the companies, and information on the supply 
chain involved in building the voting equipment.
    In addition to the CEOs, the Committee heard testimony from 
Matt Blaze, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center; 
Juan Gilbert, Andrew Banks Family Preeminence Endowed Professor 
and Chair, University of Florida; Liz Howard, Counsel, Brennan 
Center for Justice; Rev. T. Anthony Spearman, President, North 
Carolina NAACP; Donald Palmer, Commissioner, Election 
Assistance Commission; and Mike Gianasi, County Clerk and 
Recorder, Christian County of Illinois.

Additional Oversight

    The Committee sent several oversight letters to federal 
agencies, election administrators, and election equipment 
vendors. The Committee sent three oversight letters to the 
Election Assistance Commission, two oversight letters to 
election machine vendors, and three oversight letters to the 
Federal Election Commission.
    The Committee sent an oversight letter to the EAC in April 
2019, inquiring about past agency activities and plans for 
future activity. In June 2019, the Committee sent another 
letter expressing ongoing concerns about the management of the 
EAC under then-Executive Director Brian Newby. Additionally, in 
November 2019, the Committee sent a letter to the EAC with a 
series of questions about the security and testing requirements 
for voting machines. The Committee has also conducted 
quarterly, bipartisan oversight meetings with majority and 
minority committee staff, the EAC Commissioners, and agency 
senior staff.
    Prior to the election machine vendors hearing, the 
Committee sent an oversight letter in July 2019 to ES&S and 
Hart InterCivic inquiring about the use of Microsoft Windows 7 
on their voting machines following reports that Windows 7 would 
not be supported by Microsoft after January 14, 2020. 
Additionally, the Committee sent a letter to each of the three 
vendors in September 2019 requesting information regarding the 
security and testing requirements for their voting machines.
    The Committee sent an oversight letter to the FEC in April 
2019 posing more than 45 questions to the agency regarding its 
operating posture, key vacancies at the agency, challenges, and 
enforcement actions, among others. The Committee sent a second 
letter in December 2019 comprised of more than 30 additional 
questions, building upon the earlier set contained in the April 
letter. Finally, the Committee sent a third oversight letter in 
June 2020 asking a series of questions about how the pandemic 
impacted the Commission and the Commission's unresolved 
enforcement caseload, among others.

Subcommittee on Elections

    During the 116th Congress, Rep. Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio 
chaired the Subcommittee on Elections. From the outset, the 
Subcommittee's goal was to take Congress to the American 
people, engage with voters, stakeholders, advocates officials, 
and election administrators, and collect evidence and testimony 
on the state of voting rights and election administration 
across America. The Subcommittee on Elections held one 
listening session and 12 hearings, including eight field 
hearings.
    The Subcommittee conducted a listening session in 
Brownsville, Texas, and field hearings in Atlanta, Georgia; 
Fort Yates, North Dakota; Weldon, North Carolina; Cleveland, 
Ohio; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Birmingham, Alabama; and 
Phoenix, Arizona. Following the field hearings, the 
Subcommittee held a summary hearing in Washington, D.C. The 
testimony and documents gathered during the series culminated 
in the report written by Subcommittee staff, Voting Rights and 
Election Administration in the United States of America.\29\ 
The report summarized the findings of the Subcommittee's series 
of field hearings under the title Voting Rights and Election 
Administration, and was included in the committee report 
accompanying H.R. 4, the ``Voting Rights Advancement Act of 
2019.''\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \29\Comm. on House Admin., Subcomm. on Elections, staff print, 
Voting Rights and Election Administration in the United States of 
America, 116th Cong., 1st Sess. (2019), available at https://
cha.house.gov/sites/democrats.cha.house.gov/files/documents/
Voting%20Rights%20and%20Election%20Administration%20in%20America.pdf.
    \30\Supra note 2, Comm. on Judiciary, Voting Rights Advancement Act 
of 2019, 109-251, H. Rept. 116-317, 116th Cong. (2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Subcommittee also held hearings on Native American 
voting rights, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on voting, 
voting in the U.S. territories, and combatting misinformation 
and disinformation in the 2020 general election.

Subcommittee Field Hearings

    From the outset, the Subcommittee examined the landscape of 
voting in America after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in 
Shelby County v. Holder\31\ to determine whether Americans can 
freely cast their ballot, examine what barriers, if any, have 
been erected that impede access, and ensure American's believe 
their ballot is counted as cast. The Subcommittee heard from 
voting and election advocates, experts, community leaders, 
litigators, and voters about the state of voting rights and 
election administration in their communities with the goal of 
documenting any barriers and shedding light on them through the 
Subcommittee's final report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \31\570 U.S. 529 (2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Subcommittee learned that pernicious voting changes 
have been implemented in states both previously covered under 
the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and those that were not.
    During the field hearing series, the Subcommittee visited 
eight states, called more than 60 witnesses, gathered several 
thousand pages of testimony, documents, and transcripts, and 
hours of oral testimony were delivered before Members of the 
Subcommittee. While the evidence collected by the Subcommittee 
shows many legacy voter suppression tactics are still 
pervasive, a new wave of surreptitious tactics has also 
emerged. To suppress the vote, states have aggressively purged 
otherwise eligible voters from the voter registration rolls, 
made cuts to early voting and same-day voter registration, 
moved, closed, or consolidated polling places without adequate 
notice to voters, required exact name or signature match, 
engaged in discriminatory gerrymandering, and restricted 
language access and assistance, among other devices.
    General election administration issues also serve as 
barriers to voting, especially when compounded with other 
suppressive, discriminatory tactics. The Subcommittee heard 
testimony on a lack of compliance with the National Voter 
Registration Act (NVRA), inconsistent poll worker training and 
a lack of adequate resources, use of provisional ballots, 
attempts to require proof of citizenship, the continued 
disenfranchisement of Americans with prior felony convictions, 
the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation by 
foreign and domestic actors, and the increasing frequency and 
intensity of natural disasters that impact voting.
    In the inaugural listening session in Brownsville, Texas, 
the Committee heard from litigators and civil rights advocates 
Rolando Rios, Esq.; George Korbel, Esq.; Matthew McCarthy, ACLU 
of Texas; Chad Dunn, Esq.; and Mimi Marziani, President, Texas 
Civil Rights Project. The Subcommittee heard testimony 
detailing the barriers to voting in Texas, including how voter 
IDs are financially burdensome, disproportionally impact 
minority voters, and effectively impose a poll tax. Witnesses 
testified about the ongoing racial discrimination in voting in 
Texas, issues such as voter roll purges, returns to at-large 
elections, bans on straight ticket voting, legal impediments to 
voter registration and non-compliance with motor voter laws, 
polling place closures and location changes, voter 
intimidation, and a lack of multilingual materials, among other 
issues.
    At the hearing in Atlanta, Georgia, the Subcommittee 
received testimony from Stacey Abrams, CEO and Founder, Fair 
Fight Action; Cliff Albright, Co-Founder, Black Voters Matter; 
Gilda Daniels, Director of Litigation, Advancement Project; 
Stacey Hopkins, Voter, Fulton County, Georgia; and Sean Young, 
Legal Director, ACLU of Georgia. Witnesses testified to a wide 
array of barriers faced by the voters of Georgia such as voter 
ID requirements, polling place closures and changes, 
impediments to third-party voter registration, vulnerable and 
inadequate voting equipment, disparate treatment based on the 
county voters live in, voter purges, issues with provisional 
and absentee ballots, signature match requirements, voter 
intimidation, discriminatory redistricting, early voting 
cutbacks, and a lack of language access and assistance.
    In North Dakota, the Subcommittee held a hearing focused 
specifically on issued faced by Native American voters. The 
hearing was held on the Standing Rock Reservation and featured 
witnesses from four of the five tribes of North Dakota, 
including Charles Walker, Judicial Committee Chairman, Standing 
Rock Sioux Tribe; Roger White Owl, Chief Executive Officer, 
Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation; Myra Pearson, Chairwoman, 
Spirit Lake Tribe; Alysia LaCounte, General Counsel, Turtle 
Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. The Subcommittee heard 
testimony about how Native American communities have faced more 
than two hundred years of discrimination, disenfranchisement, 
and voter suppression, which continues to this day and is 
exacerbated when tribes are not consulted when states and the 
federal government craft voting laws. The tribal leaders 
testified specifically about North Dakota's voter ID law, which 
forced their members to obtain ID cards they would never have 
otherwise needed, or face being stripped of their right to 
vote, and the lengths the tribes went to ensure their members 
could vote in the 2018 election.
    Additionally, the Subcommittee received testimony from Ruth 
Buffalo, Member, North Dakota House of Representatives; 
Jacqueline De Leon, Staff Attorney, Native American Rights 
Fund; and Prairie Rose Seminole, Community Organizer, each of 
whom testified to the barriers faced by tribal members in North 
Dakota when attempting to exercise their right to vote. 
Additionally, O.J. Semans, Sr., Co-Executive Director, Four 
Directions, Inc. provided testimony on the barriers to voting 
for tribal members in South Dakota.
    In North Carolina, the Subcommittee heard testimony from 
Rev. Dr. William Barber II, President and Senior Lecturer, 
Repairers of the Breach; Dan Blue, Minority Leader, North 
Carolina Senate; Irving L. Joyner, Professor of Law, North 
Carolina Central University School of Law; Tomas Lopez, 
Executive Director, Democracy North Carolina; Caitlin Swain, 
Co-Director, Forward Justice; and Patricia Timmons-Goodson, 
Vice-Chair, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, about the 
significant barriers faced by voters in North Carolina. Less 
than two months after the Supreme Court decided Shelby County 
v. Holder, the North Carolina General Assembly passed, and the 
Governor signed into law, what became known as the ``monster 
law,''\32\ a sweeping voter suppression bill requiring strict 
forms of voter ID, cuts to early voting, and eliminating key 
election administration practices. The North Carolina law was 
crafted in such a discriminatory manner a three-judge panel 
found that the provisions ``target[ed] African Americans with 
almost surgical precision'' and ``impose[d] cures for problems 
that did not exist.''\33\ While that law was struck down by the 
courts, barriers to voting persist in North Carolina. Issues 
discussed included attempts at restrictive voter ID laws, 
discriminatory gerrymandering, reductions in early voting 
opportunities, intimidation, and the perpetuation of false 
voter fraud narratives, among others.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \32\Sari Horwitz, WASH. POST, How North Carolina Became the 
Epicenter of the Voting Rights Battle, Apr. 27, 2016, available at 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/how-north-
carolina-became-the-epicenter-of-the-voting-rights-battle/2016/04/26/
af05c5a8-0bcb-11e6-8ab8-9ad050f76d7d_story.html.
    \33\North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP v. McCrory, 831 
F.3d 204, 216-218 (4th Cir. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 1399.
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    In Cleveland, Ohio, Naila Awan, Senior Counsel, Demos; Mike 
Brickner, Ohio State Director, All Voting is Local; Inajo Davis 
Chappell, Member, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections; Daniel 
Ortiz, Outreach Director, Policy Matters Ohio; Tom Roberts, 
President, Ohio Conference of the NAACP; and Elaine Tso, 
Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer, Asian Services in Action 
presented testimony detailing the suppressive changes Ohio has 
made to the state's election laws. These changes include 
reductions in early voting hours and days, the elimination of 
``Golden Week,'' a week of essentially same day voter 
registration during early voting, and the reduction of early 
voting locations to one per county regardless of county size, 
all while constantly altering the rules and procedures around 
voting and implementing an aggressive voter purge system.\34\ 
Additionally, witnesses raised the need for greater language 
access and Ohio's practice of denying pre-trial detainees 
jailed in the days preceding an election access to an absentee 
ballot.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \34\Subcomm. on Elections, Voting Rights and Election 
Administration in the United States of America, 116th Congress (2019), 
available at https://cha.house.gov/sites/democrats.cha.house.gov/files/
documents/
Voting%20Rights%20and%20Election%20Administration%20in%20America_ONLINE_
11-18-2019.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In Florida, the Subcommittee heard testimony from Marleine 
Bastien, Founder and Executive Director, Family Action Network 
Movement; Nancy Batista, Florida State Director, Mi Familia 
Vota; Juan Cartagena, President and Senior Counsel, Latino 
Justice PRLDEF; Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director, 
Advancement Project; Andrew Gillum, Chair, Forward Florida; 
Anjenys Gonzalez-Eilert, Executive Director, Common Cause 
Florida; Karen Wilkerson, Member, League of Women Voters of 
Florida; and Logan Churchwell, Communication and Research 
Director, Public Interest Legal Foundation (minority witness). 
Witnesses discussed the concerted effort of Florida Republicans 
to undermine the will of Florida voters and limit the scope of 
Amendment 4, which would have restored the right to vote to 
approximately 1.4 million Floridians with prior felony 
convictions, by making these voters pay all past fines and fees 
before they can regain their right to vote. Additionally, the 
Subcommittee heard testimony on issues such as the lack of 
access to language assistance, signature match issues, attempts 
to undermine early voting, voter purges, polling place 
closures, natural disaster preparedness, and election security.
    The Subcommittee also visited Alabama, home to the historic 
town of Selma as well as Shelby County of the 2013 Shelby 
County v. Holder Supreme Court case. In Birmingham, the 
Subcommittee received testimony from Nancy Abudu, Deputy Legal 
Director, Voting Rights, Southern Poverty Law Center; James 
Blacksher, Esq.; Jenny Carroll, Professor of Law, University of 
Alabama School of Law; Scott Douglas, Executive Director, 
Greater Birmingham Ministries; Isabel Rubio, Executive 
Director, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama; Benard 
Simelton, Sr., President, Alabama Conference of the NAACP, and 
Ernest Montgomery, Council Member, Calera City Council. Mr. 
Montgomery's City Council seat, the attempt to redraw the 
district lines, and the subsequent denial by the Department of 
Justice was the basis of the Shelby County case. These 
witnesses offered testimony about issues such as Alabama's 
restrictive voter ID law, attempts to require proof of 
citizenship to vote, voter purges and voter registration 
issues, the continued disenfranchisement of people with prior 
felony convictions, and polling place closures.
    In Phoenix, Arizona, the Subcommittee heard additional 
testimony on the barriers faced by Native American voters. 
Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor, Gila River Indian Community and 
Jonathan Nez, President, Navajo Nation testified about the 
barriers to voting faced by members of their tribal nations, 
such as a lack of traditional address and regular mailing 
services, which creates difficulties in registering to vote, 
receiving and returning mail-in ballots, and accessing 
consolidated polling locations.\35\ Additionally, access to 
properly translated voting materials for Native-language 
speaking voters, as well as proper assistance at the polls, 
pose challenges for Native voters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \35\Voting Rights and Election Administration in Arizona: Hearing 
Before the Subcomm. on Elections, 116th Cong. (2019), written testimony 
of President Jonathan Nez and Governor of Stephen Roe Lewis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Also in Arizona, Montserrat Arredondo, Table Director, One 
Arizona; Patricia Ferguson-Bohnee, Professor of Law and 
Director, Indian Legal Clinic, Arizona State University Sandra 
Day O'Connor School of Law; Alex Gulotta, Arizona State 
Director, All Voting is Local; Darrell Hill, Policy Director, 
ACLU of Arizona; and Lorena C. Van Assche, Member, Arizona 
State Advisory Committee, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights 
testified to issues such as the widespread reduction in polling 
places that has occurred throughout the state,\36\ attempts to 
outlaw third-party ballot return, photo ID requirements, 
language access, and the continued disenfranchisement of 
formerly incarcerated individuals with prior felony 
convictions. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Senator, State Senate of 
Arizona (minority witness) discussed Arizona's H.B. 2023 
(prohibiting the gathering of ballots and placing heavy 
penalties on individuals who turn in ballots other than their 
own), arguing in favor of the law. When questioned about how 
significant a problem ``ballot harvesting'' is in Arizona, 
Senator Ugenti-Rita stated that ``maybe a dozen'' people came 
to speak with her about the alleged problem before she created 
the current law, but she offered no evidence of any issue with 
ballot collection.\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \36\The Leadership Conference Education Fund, Democracy Diverted: 
Polling Place Closures and the Right to Vote (Sept. 2019) at p. 26, 
available at http://civilrightsdocs.info/pdf/reports/Democracy-
Diverted.pdf.
    \37\Voting Rights and Election Administration in Arizona: Hearing 
Before the Subcomm. on Elections, 116th Cong. (2019), hearing 
transcript, State Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita at p. 75-76.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In Washington, D.C., the Subcommittee held a culminating 
hearing which brought together four panels and a total of 
fifteen witnesses to provide the Members with a national-scope 
of evidence of voting rights and election administration issues 
and offer testimony and evidence about issues in states the 
Subcommittee was unable to visit prior to finishing the report.
    During the hearing's first panel, Dale Ho, Director, Voting 
Rights Project, ACLU; Kristen Clarke, President and Executive 
Director, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; and 
Deuel Ross, Senior Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational 
Fund, Inc. discussed the landscape of voting rights litigation 
post-Shelby County, in both formerly covered states and states 
that were never covered. On the second panel, Catherine E. 
Lhamon, Chair, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Michael 
Waldman, President, Brennan Center for Justice; Brenda Wright, 
Senior Advisor for Legal Strategies, Demos; and Elena Nunez, 
Director of State Operations and Ballot Measure Strategies, 
Common Cause discussed the state of voting rights and voting 
laws in the states not visited by the Subcommittee, the 
continued disenfranchisement of formerly incarcerated persons, 
election administration issues that create barriers to voting, 
and emerging barriers.
    Panel three, composed of Barbara Arnwine, National Co-
Chair, National Commission for Voter Justice; Hannah Fried, 
Director, All Voting is Local; Virginia Kase, Chief Executive 
Officer, League of Women Voters; and Denise Liberman, Senior 
Attorney and Program Director, Power and Democracy, Advancement 
Project, discussed the voting experience, including polling 
place closures, wait times, and stories collected from voters 
across the county. On the fourth and final panel, Thomas Saenz, 
President and General Counsel, MALDEF; Arturo Vargas, Chief 
Executive Officer, NALEO Educational Fund; John C. Yang, 
President and Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing 
Justice|AAJC; and Michelle Bishop, Voting Rights Specialist, 
National Disability Rights Network provided testimony on 
language access barriers faced by Asian American and Latino 
voters, election administration issues that can disenfranchise 
limited-English proficiency voters, and barriers faced by 
persons with disabilities when trying to cast their ballot.
    The results of these field hearings culminated in a more 
than 140-page report titled Voting Rights and Election 
Administration in the United States of America, issued in the 
fall of 2019.\38\ The report and its findings were incorporated 
into the House report accompanying H.R. 4, the Voting Rights 
Advancement Act of 2019 (later renamed the John R. Lewis Voting 
Rights Advancement Act of 2020).\39\ Findings included in the 
report resulted in the incorporation of protections guarding 
against cutbacks to Sunday early voting and discriminatory 
voter purges in the covered practices provisions of the House-
passed version of H.R. 4. The Voting Rights Advancement Act 
would restore the full force of the Voting Rights Act by 
instituting a new coverage formula and implementing a new 
covered practices regime.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \38\Supra note 40.
    \39\Supra note 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional Subcommittee Hearings

    In February 2020, the Subcommittee held a hearing titled 
``Native American Voting Rights: Exploring Barriers and 
Solutions,'' building upon the testimony received by the 
Subcommittee at the field hearings in North Dakota and Arizona 
and discussing solutions such as H.R. 1694 the Native American 
Voting Rights Act (NAVRA).
    Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico testified before the 
Subcommittee regarding H.R. 1694, which would protect the 
voting rights of Native American and Alaska Native voters. 
Leonard Forsman, Chairman, Suquamish Tribe (WA); Doreen McPaul, 
Attorney General, Navajo Nation; and Amber Torres, Chairperson, 
Walker River Paiute Tribe (NV) testified to the structural and 
administrative barriers faced by the members of their tribal 
nations, advancements made to improve access to the franchise, 
and the need for further protections, such as those offered in 
NAVRA.
    Additionally, Patricia Ferguson-Bohnee, Professor of Law 
and Director, Indian Legal Clinic, Arizona State University 
Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law, and Jacqueline De Leon, 
Staff Attorney, Native American Rights Fund spoke to the unique 
structural problems affecting life on Native American 
reservations, to specific litigation involving Native American 
voting rights, to the legal history of Native American 
disenfranchisement, and to congressional constitutional 
authority in Native American affairs. Elvis Norquay, Member, 
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, spoke to his personal 
experience of being denied his right to vote in 2014 in North 
Dakota because his tribal ID card lacked a residential address.
    The COVID-19 pandemic changed the landscape of the 2020 
primary elections. Following the conduct of several primaries 
in March and April 2020, the Subcommittee convened a hearing on 
June 11, 2020 to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 
voting rights and election administration. Specifically, 
Wisconsin's April primary highlighted numerous problems with 
relying primarily on in-person voting during the pandemic, 
including the widespread closure of polling locations due to a 
lack of poll workers, issues with voters never receiving their 
requested mail-in ballots in time to safely cast a ballot, and 
widespread voter confusion over the constantly changing voting 
regulations.
    This hearing, ``The Impact of COVID-19 on Voting Rights and 
Election Administration: Ensuring Safe and Fair Elections,'' 
was the Subcommittee's first conducted virtually under H. Res. 
965 (116th Congress) that permitted House Committees to conduct 
remote proceedings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep. Marcy 
Kaptur of Ohio and Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin testified to 
the issues experienced by voters in their respective states 
during the primaries and the need to find a solution for the 
November general election that protected both the right to vote 
and voters' health.
    As states were making a rapid shift to mail-in voting and 
false claims were spreading that a widespread shift to vote-by-
mail would be ripe for fraud, Kristen Clarke, President and 
Executive Director, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under 
Law; Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel, NAACP 
Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.; and Lawrence Norden, 
Director, Election Reform Program, Brennan Center for Justice 
testified to the need for additional resources and 
Congressional action, protections for safe in-person voting 
options, the landscape of voting changes and litigation taking 
place in the states, and the impact of the pandemic and voting 
changes on minority voters. Mark Dimondstein, President, 
American Postal Workers Union testified to the Postal Service's 
long history of successfully carrying out vote-by-mail, the 
need for more funding for the Postal Service, and the 
commitment of postal workers to ensuring every American can 
safely access their right to vote in November. R. Kyle Ardoin, 
Secretary of State, Louisiana, and John H. Merrill, Secretary 
of State, Alabama testified about the changes made in their 
states during the pandemic and argued against further federal-
level actions.
    Additionally, on July 28, 2020, the Subcommittee held a 
virtual hearing focused specifically on voting rights and 
election administration in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the 
other U.S. territories. The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), Puerto 
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) make up the inhabited 
territories of the United States. People who are born in Puerto 
Rico, USVI, Guam, and CNMI are U.S. citizens; persons born in 
American Samoa are U.S. nationals. More than 90 percent of the 
residents of the territories are racial or ethnic minorities, 
yet residents the territories do not have full congressional 
representation.
    The hearing, ``Voting Rights and Election Administration in 
the U.S. Virgin Islands and Other Territories,'' featured 
Delegates and a Resident Commissioner representing four of the 
five territories. Del. Stacey E. Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin 
Islands; Del. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan of the Northern 
Mariana Islands; Del. Michael F. Q. San Nicolas of Guam; and 
Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon of Puerto 
testified regarding the unique challenges faced by residents of 
the territories when voting, as well as the impact the lack of 
full enfranchisement has on the territories. The hearing also 
discussed the varying treatment of the territories under 
federal election laws.\40\ Gerard Emanuel, Retired Educator; 
Gwen-Marie Moolenaar, President, League of Women Voters of the 
Virgin Islands; and Neil Weare, President and Founder, Equally 
American Legal Defense and Education Fund provided additional 
testimony. This hearing was the first of its kind.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \40\Under federal election laws, the territories are currently not 
covered by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). All the 
territories are covered by the Voting Rights Act (VRA). USVI, Puerto 
Rico, Guam, and American Samoa are covered by the Uniformed and 
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA); CNMI is not. USVI, 
Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa are also covered by the Help 
America Vote Act (HAVA); CNMI is not. H.R. 1 added CNMI to HAVA 
coverage as well as the NVRA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    On October 6, 2020, in the final Subcommittee hearing of 
the 116th Congress, Members focused on combatting 
misinformation and disinformation in the upcoming 2020 general 
election. Ahead of the 2020 election the President spread false 
information about the integrity of vote-by-mail, made false 
claims about non-existent voter fraud, encouraged his 
supporters in North Carolina and elsewhere to ``test the 
system'' by mailing in a ballot and then showing up at their 
polling site to ``make sure their vote was counted,'' claimed 
that if he lost, the election must be rigged, and made false 
claims that if we did not know the winner on election night, we 
may never know who won the election, among other false claims. 
Also impacting this year's election was the perpetuation of 
misinformation and disinformation around the COVID-19 pandemic.
    This remote hearing, ``Voting Rights and Election 
Administration: Combatting Misinformation in the 2020 Election, 
included testimony from Benjamin Hovland, Commissioner, U.S. 
Election Assistance Commission; Jena Griswold, Secretary of 
State, Colorado; and Inajo Davis Chappell, Member, Cuyahoga 
County Board of Elections. This testimony provided various 
federal, state, and local responses to misinformation and 
disinformation ahead of the November election. Spencer Overton, 
President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, 
provided testimony on the disparate impact of misinformation 
and disinformation on minority voters and the role of social 
media companies and government in combatting the spread of 
election misinformation and disinformation.

Voting During a Pandemic

    The 2020 primary and general elections took place during 
the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. In June, the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines that 
recommended election administrators provide a wide variety of 
voting options, longer in-person voting periods, and other 
mechanisms or options for reducing any crowding at polling 
locations.\41\ The CDC warned that ``elections with only in-
person voting on a single day are higher risk for COVID-19 
spread because there will be larger crowds and longer wait 
times'' and said that alternative voting options can ``minimize 
direct contact and reduce crowd size at polling locations'' 
Throughout the primary and general election season, local and 
state election officials across the country worked hard to 
expand safe in-person voting opportunities and access to 
absentee voting by mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \41\Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Considerations for 
Election Polling Locations (updated June 22, 2020), available at 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/election-polling-
locations.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    As previously discussed, the Subcommittee on Elections held 
a hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on voting. On 
August 28, 2020, the full Committee held a remote hearing on 
titled ``Voting Safely in a Pandemic,'' providing an 
opportunity for election officials and administrators, voting 
experts and advocates to testify about the importance of 
providing safe voting options and how Americans can vote safely 
either in-person or by mail during the ongoing pandemic. The 
hearing featured Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State; 
Julie Wise, Director of Elections, King County, Washington; 
Amber McReynolds, CEO, National Vote at Home Institute; Vanita 
Gupta, President and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil 
and Human Rights; and Donald Palmer, Commissioner (EAC).
    The witnesses testified about election administration 
changes being made to adapt to the voting access and public 
health challenges posed by the pandemic. Changes included 
securely expanding access to, and eligibility for, no-excuse 
absentee voting by mail, maintaining safe polling centers, 
providing personal protective equipment and relevant trainings 
to poll workers and increasing voter education about safe 
voting options. Additionally, testimony addressed concerns 
about mail service disruptions at the U.S. Postal Service, 
ongoing election disinformation about alleged voter fraud, and 
the suppression of historically marginalized communities. 
Witnesses also testified about the positive impact of election 
administration grants appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, 
Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the need for more 
federal resources to support local and state election 
administration.\42\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \42\P.L. 116-136.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Additionally, the Committee supported election 
administration oversight activities in connection with ongoing 
service issues at the U.S. Postal Service. After the 
appointment of Louis DeJoy as the Postal Service's Postmaster 
General on June 15, 2020, the Postal Service began undergoing 
significant and disruptive operational policy changes that 
slowed mail delivery and raised serious concerns about the 
impact on voting by mail. The changes included an Expedited to 
Street/Afternoon Sortation (ESAS) pilot program in 384 selected 
sites across the nation that altered delivery practices and 
procedures, overtime restrictions, restrictions in late trips 
and extra trips, and a plan to decommission 671 sorting 
machines. In early August, Postmaster General DeJoy overhauled 
management at the Postal Service. Further, the Postal Service's 
General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Thomas Marshall, 
sent letters to chief election officials across the country 
indicating that the longstanding practice of treating Election 
Mail (which includes voter registration materials, absentee 
ballot requests and absentee ballots) as First-Class Mail would 
not be continuing.
    On August 14, 2020, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Minority 
Leader Chuck Schumer, along with Chairperson Zoe Lofgren, 
Chairperson Carolyn Maloney, and Senators Amy Klobuchar and 
Gary Peters, sent an extensive oversight letter seeking 
additional information on the Postal Service's various 
disruptive operational policy changes and requesting documents 
regarding such changes in policies and practices.\43\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \43\Letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy (Aug. 14, 2020), 
available at https://www.speaker.gov/sites/speaker.house.gov/files/
20200814_Letter_JointPelosiSchumerLofgrenKlobucharCBMPeterstoPMGreElecti
onPrep.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    After further criticism from Members of Congress, postal 
unions, election administrators, voting advocacy groups, and 
voters, Postmaster General DeJoy released a statement on August 
18, 2020, in which he said that he would reverse ``longstanding 
operational initiatives'' in order ``to avoid even the 
appearance of any impact on election mail.''\44\ In the 
statement, DeJoy made four specific assurances: retail hours 
would not change at post offices, mail processing equipment and 
blue collection boxes would remain put, mail processing 
facilities would not close, and overtime would continue and be 
approved as needed.\45\ DeJoy's statement did not clarify the 
entire scope of the ``longstanding operational initiatives'' 
that would be suspended, did not reverse equipment removals of 
mail sorting machines and mailboxes that had already taken 
place, and did not address the question of whether Election 
Mail would be treated just as First-Class Mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \44\Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Statement, The United States 
Postal Service (Aug. 18, 2020), available at https://about.usps.com/
newsroom/national-releases/2020/0818-postmaster-general-louis-dejoy-
statement.htm.
    \45\Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Statement, The United States 
Postal Service (Aug. 18, 2020), available at https://about.usps.com/
newsroom/national-releases/2020/0818-postmaster-general-louis-dejoy-
statement.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    On August 14, 2020, the Committee worked with the Committee 
on Oversight and Reform's Select Subcommittee on the 
Coronavirus Crisis to send election administration oversight 
letters to chief election officials in Florida, Georgia, Texas, 
and Wisconsin to examine preparations being made to administer 
free, fair, and safe federal elections in November in the midst 
of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the primary election season, 
these states experienced significant barriers to voting such as 
long lines and wait times at polling places, closed, moved or 
consolidated polling places, poll worker shortages, and for 
Texas in particular, eligibility restrictions to voting by 
mail. The oversight letters requested documents and information 
about how each state planned to eliminate election 
administration challenges and voting barriers that emerged 
during the primary election season and how each state plans to 
ensure that every eligible voter could freely and safely cast 
their ballot in the general election. The letters also called 
for the states to develop plans that adhered to the June 2020 
CDC recommendations for election administration and that 
offered adequate early voting, sufficient polling locations and 
hours, and accessible mail-in or absentee voting options.
    On October 6, 2020, the Committee worked with the Select 
Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis to send an additional 
oversight letter to the Secretary of State of Texas. The 
oversight letter raised disenfranchisement and public health 
concerns about the Secretary of State's October 1 proclamation 
which prohibited multiple ballot drop-off locations and 
required early vote-by mail ballots returned in person to be 
delivered to a single designated voting clerk's office in each 
county. Such a restriction to where ballots can be cast 
contravened CDC guidance because it forced voters to congregate 
at a single county clerk's office to deliver mail-in ballots. 
The letter urged the Secretary of State to reverse the 
proclamation and to disclose documents regarding the decision 
to restrict access to early voting by mail by outlawing ballot 
drop-off locations other than a single designated clerk's 
office.
    Faced with a pandemic amid a national election, the 
Committee drafted H.R. 7427, the American Coronavirus/COVID-19 
Election Security and Safety (ACCESS) Act, which offers a 
comprehensive solution to the challenges posed by voting during 
a national health crisis. The ACCESS Act adopts an ``all of the 
above'' approach to ballot access by expanding both in-person 
early voting and voting by mail. The bill ensures that every 
voter will receive a ballot in a national emergency, such as 
the COVID-19 outbreak, and protects against the invalidation of 
absentee ballots due to signature matching or other 
discrepancies, which disproportionately affect minority voters. 
The ACCESS Act also requires absentee ballots to be accompanied 
by prepaid postage, contains special protections for Native 
American voters, who face unique geographical and structural 
obstacles to exercising the franchise, and implements expanded 
voter registration opportunities. Perhaps most importantly, the 
ACCESS Act provides states and localities with the funding they 
need to implement these and other necessary changes.
    The House passed the ACCESS Act on May 15, 2020, as part of 
the Heroes Act (H.R. 6800, Division P). Regrettably, the Senate 
refused to take up this critical piece of legislation, leaving 
state and local election officials to fend for themselves 
during a once-in-a-generation crisis.

Contested Elections

    Article 1, Section 5, of the Constitution, delegates to 
each Chamber of Congress the responsibility and authority to 
judge its own elections. The Committee is also responsible for 
implementing the Federal Contested Elections Act (FCEA).\46\ To 
execute its responsibilities under the Constitution, FCEA, and 
oversight of federal elections generally, the Committee 
coordinates efforts on a bipartisan basis to ensure that all 
ballots in close congressional races are counted fairly and 
accurately. When requested by a Member or candidate, the 
Committee deploys at least two observers, one from the majority 
and one from the minority, to the congressional district at 
issue. Specific observer responsibilities include documenting 
the state of ballots during an extended count and/or recount, 
observing the security of voting machines, equipment, voter 
rolls, records, and the security of stored ballots. The 
observations are critical to the House of Representatives and 
to the Committee, particularly in the event the House or 
Committee is directed to investigate or resolve a contested 
election.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \46\2 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 381 et seq.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    During the 2020 election cycle, the Committee reworked its 
election observer program, creating new and more detailed 
training materials and conducting extensive research on the 
applicable laws in each state. In total, the Committee's 
majority staff trained over 200 House staffers as election 
observers. This year, the Committee received 31 requests for 
observers from incumbent Members and/or candidates for 
congressional office in connection with the November 3, 2020, 
general election, which is almost 2.5 times more requests for 
observers than the Committee received in 2018. The Committee 
sent observers to 21 congressional races in Arizona, 
California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, New 
York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Ten candidates 
later determined observers were unnecessary after consultation 
with the Committee. In addition, the Committee sent four 
observers to observe a recount in Iowa's Second Congressional 
District.
    Contested election cases are rare. For example, from 1933 
to 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives considered only 107 
contested election cases. Of these 107 contests, in at least 
three cases, the House ultimately seated the contestant, and in 
at least one case, the House ultimately refused to seat any 
individual, declaring a vacancy.
    On December 2, 2020, Rita Hart, a candidate for the House 
in Iowa's Second Congressional District, announced that her 
campaign would file a contest under the FCEA with the House to 
challenge the results of a district-wide recount. The recount 
resulted in a six-vote margin between the candidates. On 
December 22, 2020, Hart filed with the Clerk of the House a 
notice of intent to contest the election. As of this time, the 
Committee has received, and is in the early stage of reviewing, 
the filing. Under the FCEA, her opponent, Mariannette Miller-
Meeks, has 30 days to answer or file a motion to dismiss the 
contest. The Committee intends to closely review filings from 
both campaigns, as the law requires.

          Legislative Operations During the Covid-19 Pandemic

    During the 116th Congress, the nation and the world 
suffered through the devastating coronavirus (COVID-19) 
pandemic. At the beginning of 2020, Americans were first 
hearing the term COVID-19. Today, more than 77.9 million people 
worldwide have contracted the virus and it has killed more than 
1.7 million people.\47\ As of this time, in the U.S. more than 
18.2 million people are known to have contracted the virus, 
more than 322,000 have died, and more than 117,000 are 
hospitalized--with all of these numbers continuing to 
climb.\48\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \47\Johns Hopkins University, COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for 
Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University 
(JHU), at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html (last accessed Dec. 22, 
2020); STAT, The Covid-19 Tracker, at https://www.statnews.com/feature/
coronavirus/covid-19-tracker/ (last accessed Dec. 22, 2020; CDC, ``CDC 
COVID Data Tracker,'' https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/
index.html#cases_casesinlast7days (last accessed Dec. 22, 2020); The 
COVID Tracking Project, ``Our Data,'' at https://covidtracking.com/data 
(last accessed Dec. 22, 2020).
    \48\Johns Hopkins University, COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for 
Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University 
(JHU), at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html (last accessed Dec. 22, 
2020); STAT, The Covid-19 Tracker, at https://www.statnews.com/feature/
coronavirus/covid-19-tracker/ (last accessed Dec. 22, 2020; CDC, ``CDC 
COVID Data Tracker,'' https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/
index.html#cases_casesinlast7days (last accessed Dec. 22, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    To put the impact of the pandemic in historical 
perspective, more than three times as many Americans have died 
of COVID-19 in less than a year than were killed in all of the 
military conflicts our nation has fought in the 75 years since 
World War II combined.\49\ The death toll has already surpassed 
the total number of battle deaths suffered by Union and 
Confederate forces in four years of fighting in the Civil 
War.\50\ At current rates, experts estimate that by mid-January 
2021, the total number of deaths in just one year will eclipse 
all American deaths in World War II.\51\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \49\A total of 102,231 U.S. servicemembers were killed from the 
start of the Korean War in 1950 through Operation Inherent Resolve and 
Operation Freedom's Sentinel, as of December 14, 2020, including all 
battle and other in theater deaths. U.S. Department of Veterans 
Affairs, ``America's Wars,'' https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/
factsheets/fs_americas_wars.pdf (Nov. 2019); U.S. Department of 
Defense, ``Casualty Status,'' https://www.defense.gov/casualty.pdf 
(last accessed Dec. 19, 2020).
    \50\Union and Confederate battle deaths in the Civil War totaled 
214,938. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, ``America's Wars,'' 
https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/fs_americas_wars.pdf 
(Nov. 2019).
    \51\Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, COVID-19 
Projections, available at https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-
of-america (last accessed Dec. 19, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    These terrible figures are more than statistics: they 
represent shattering losses for many, many American families. 
But in addition to the tragic loss of life and the still-
unknown long-term health consequences facing those who have 
contracted the virus, the pandemic has had--and continues to 
have--staggering impacts on nearly every aspect of life in the 
United States. Among other things, it has affected how we spend 
time with our families and loved ones; how we interact with our 
neighbors; how we travel; how we learn; and how we work. The 
pandemic has also affected how our democracy operates, 
including how we vote and how those we elect to represent us 
conduct business in legislative bodies at all levels of 
government.
    The COVID-19 crisis demands legislative action and 
oversight and the continued work of the Congress, which has a 
responsibility to the American people to explore additional 
ways to be able to continue that work in the face of the 
pandemic. The Committee has been mindful that many people are 
putting themselves at risk by working on the frontlines every 
day: from doctors and nurses, to police officers, firefighters, 
and paramedics, to transit workers and truck drivers, among 
others. The Committee appreciates all that the people in many 
critical lines of work are doing to support their communities 
and the country, even at risk to their own health. While the 
Committee is keenly aware of these immense changes and 
challenges, this report focuses narrowly on issues related on 
how the House of Representatives and the Committee responded to 
protect the safety and health of those who work in the 
legislative branch while preserving the ability of the Congress 
to continue its vital work.
    Fortunately, Members and staff of the Congress have an 
option that many vital frontline workers do not: Congress can 
perform much of its work remotely in a safe, secure, online 
format. During the pandemic, the Committee has worked with 
leadership, other committees, and institutional partners to 
find ways to ensure that the House can continue its legislative 
operations while protecting the health and safety of all who 
work in the legislative branch. This portion of the report 
summarizes the effect that the pandemic has had on the 
functioning of government throughout the country, the 
innovative practices the Committee has helped develop to ensure 
the House continue to operate, and the Committee's review of 
one particular possible innovation, remote voting.

The Pandemic's Impact on Governmental Operations

    In the fall of 2020, events at the White House actively 
spread COVID-19 and also impacted the operations of the U.S. 
Senate, underscoring the effect the pandemic has had on 
operations of the highest levels of government. On October 2, 
2020, President Donald J. Trump announced that he and First 
Lady Melania Trump had both tested positive for COVID-19 and 
would begin to quarantine immediately.\52\ The same day, 
President Trump was flown by helicopter to Walter Reed National 
Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, while Mrs. Trump 
was quarantined in the White House.\53\ President Trump was 
hospitalized for three days and received a number of 
experimental treatments not in widespread use before being 
returned to the White House.\54\ In addition, dozens of senior 
government officials who attended events at the White House 
with the President in the prior week--including at least three 
U.S. Senators--also tested positive for the virus.\55\ An 
investigation by USA Today concluded that, ``President Trump 
and other White House insiders infected with COVID-19 carried 
the virus across the country in a matter of days, potentially 
exposing hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people as they went 
about their business.''\56\ As Dr. Anthony Fauci put it, ``I 
think the--the data speaks for themselves. We had a super-
spreader event in the White House and it was in a situation 
where people were crowded together and were not wearing 
masks.''\57\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \52\President Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Twitter (Oct. 2, 
2020, 12:54 a.m.), https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/
1311892190680014849.
    \53\Rebecca Ballhaus, Catherine Lucey & Michael C. Bender, Wall St. 
J., Trump Moves to Walter Reed Hospital After Testing Positive for 
Coronavirus, Oct. 3, 2020, available at https://www.wsj.com/articles/
president-trump-and-first-lady-melania-test-positive-for-the-
coronavirus-11601639968.
    \54\Barbara Sprunt, NPR, ``Don't Be Afraid Of It'': Trump Dismisses 
Virus Threat As He Returns to White House, Oct. 5, 2020, available at 
https://www.npr.org/sections/latest-updates-trump-covid-19-results/
2020/10/05/920412187/trump-says-he-will-leave-walter-reed-medical-
center-monday-night.
    \55\Josh Margolin & Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 34 people connected 
to White House, more than previously known, infected by coronavirus: 
Internal FEMA memo, Oct. 7, 2020, available at https://abcnews.go.com/
Politics/34-people-connected-white-house-previously-infected-
coronavirus/story?id=73487381.
    \56\Josh Salman & Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, White House 
coronavirus outbreak may have exposed thousands from Atlanta to 
Minnesota, Oct. 7, 2020, available at https://www.usatoday.com/story/
news/investigations/2020/10/07/officials-exposed-went-attend-rallies-
debates-and-fundraisers/5907663002/.
    \57\Kathryn Watson & Steven Portnoy, CBS News, Fauci says data on 
masks ``speaks for itself'' after ``super-spreader'' White House Event, 
Oct. 9, 2020, available at https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dr-fauci-on-
masks-super-spreader-covid-event-interview/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In response to the outbreak and the fact that a number of 
Senators contracted the virus, Senate Majority Leader Mitch 
McConnell changed the legislative schedule in the Senate, and 
delayed floor activity for two weeks.\58\ Senator McConnell 
also subsequently stated that he had not been to the White 
House in months, observing that it was not ``approaching 
protection from this illness in the same way that I thought was 
appropriate in the Senate,'' and he specifically noted that the 
White House has not insisted on mask wearing and social 
distancing.\59\ Similarly, media reports also noted that the 
White House has not followed a number of practices widely 
recommended by health experts, including wearing masks, 
practicing social distancing, following state and local limits 
on large gatherings, not following guidelines for quarantining 
and isolating following positive tests, and not following 
contact tracing protocols.\60\ In addition, media reports also 
indicated that the White House had relied too heavily on rapid 
tests, while also using the rapid tests in a manner not 
consistent with their intended use.\61\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \58\Chris Cioffi, Roll Call, After Republican COVID-19 positives, 
Senate to remain out until Oct. 19, Oct. 3, 2020, available at https://
www.rollcall.com/2020/10/03/after-republican-covid-19-positives-senate-
to-remain-out-until-oct-19/.
    \59\Dominic Torres & Clare Foran, CNN, McConnell says he hasn't 
been to White House since August, citing Covid-19 protocols, Oct. 8, 
2020, available at https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/08/politics/mcconnell-
white-house-coronavirus/index.html.
    \60\Lauren Leatherby, Amy Schoenfeld Walker, Larry Buchanan & John 
Keefe, N.Y. Times, How the White House Flouted Basic Coronavirus Rules, 
Oct. 8, 2020, available at https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/
08/us/white-house-coronavirus-cdc.html.
    \61\Lauren Leatherby, Amy Schoenfeld Walker, Larry Buchanan & John 
Keefe, N.Y. Times, How the White House Flouted Basic Coronavirus Rules, 
Oct. 8, 2020, available at https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/
08/us/white-house-coronavirus-cdc.html; Lev Facher, STAT News, Why the 
White House's testing-only strategy to shield Trump from Covid-19 fell 
short, Oct. 2, 2020, available at
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The outbreak of COVID-19 associated with events at the 
White House, President Trump and the First Lady contracting 
COVID-19, and the Senate subsequently suspending legislative 
activity for weeks are the starkest examples to date of how a 
new virus that was previously unknown in the United States 
has--in less than a year--become a deadly pandemic capable of 
impacting nearly every facet of American life, including the 
operations of our federal government. But they are not the only 
examples.
    Even after all of these events, two lawyers for President 
Trump and his unsuccessful presidential campaign traveled to a 
number of states and spoke to state legislators about the 2020 
election, and did not wear masks during their appearances.\62\ 
Subsequently, both were revealed to have tested positive for 
COVID.\63\ As a result, state legislatures in three different 
states canceled legislative session or otherwise had to modify 
legislative operations.\64\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \62\Associated Press, Jenna Ellis, 2nd member of Trump's legal 
team, tests positive for COVID-19, Dec. 9, 2020, available at https://
www.fox9.com/news/jenna-ellis-2nd-member-of-trumps-legal-team-tests-
positive-for-covid-19.
    \63\Id.
    \64\Lindsay Walker, Yahoo! News, AZ legislature closes after 
Republican lawmakers exposed to virus, Dec. 7, 2020, available at 
https://news.yahoo.com/az-legislature-closes-republican-lawmakers-
163946863.html; Abigail Censky, NPR, After Giuliani hearing last week, 
Michigan House is accused of COVID-19 violations, Dec. 8, 2020, 
available at https://www.npr.org/2020/12/08/944322462/week-after-
giuliani-hearing-michigan-house-is-accused-of-covid-19-violations; Maya 
T. Prabhu, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia Senators urged to 
quarantine after Giuliani's COVID-19 diagnosis, Dec. 7, 2020, available 
at https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgia-senators-urged-to-quarantine-
after-giulianis-covid-19-diagnosis/TELIVAETQJFUPKOFANAKWBU6II/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    At the state level, outbreaks among legislators have 
impacted the ability to conduct government business in a number 
of states. For example, in Mississippi, more than 60 
legislators and staff--including at least 49 members--
contracted the virus in July 2020.\65\ The Speaker of the House 
and the Lieutenant Governor, who presides over the Senate, were 
also both positive. That left the state government in limbo, 
with significant pending business unfinished.\66\ In a number 
of states, tragically, legislators have died.\67\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \65\Anita Lee, Sun Herald, How many MS legislators did COVID-19 
strike? Number has grown, with one related death, Aug. 10, 2020, 
available at https://www.sunherald.com/news/coronavirus/
article244854672.html; Bobby Harrison, Mississippi Today, Legislators 
pay price for disregarding COVID-19 precautions at Capitol, July 19, 
2020, available at https://mississippitoday.org/2020/07/19/legislators-
pay-price-for-disregarding-covid-19-precautions-at-capitol/.
    \66\Ivan Pereira, ABC News, Mississippi statehouse shuttered for 2 
weeks as dozens of lawmakers contract coronavirus, July 9, 2020, 
available at https://abcnews.go.com/Health/mississippi-statehouse-
shuttered-weeks- dozens-lawmakers-contract-coronavirus/
story?id=71690136.
    \67\Ballotpedia, ``Government official, politician, and candidate 
deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) 
pandemic, 2020,'' available at https://ballotpedia.org/
Government_official,_politician,_and_candidate_deaths,_diagnoses,_and_qu
arantines_due_to_
the_coronavirus_(COVID-19)_pandemic,_2020 (last accessed Dec. 22, 
2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In Congress, by one count 105 Members have publicly 
disclosed that they tested positive, self-quarantined, or had 
otherwise come in contact with someone else who was 
positive.\68\ In April 2020, at the same time least 22 Members 
of the House had either tested positive, were presumed 
positive, or were in self-quarantine because of exposure to 
someone who was positive.\69\ In just the last month, 23 
Members have publicly reported testing positive.\70\ In one 
case, a Member disclosed having tested positive just hours 
after voting and speaking on the House floor--then deleted a 
Facebook post from just hours earlier in which he had 
criticized steps the House has taken to protect its Members and 
staff.\71\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \68\GovTrack, COVID-19 in Congress, available at https://
www.govtrack.us/covid-19#legislators (last accessed Dec. 22, 2020); 
Ballotpedia, ``Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, 
diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 
2020,'' available at https://ballotpedia.org/
Government_official,_politician,_and_candidate_deaths,_diagnoses,_and
_quarantines_due_to_the_coronavirus_(COVID-19)_pandemic,_2020 (last 
accessed Dec. 22, 2020).
    \69\GovTrack, COVID-19 in Congress, available at https://
www.govtrack.us/covid-19#legislators (last accessed Dec. 22, 2020).
    \70\Id.
    \71\CNN, Rep. Joe Wilson tests positive for COVID-19, Dec. 16, 
2020, available at https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/16/politics/joe-wilson-
covid-19/index.html; Amanda Terkel, Huffington 
Post, After positive COVID-19 diagnosis, GOP lawmaker deletes post 
mocking precautions, Dec. 17, 2020, available at https://
www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-wilson-covid_n
_5fdad6bec5b650b99ad9b68b.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Support of Legislative Operations

    As one recent media report observed, ``Legislatures are 
natural targets for Covid, with a potential to become potent 
spreading grounds as cases continue to surge nationally: They 
involve large numbers of adults--many of them older--meeting 
for hours in sometimes windowless committee rooms and chambers, 
arguing, testifying, and making speeches.''\72\ In light of 
these very serious concerns, and to avoid the types of 
situations described above, in the early weeks and months of 
the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the U.S. House of 
Representatives proactively and responsibly modified its 
legislative operations to ensure that the House would be able 
to continue its critical work during the public health 
emergency, while protecting the health and safety of all those 
who work in the House.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \72\Margaret Newkirk, Bloomberg, Lawmaker's death chills U.S. 
statehouses where masks are shunned, Dec. 15, 2020, available at 
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-15/covid-cases-strike-
in-statehouses-with-mask-averse-lawmakers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    These steps ensured that the House could continue to act 
during the crisis, including passing legislation and conducting 
oversight, while also protecting the health and safety of 
legislative branch staff. The House authorized committees to 
conduct virtual hearings, created an electronic hopper for the 
introduction of legislation, developed a system to 
electronically submit extensions of remarks, and took 
significant steps to swiftly expand the ability of its Members 
and staff to telework by distributing laptops and tablet 
computers and rapidly increasing the availability of online 
collaborative platforms for official work. The House authorized 
remote voting by proxy and directed the chair of the Committee 
to study the feasibility of using technology to conduct remote 
voting in the House, as discussed in the following section.
    Although these are new tools for governing, they are within 
the House's authority to implement and they are not intended to 
replace regular order. To the contrary, they represent prudent 
and responsible steps to ensure the House can continue to lead 
during this crisis, and they are intended to be used only 
during extraordinary circumstances.\73\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \73\Exploring the Feasibility and Security of Technology to Conduct 
Remote Voting in the House: Hearing before the Committee on House 
Administration, 116th Cong. (Opening Statement of Chairperson Zoe 
Lofgren).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    A number of the changes increase the options for Members 
and staff to complete legislative tasks remotely, rather than 
requiring in-person contact. For example, in April 2020, the 
Speaker of the House directed the creation of an electronic 
hopper to permit the virtual submission of all Floor 
documents--including bills, resolutions, co-sponsors and 
extensions of remarks--via a dedicated and secure email system. 
Since the policy took effect, 2,816 measures have been filed 
electronically, while just 159 were manually filed using the 
traditional process.
    Also in April 2020, Committee Chairperson Zoe Lofgren, in 
her capacity as Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Printing, 
directed the Government Publishing Office to accept, for 
publication in the Congressional Record, extensions of remarks 
submitted with a Member's electronic signature. Under this new 
and more convenient system, as of December 22, 2020, Members 
have filed 2,534 extensions of remarks by email.
    On May 15, 2020, the House passed House Resolution 965, a 
resolution ``authorizing remote voting by proxy in the House of 
Representatives and providing for official remote committee 
proceedings during a public health emergency due to a novel 
coronavirus and for other purposes.''\74\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \74\Authorizing remote voting by proxy in the House of 
Representatives and providing for official remote committee proceedings 
during a public health emergency due to a novel coronavirus, and for 
other purposes, H. Res. 965, 116th Cong. (2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Section 1 of House Resolution 965 provides that ``at any 
time after the Speaker or the Speaker's designee is notified by 
the Sergeant-at-Arms, in consultation with the Attending 
Physician, that a public health emergency due to a novel 
coronavirus is in effect, the Speaker or the Speaker's 
designee, in consultation with the Minority Leader or the 
Minority Leader's designee, may designate a period (hereafter 
in this resolution referred to as a `covered period') during 
which a Member who is designated by another Member as a proxy 
in accordance with section 2 may cast the vote of such other 
Member or record the presence of such other Member in the 
House.''\75\ The ``covered period'' terminates 45 days after 
the designation, and may be extended or terminated.\76\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \75\Id.
    \76\Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Speaker of the House, pursuant to section 1(a) of House 
Resolution 965 announced that a public health emergency existed 
and designated a ``covered period'' on May 20, 2020. In light 
of the continued and explosive growth in COVID-19 cases in the 
U.S., this ``covered period'' was subsequently extended until 
August 18, 2020; until November 16, 2020; and until December 
31, 2020.
    Under the provision which permits proxy voting, as of 
December 22, 2020, the House has conducted 142 roll call votes 
that have included directed votes cast by proxy without 
incident. Nearly 6,253 individual votes have been cast by 
proxy, including by Members of both parties. Demonstrating that 
the system can operate in a bipartisan fashion that protects 
the rights of the minority, proxy votes have been cast by a 
Member of one party on behalf of a Member of the other party 
where the physically present Member voted in a different way 
than their colleague whose proxy vote they cast. In addition, 
several measures passed with proxy votes have been signed by 
the President and enacted into law.
    Section 4 of House Resolution 965 provides authority for 
remote proceedings in House committees during a ``covered 
period.'' The Committee worked closely with the Committee on 
Rules, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), and House 
Information Resources (HIR) to develop options for holding 
committee proceedings on collaborative online platforms, such 
as Teams, Webex, and Zoom. Using these new options, as of 
December 17, 2020, House committees have held at least 529 
events using some form of technology to permit remote or 
virtual participation, including:
           Held 169 entirely remote hearings;
           Held 130 hybrid hearings;
           Held 4 entirely remote markups;
           Held 36 hybrid markups; and
           Held scores of remote or hybrid briefings, 
        forums, meetings, and roundtables.
    The Committee also coordinated closely with CAO to ensure 
that Member and committee offices had the technology they would 
need to work remotely. That included getting thousands of 
laptops and tablets ordered, imaged, and delivered to offices 
at a time when there were significant issues with the supply 
chain. Using that hardware and the other technology tools 
available to House offices, Members and staff have been able to 
conduct a significant amount of work remotely, including as of 
December 17, 2020:
           More than 11,600 Zoom meetings;
           More than 6,000 Webex meetings;
           More than 327,900 Teams calls or 
        meetings; and
           More than 16.8 million Teams chat 
        messages.
    In addition to working with other House offices to advance 
the adaptations discussed above, the Committee has also worked 
with the Attending Physician, CAO, Architect of the Capitol, 
and other legislative branch offices to ensure that in 
circumstances when Members and employees need to work in 
person, their workplaces are as safe as possible. For example, 
to ensure offices have access to appropriate personal 
protective equipment (PPE), as of December 18, 2020, the 
Committee has worked with the CAO and Architect to acquire and 
distribute, to both D.C. and district offices, more than 5,900 
canisters of wipes, more than 41,900 bottles of hand sanitizer, 
more than 689,900 pairs of gloves, and more than 697,700 masks. 
The Committee has also worked with these offices to handle more 
than 300 requests from offices for plexiglass, with delivery of 
nearly 700 items.
    The Sergeant at Arms announced new procedures specific to 
Floor activity and voting, developed in consultation with the 
Attending Physician and leadership.\77\ These procedures 
include limiting access to the Floor during debate to those 
Members who are scheduled to speak during debate, conducting 
votes by groups of Members, and maintaining ``safe social 
distancing at all times.''\78\ In addition, the Sergeant at 
Arms and Attending Physician have specifically cautioned for at 
least six months that with respect to activity on the Floor, 
``Members who are ill with respiratory symptoms or fever are 
discouraged from attending.''\79\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \77\See e.g. Dear Colleague from Sergeant at Arms Paul D. Irving 
and Attending Physician Dr. Brian P. Monahan, ``Procedures for Friday 
March 27, 2020,'' Mar. 26, 2020.
    \78\Id.
    \79\Id. (emphasis original).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    These critical precautionary measures have been implemented 
to protect the safety of all who work in the Capitol. As a 
practical matter, however, this means that votes take longer 
than they would under ``normal'' conditions.\80\ For example, 
each recorded vote can take 35 minutes or longer, and special 
cleaning protocols are in place between vote series.\81\ This 
has an overall impact on the House's efficiency, but can also 
impact the amount of time available for legislative activity, 
particularly on complex bills, which in turn has an impact on 
the House's options for considering amendments.\82\ It is of 
particular relevance to this discussion that a primary 
rationale in favor of adopting electronic voting in the House 
50 years ago was to ``significantly reduce the time required to 
vote,'' as Members had long expressed concern about the time 
spent simply taking votes, including roll call votes that could 
take 45 minutes.\83\ If the House adopted a remote voting 
system, as discussed in the following section, that could not 
only further protect the health and safety of legislative 
branch staff and Members, but improve House efficiency by 
reducing the amount of time needed to execute votes, as was the 
case when the House adopted electronic voting a half century 
ago.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \80\See e.g. Noah Wofsy, Remote Control: How the Legislative 
Counsel and the House of Representatives Operate During the Pandemic in 
Lawmaking Around the World in the Time of COVID-19 (2020), available at 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4f1MsxZ8mA&feature=youtu.be.
    \81\Id.
    \82\Id.
    \83\Jacob R. Straus, Cong. Res. Svc., Electronic Voting in the 
House of Representatives: History and Usage, June 13, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    For those situations when someone must physically be in the 
office, the Attending Physician has devised and recommends use 
of a simple self-screening inventory to be completed at home, 
before someone goes to the workplace. In addition, it has been, 
and remains, critical that people who are physically in the 
Capitol and House buildings wear a mask. The Attending 
Physician continues to emphasize that wearing a mask ``is one 
of the simple, basic things all Americans must do.''\84\ The 
Attending Physician has said clearly, ``I expect all of you in 
the workplace--any time you are inside, in the company of 
another person--that you are wearing an approved face 
covering.''\85\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \84\Dr. Brian P. Monahan, COVID-19 update (Sept. 17, 2020), 
available at https://cha.house.gov/coronavirus; Dr. Brian P. Monahan, 
Mask update (Oct. 27, 2020), available at https://cha.house.gov/
coronavirus.
    \85\Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Recently, and consistent with the repeated guidance of the 
Attending Physician and the CDC, the Speaker of the House 
announced that masks are not only ``required at all times in 
the Hall of the House without exception, including while 
Members are under recognition,'' and ``reiterate[d] that this 
is a matter of order and decorum in the Chamber under clause 2 
of rule I.''\86\ Moreover, ``To be clear, Members will not 
recognized unless they are wearing a mask, and recognition will 
be withdrawn if they remove their mask while speaking.''\87\ 
Fortunately, this announcement was made prior to the Member 
noted above speaking and voting on the floor while positive for 
COVID.\88\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \86\Announcement by the Speaker, 116th Congress, 166 Cong. Rec. 
H7,158 (daily ed. Dec. 15, 2020).
    \87\Id.
    \88\Supra note 31; see also Celine Castronuovo, The Hill, South 
Carolina Republican tests positive for coronavirus hours after speaking 
on House floor, Dec. 16, 2020, available at [https://thehill.com/
homenews/house/530602-south-carolina-republican-tests-positive-for-
coronavirus-hours-after-speaking; see also;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remote Voting Study

    In addition to all of the other adaptations discussed 
above, House Resolution 965 also directed that the ``chair of 
the Committee on House Administration, in consultation with the 
ranking minority member, shall study the feasibility of using 
technology to conduct remote voting in the House, and shall 
provide certification to the House upon a determination that 
operable and secure technology exists to conduct remote voting 
in the House.''\89\ The Committee followed the House's 
direction by studying the issue of remote voting, including by 
reviewing the practices of other legislative bodies, at both 
the national and state levels; reviewing available technology; 
and conducting a public hearing. This review is focused 
specifically on the question of whether it is feasible to use 
technology for the House to conduct remote voting; it is not a 
review of the constitutionality of remote voting, the specific 
situations in which it might be employed, or individual 
products or platforms for remote voting.\90\ The witnesses at 
that hearing--itself conducted in a virtual online format--
included a former Republican Speaker of the House and several 
technology experts.\91\ All of the witnesses concluded that 
remote voting is technologically feasible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \89\H. Res. 965, supra note 34.
    \90\Comm. on Rules, Authorizing Remote Voting by Proxy in the House 
of Representatives and Providing for Official Remote Committee 
Proceedings During a Public Health Emergency Due to a Novel 
Coronavirus, and For Other Purposes, H. Rep. 116-420, 116th Cong., 2d 
Sess. (2020).
    \91\Comm. on House Admin., Exploring the Feasibility and Security 
of Technology to Conduct Remote Voting in the House: Hearing before the 
Comm. on House Administration (2020), available at https://
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG- 116hhrg41953/pdf/CHRG-
116hhrg41953.pdf and https://cha.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/
exploring- feasibility-and-security- technology-conduct-remote-voting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Accordingly, following the Committee's review, the staff 
wrote a report which summarized the review and the hearing and 
concluded that:

          The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a devastating loss 
        of life in the United States and impacted every aspect 
        of American life. Given the clear impact that COVID-19 
        can have on the ability of the federal government to 
        conduct legislative business and the continuing surge 
        of the pandemic within the U.S., it is imperative that 
        Congress be able to continue its work safely and 
        securely.
          The House has already taken several steps to ensure 
        its continued ability to act during the crisis, 
        including passing legislation and conducting oversight, 
        while also protecting the health and safety of 
        legislative branch staff. The authorization of directed 
        proxy voting by Members on the Floor is one important 
        step the House has taken to protect the health and 
        safety of all legislative branch staff and Members. 
        However, other important safety protocols, such as 
        voting in groups and limiting the number of Members on 
        the Floor at one time, have increased the amount of 
        time it takes to conduct Floor votes. Remote voting 
        could both provide additional health and safety 
        benefits--both for those Members and staff in 
        Washington, D.C., and those who may be in their 
        districts--while improving House efficiency.
          In light of the findings described above, including 
        witness testimony from a former Speaker of the House 
        and highly qualified technology experts, as well as a 
        review of procedures adopted by other legislative 
        bodies, this staff report concludes that operable and 
        secure technology exists to permit the House to conduct 
        remote voting, and that such a tool could be developed 
        to further establish its flexibility and resiliency to 
        operate during the pandemic.\92\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \92\Comm. on House Admin., Staff Report on Feasibility of Remote 
Voting in the United States House of Representatives Pursuant to House 
Resolution 965, Sec. 5, 17, 116th Cong., 2d Sess. (2020), available at 
https://cha.house.gov/sites/democrats.cha.house.gov/files/ 
2020_Feasibility %20of%20Remote%20Voting 
%20in%20the%20US_v4%20%281%29.pdf.

    Accordingly, the Chairperson authorized the release of the 
staff report and certified that such technology exists.\93\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \93\Certification Submitted Pursuant to Section 5(a) of House 
Resolution 965, 116th Congress, 166 Cong. Rec. H5,760 (daily ed. Nov. 
16, 2020).
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           SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE MODERNIZATION OF CONGRESS

    The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress 
(SCMC) was established at the beginning of the 116th Congress 
as part of the H. Res. 6, the House Rules package. Originally 
authorized for the first session only, the SCMC was extended to 
the conclusion of the 116th Congress by H. Res. 695 which, in 
part, amended H. Res. 6. The SCMC, co-chaired by Representative 
Derek Kilmer of Washington and Representative Tom Graves of 
Georgia, counts among its Members the Chairperson and Ranking 
Member of the Committee.
    The SCMC held a total of 16 hearings between March 2019 and 
February 2020 and held six markups to pass a total of 97 
recommendations.\94\
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    \94\Select Comm. on the Modernization of Congress, Recommendations 
to Reclaim Congress' Article One Powers, Boost Staff Capacity, Improve 
the Schedule and Calendar, Improve the Budget and Appropriations 
Process, Identify Administrative Inefficiencies and Improve Technology 
and Continuity, H. Rep. 116-561, 116th Cong., 2d Sess. (2020).
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    The SCMC, although without legislative jurisdiction, was, 
with the passage of H. Res. 756 ``the first select committee in 
recent history to effectively turn suggested reforms into 
legislative action.''\95\ Under the jurisdiction of the 
Committee, H. Res. 756, the Moving Our Democracy and 
Congressional Operations Towards Modernization Resolution, was 
brought to the House floor on March 10, 2020, where it passed 
the House under suspension 395-13. H. Res. 756 included 24 of 
the SCMC's recommendations.
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    \95\Id.
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                           WOMEN IN CONGRESS

    In 2007, GPO published Women in Congress, 1917-2006. This 
edition was authorized by H. Con. Res. 66 (107th Congress) and 
was prepared under the direction of the Committee by the Office 
of History and Preservation, Office of the Clerk to update and 
revise an earlier edition, Women in Congress, 1917-1990.
    During the first session of the 116th Congress, the 
Committee began working with the Clerk of the House's Office of 
the Historian in order to revise the 2007 edition and include 
the historic number of women in the 116th Congress.
    The Committee introduced H. Con. Res. 92, authorizing the 
printing of a revised and updated version of the House document 
entitled ``Women in Congress, 1917-2006,'' on February 26, 
2020. This concurrent resolution was then agreed to by the 
House on July 30, 2020, and the Senate on September 15, 2020.
    This updated version, Women in Congress, 1917-2020 was 
published in December 2020. As Chairperson Lofgren wrote in the 
forward to this new edition:

          As Chairperson of the Committee on House 
        Administration, I felt that a new edition of this 
        remarkable story of women in Congress was overdue. This 
        history is a fascinating story of how legislative 
        institutions and practices affected the women who first 
        came here a century ago, while highlighting how women 
        have changed and shaped those very institutions and 
        practices in turn. It is a valuable history to all 
        students of Congress, and all students of history. It 
        is a story of how Congress wrestles to truly represent 
        all Americans, while continuing the precedents and 
        procedures that are important to it, working together 
        to effectively meet the challenges of today and 
        tomorrow.\96\
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    \96\Women in Congress, 1917-2020, supra, pg. ix.
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                  EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Outreach and Communications

    At the beginning of the 116th Congress, the Committee 
authorized a series of necessary measures to ensure the 
essential functions of the House of Representatives. These 
measures included authorizing the initial funding of the 
Members' Representational Allowance and committee funds, 
establishing certain reimbursement rates and House fees, and 
providing guidance on up-coming caucus and conference retreats. 
In cooperation with the Assistant Speaker's office, the 
Committee supported weekly freshman office chiefs-of-staff 
briefings focused on proper office operations.
    Section 120 of P.L. 115-244 (132 Stat. 2897) established a 
separate fund for Members of Congress to pay interns in their 
Washington, D.C., offices subject to regulations promulgated by 
the Committee which were adopted on March 12, 2019.
    Through both electronic Dear Colleagues and in-person 
forums the Committee briefed the House community and addressed 
frequently asked questions on the details of the newly adopted 
rules for the House Paid Internship Program. The Committee 
through the Spring and Summer of 2019 continued outreach 
through several initiatives.
    The annual Summer Intern Lecture Series featured 42 
prominent speakers and was attended by over 1,200 congressional 
interns. Additionally, working with congressional agency 
partners, the Committee developed and launched a district 
office outreach program to better connect district offices to 
resources available in Washington, D.C. The inaugural session 
took place in San Jose, California, with a subsequent event in 
St. Louis, Missouri.
    The Committee also provided support and subject matter 
expertise in the development and execution of the annual 
district director fly-in which took place in Washington, D.C., 
during July 2019. In the Fall of 2019, the Committee drafted 
updated regulations regarding advance payments made at the end 
of a legislative year, which were adopted through Committee 
Resolution 116-13. The Committee replicated necessary measures 
to ensure the functions of the House of Representatives at the 
beginning of the second session of the 116th Congress including 
authorizing the initial funding of the MRA and committee funds, 
establishing certain reimbursement rates and House fees, and 
providing guidance on up-coming caucus and conference retreats.
    Normal outreach and education were disrupted by the onset 
of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee focused efforts on 
providing Members and staff with appropriate resources needed 
to maintain office functions in a remote work environment. 
Throughout the Spring and Summer of 2020, the Committee ensured 
Members and staff had access and funding for safe alternative 
commuting options, tele-work resources and support, personal 
protective equipment, and home health screening tools. This was 
subsequently reflected in the adoption of Committee Resolution 
116-24 on November 10, 2020. In the Fall of 2020, the Committee 
turned its attention to the development and support of both 
contested elections training and the New Member Orientation 
Program. The Committee continues to plan for the necessary 
measures that must be executed at the beginning of the 117th 
Congress ensuring the House of Representatives has resources 
needed to perform official duties.

New Member Orientation

    The Committee is responsible for planning and executing the 
New Member Orientation (NMO) program, along with the travel and 
logistics for newly-elected Members of Congress, designated 
aides, and, for the first time, paid transition aides. The 
program was held in two phases: November 12, 2020-November 21, 
2020 and November 29, 2020-December 5, 2020. At 17 days, this 
was the longest NMO in the history of the House of 
Representatives.
    Over the course of NMO, Members-elect, along with their 
aides, participated in more than 20 bipartisan briefings. These 
briefings were provided by current Members, senior staff, House 
Officers, institutional staff and others. Programming included: 
Operating a Congressional Office During the COVID-19 Pandemic; 
Physical and Cyber Security; Best Practices for Hiring Staff; 
Office Setup, the Members Representational Allowance and 
Leases; Introduction to the House Floor; Legal Liabilities; 
Responsibilities as an Employer; Workplace Rights and 
Responsibilities; Effective Constituent Services; Connecting 
the D.C. Office to the District Office; Legislative Process; 
Drafting Legislation; Understanding the House Floor and 
Committees; Office Lottery Overviews; Ethics Training; Decorum 
and Bipartisanship; Advice from Current Freshmen Members; 
Overview of Public Health Issues for the 117th Congress; 
Economic Impacts of COVID-19; Overview of the Federal Budget 
Process; and Congress and the Courts.
    In addition to participating in the briefings described 
above, aides participated in programming specifically designed 
for staff. This programming included the following briefings: 
November to January Transition Timetable; Creating a Diverse 
and Inclusive Workplace; Managing Your Workforce During the 
Pandemic; and Office Structure and Business Processes.
    As referenced above, aide briefings were provided both to 
designated aides and the newly authorized paid transition 
aides. Paid transition aides were a recommendation of the 
Select Committee on Modernization implemented by the Chief 
Administrative Officer in coordination with the committee. 
Transition aides are House employees, paid by the Chief 
Administrative Officer, dedicated to assisting Members-elect 
with office setup tasks. They are paid by the Chief 
Administrative Officer and act as the primary liaison between 
Members-elect and House support offices. In total, 52 
transition aides participated in NMO.
    Notably, NMO took place amid the COVID-19 pandemic, at a 
time when cases across the nation were spiking. As such, the 
committee consulted extensively with the Office of Attending 
Physician to ensure all committee-planned NMO activities were 
conducted safely. All bipartisan committee-planned briefings 
and other activities were streamed online via Webex, allowing 
for completely virtual participation for Members and presenters 
who wished to attend remotely.
    The Committee spearheaded a new initiative, one recommended 
by the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress to 
require presentations, along with myriad videos from House 
Officers and institutional partners be recorded and uploaded to 
a dedicated website so that Members and aides could access them 
at their convenience. This initiative will begin to build an 
easily-accessible knowledge base for Members and staff.
    For Members-elect participating in person, the Capitol 
Visitor Center Congressional Auditorium was configured such 
that seats for both Members-elect and participants were 
appropriately distanced. To ensure individuals were 
appropriately spaced, aides viewed all presentations via 
simulcast across three additional rooms within the Capitol 
Visitor Center. In addition, hotel accommodations, meals and 
transportation provided under direction of the committee were 
all facilitated pursuant to relevant direction and guidance 
from the Office of Attending Physician.

Congressional Summer Intern Lecture Series

    The Congressional Summer Intern Lecture Series is a 
bipartisan, bicameral effort coordinated annually by the 
Committee on House Administration and the Senate Committee on 
Rules and Administration. Started by former Representatives 
Gerald Ford and Donald Rumsfeld in the 1960s, both committees 
extend invitations, mostly to current and former government and 
military officials, policy experts, and media personalities, to 
speak to congressional interns. The First and Second Session 
Lectures were conducted in contrasting manners due to the 
COVID-19 pandemic.
    The First Session Lecture series was conducted in the 
traditional manner. A total of 42 lectures were held over the 
seven-week period between June 10, 2019, and July 26, 2019. 
Notable lectures from the 2019 Lecture Series included the 
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. 
Robert R. Redfield; the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; 
House Republican Leader, Kevin McCarthy; House Minority Whip, 
Steve Scalise; political commentator and former talk show host, 
Greta Van Susteren; political journalists Jake Sherman and Anna 
Palmer; the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden; NASA 
Administrator, Jim Bridenstine; and United States Department of 
Transportation Secretary, Elaine L. Chao.
    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Second Session Lecture 
Series was held virtually for the first time. In order to 
ensure the health, safety and security of this unique intern 
experience, less invites were extended. The virtual experience 
allowed for Interns and Member's to partake in a private, off 
the record lecture series, while maintaining their health and 
safety. A total of 30 lectures were held over a five-week 
period between June 30, 2020, and July 31, 2020, with a lecture 
nearly every day during that time. Notable speakers from this 
year's series included the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; 
the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden; and several House 
and Senate Chairs and Members.

                     HOUSE PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

    Pursuant to section 120 of Public Law 115-244, the Energy 
and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military and Veterans 
Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 and H. Rept. 115-929, the 
Conference Report to accompany H.R. 5895, on March 12, 2019, 
the Committee on House Administration adopted Committee 
Resolution 116-8 providing up to $20,000 per Member office for 
the sole purpose of paid internships in Washington, D.C., known 
as the House Paid Internship Program. The paid internship 
positions authorized under this provision did not count against 
the number of employees who may be employed by a Member of the 
House under 2 U.S.C. Sec. 5321.
    Subsequently, on May 5, 2020, the Committee adopted 
Committee Resolution 116-19 authorizing $25,000 per Member 
office for interns participating in this program and allowing 
interns to be based in the Washington, D.C., or a Member's 
district office. These interns continue to not count against 
the Member's employee staff ceiling. Additionally, in the event 
of a vacancy in office, the Committee authorized amounts to be 
made available to the succeeding Member on a prorated basis as 
determined by the Committee. Furthermore, the Committee 
directed the CAO to report in the Statement of Disbursements 
payments from the applicable House accounts in a manner that 
accurately reflects the employing office of individuals 
employed through the House Paid Internship Program. The CAO was 
also directed to develop a payroll authorization form for this 
program and include program participants on the monthly payroll 
certification of the Member office that has authorized the 
internship. Finally, the CAO was directed to provide offices a 
monthly update on the balance of their allotment and submit a 
semiannual report to the Committee on both total usage of the 
authorization by Member offices and usage by Washington, D.C., 
and district offices.

                    Committee Hearings and Meetings


Hearings

Listening Session on Voting Rights and Elections in Brownsville, Texas

Full Committee

February 4, 2019

Witnesses:

    Mr. Rolando Rios, Esq.; Mr. George Korbel, Esq.; Mr. 
Matthew McCarthy, ACLU Foundation of Texas; Mr. Chad Dunn, 
Esq.; and Ms. Mimi Marziani, Esq., President, Texas Civil 
Rights Project

For the People: Our American Democracy

Full Committee

February 14, 2019

Witnesses:

    Chiraag Bains, Director of Legal Strategies, Demos; Wendy 
Weiser; Director, Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Justice 
at NYU School of Law; Fred Wertheimer, President, Democracy 21; 
The Honorable Kim Wyman, Secretary of State, State of 
Washington; Panel two: Alejandro Rangel-Lopez, Student; Peter 
Earle, Wisconsin Civil Rights Trial Lawyer; Brandon A. Jessup, 
Data Science and Information Systems Professional; Executive 
Director, Michigan Forward; and David Keating, President, 
Institute For Free Speech

Voting Rights and Election Administration in Georgia

Subcommittee on Elections--Field Hearing, Atlanta, Georgia

February 19, 2019

Witnesses:

    Stacey Abrams, CEO and Founder, Fair Fight Action; Panel 2: 
Gilda Daniels, Director of Litigation, Advancement Project; 
Sean Young, Legal Director, Georgia ACLU; Stacey Hopkins, 
Voter, Fulton County GA; and Cliff Albright, Cofounder, Black 
Votes Matter.

Committee Funding for the 116th Congress

Full Committee

March 12, 2019

Witnesses:

    Hon. Elijah E. Cummings, Chairman, Committee on Oversight 
and Reform, U.S. House of Representatives; and Hon. Jim Jordan, 
Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Reform, U.S. House 
of Representatives.

House Officer Priorities for 2019 and Beyond

Full Committee

April 9, 2019

Witnesses:

    Hon. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk of the U.S. House of 
Representatives; Hon. Paul D. Irving, Sergeant at Arms, U.S. 
House of Representatives; Hon. Philip G. Kiko, Chief 
Administrative Officer, U.S. House of Representatives; and Hon. 
Michael T. Ptasienski, Inspector General, U.S. House of 
Representatives.

Voting Rights and Election Administration in the Dakotas

Subcommittee on Elections--Field Hearing, Fort Yates, North Dakota

April 16, 2019

Witnesses:

    Ms. Alysia LaCounte, General Counsel, on behalf of Turtle 
Mountain Band of Chippewa; Ms. Myra Pearson, Chairwoman, Spirit 
Lake Tribe; Mr. Charles Walker, Councilman at Large, on behalf 
of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe; Mr. Roger White Owl Chief 
Executive Officer, on behalf of Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara 
Nation; Ms. Ruth Buffalo, Representative, North Dakota House of 
Representatives; Ms. Jacqueline De Leon, Staff Attorney, Native 
American Rights Fund; Ms. Prairie Rose Seminole Community 
Organizer; Ms. Donita Loudner, former Buffalo County 
Commissioner; Ms. Peri Pourier, Representative, South Dakota 
House of Representatives; and Mr. O.J. Semans Sr., Co-Executive 
Director, Four Directions, Inc.

Voting Rights and Election Administration in North Carolina

Subcommittee on Elections--Field Hearing, Weldon, North Carolina

April 18, 2019

Witnesses:

    Dr. William Barber II, President and Senior Lecturer, 
Repairers of the Breach; Hon. Dan Blue, Minority Leader, North 
Carolina Senate; Mr. Irving L. Joyner, Professor of Law, North 
Carolina Central University School of Law; Mr. Tomas Lopez, 
Executive Director, Democracy North Carolina; Ms. Caitlin 
Swain, Co-Director, Forward Justice; and Ms. Patricia Timmons-
Goodson, Vice-Chairwoman, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Voting Rights and Election Administration in Ohio

Subcommittee on Elections--Field Hearing, Cleveland, Ohio

April 25, 2019

Witnesses:

    Ms. Naila Awan, Senior Counsel, Demos; Mr. Mike Brickner, 
Ohio State Director, All Voting is Local; Ms. Inajo D. 
Chappell, Member, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections; Mr. 
Daniel Ortiz, Outreach Director, Policy Matters Ohio; Mr. Tom 
Roberts, President, Ohio Conference of the NAACP; and Ms. 
Elaine Tso, Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer, Asian Services 
in Action

Voting Rights and Election Administration in Florida

Subcommittee on Elections--Field Hearing, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

May 6, 2019

Witnesses:

    Ms. Marleine Bastien, Founder and Executive Director, Fanm 
Ayisyen Nan Miymi, Inc.; Ms. Nancy Batista, Florida State 
Director, Mi Familia Vota; Mr. Andrew Gillum, Chair, Forward 
Florida; Ms. Anjenys Gonzalez-Eilert, Executive Director, 
Common Cause Florida; Mr. Juan Cartagena, President and Senior 
Counsel, Latino Justice PRL DEF; Ms. Judith Browne Dianis, 
Executive Director, Advancement Project; Ms. Karen Wilkerson, 
League of Women Voters of Florida, and Mr. Logan Churchwell; 
Communication and Research Director, Public Interest Legal 
Foundation

Election Security

Full Committee

May 8, 2019

Witnesses:

    Hon. Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State, State of Michigan; 
Mr. Joseph L. Hall, Chief Technologist and Director, Center for 
Democracy and Technology; Hon. John Merrill, Secretary of 
State, State of Alabama; Mr. Larry Norden, Deputy Director, 
Brennan Center's Democracy Program; and Ms. Marian Schneider, 
President, Verified Voting Foundation.

Voting Rights and Election Administration in Alabama

Subcommittee on Elections--Field Hearing, Birmingham, Alabama

May 13, 2019

Witnesses:

    Mr. James Blacksher, Attorney; Ms. Jenny Carroll, Professor 
of Law, University of Alabama Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. School of 
Law; Mr. Ernest Montgomery, Council Member, Calera City 
Council; Ms. Nancy Abudu, Deputy Legal Director, Voting Rights, 
Southern Poverty Law Center; Mr. Scott Douglas, Executive 
Director, Greater Birmingham Ministries; Ms. Isabel Rubio, 
Executive Director, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama; and 
Mr. Benard Simelton Sr., President, Alabama Conference of the 
NAACP.

Oversight of the Election Assistance Commission

Full Committee

May 21, 2019

Witnesses:

    Hon. Thomas Hicks, Commissioner, Election Assistance 
Commission; Hon. Benjamin Hovland, Commissioner Vice Chair, 
Election Assistance Commission; Hon. Christy McCormick, 
Commissioner and Chairwoman, Election Assistance Commission; 
and Hon. Don Palmer, Commissioner, Election Assistance 
Commission.

Oversight of the Congressional Research Service

Full Committee

June 20, 2019

Witnesses:

    Mary B. Mazanec, Director, Congressional Research Service; 
and Susan Thaul, Ph.D., President, Congressional Research 
Employees Association

Oversight of the United States Capitol Police

Full Committee

July 16, 2019

Witnesses:

    Hon. Paul D. Irving, Sergeant at Arms, U.S. House of 
Representatives; Mr. Steven A. Sund, Chief of Police, United 
States Capitol Police; Mr. Michael A. Bolton, Inspector 
General, United States Capitol Police; and Mr. Gus 
Papathanasiou, Chairman, U.S. Capitol Police Labor Committee.

Oversight of the Renovations of the Cannon House Office Building

Full Committee

September 10, 2019

Witnesses:

    Mr. Brian A. Abt, Chief Executive Officer, Mid Atlantic 
Region, Clark Construction, LLC., Washington, D.C.; Mr. Thomas 
J. Carroll III, Acting Architect of the Capitol, Washington, 
D.C.; Mr. Terrell Dorn Managing Director, Infrastructure 
Operations, Government Accountability Office, Washington, D.C.; 
and Mr. Christopher P. Failla, Architect of the Capitol 
Inspector General, Washington, D.C.

Oversight of the Smithsonian Institution

Full Committee

September 18, 2019

Witnesses:

    Mr. Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary, Smithsonian 
Institution, Washington, D.C.; and Ms. Cathy L. Helm, Inspector 
General, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

Voting Rights and Election Administration in Arizona

Subcommittee on Elections--Field Hearing, Phoenix, Arizona

October 1, 2019

Witnesses:

    Ms. Montserrat Arredondo, One Arizona; Ms. Patricia 
Ferguson-Bohnee, Professor of Law, Indian Legal Clinic, ASU Law 
School; Mr. Alex Gulotta, Arizona State Director, All Voting Is 
Local; Mr. Darrell Hill, Policy Director, ACLU of Arizona; The 
Honorable Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor, Gila River Indian 
Community; The Honorable Jonathan Nez, President, The Navajo 
Nation; The Honorable Michelle Ugenti-Rita, State Senator, 
State Senate of Arizona; and Ms. Lorena C. Van Assche, Arizona 
State Advisory Committee, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Voting Rights and Election Administration in America

Subcommittee on Elections

October 17, 2019

Witnesses:

    Ms. Barbara Arnwine, National Co-Chair, National Commission 
for Voter Justice; Ms. Michelle Bishop, Voting Rights 
Specialist, National Disability Rights Network; Ms. Kristen 
Clarke, President & Executive Director, Lawyers' Committee for 
Civil Rights Under Law; Ms. Hannah Fried, Director, All Voting 
Is Local; Mr. Dale Ho, Director, Voting Rights Project; Ms. 
Virginia Kase, Chief Executive Officer, League of Women Voters; 
The Honorable Catherine E. Lhamon, Chair, U.S. Commission on 
Civil Rights; Ms. Denise Lieberman, Senior Attorney & Program 
Director, Power & Democracy, Advancement Project; Ms. Elena 
Nunez, Director of State Operations & Ballot Measure 
Strategies, Common Cause; Mr. Deuel Ross, Senior Counsel, NAACP 
Legal Defense Fund; Mr. Thomas Saenz, President & General 
Counsel, MALDEF; Mr. Arturo Vargas, Chief Executive Officer, 
NALEO Educational Fund; Mr. Michael Waldman, President, Brennan 
Center for Justice; Ms. Brenda Wright, Senior Advisor for Legal 
Strategies, Demos; and Mr. John C. Yang, President & Executive 
Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice

Member Day: Committee on House Administration

Full Committee

November 21, 2019

Witnesses:

    Hon. Derek Kilmer, Member of Congress, Washington D.C; Hon. 
Tom Graves, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.; Hon. Dean 
Phillips, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.; Hon. Tom Rice, 
Member of Congress, Washington D.C.; Hon. Mark Takano, Member 
of Congress, Washington D.C,. Hon. Pete Olson, Member of 
Congress, Washington D.C.; Hon. Justin Amash, Member of 
Congress, Washington D.C., Statement for the Record; Hon. Tony 
Cardenas, Member of Congress, Washington D.C., Statement for 
the Record; Hon. Anna G. Eshoo, Member of Congress, Washington 
D.C., Statement for the Record; Hon. Brian K. Fitzpatrick, 
Member of Congress, Washington D.C., Statement for the Record; 
Hon. Carol D. Miller, Member of Congress, Washington D.C., 
Statement for the Record; Hon. Seth Moulton, Member of 
Congress, Washington D.C., Statement for the Record; Hon. 
Stacey E. Plaskett, Member of Congress, Washington D.C., 
Statement for the Record; Hon. Jose E. Serrano, Member of 
Congress, Washington D.C., Statement for the Record; and Hon. 
Haley M. Stevens, Member of Congress, Washington D.C., 
Statement for the Record.

2020 Election Security-Perspectives from Voting System Vendors and 
        Experts

Full Committee

January 9, 2020

Witnesses:

    Mr. Matt Blaze, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law 
Center, Washington, D.C.; Mr. Tom Burt, President and CEO, 
Election Systems & Software, Omaha, NE; Mr. Mike Gianasi, 
County Clerk and Recorder, Christian County of Illinois, 
Taylorville, Illinois; Dr. Juan Gilbert, Andrew Banks Family 
Preeminence Endowed Professor & Chair, University of Florida, 
Gainesville, FL; Ms. Liz Howard, Counsel, Brennan Center for 
Justice, Washington, D.C.; Ms. Julie Mathis, President and CEO, 
Hart InterCivic, Austin, TX; The Honorable Donald Palmer, 
Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission, Silver Spring, 
Maryland; Mr. John Poulos, President and CEO, Dominion Voting 
Systems, Denver, CO; and Rev. T. Anthony Spearman, President, 
North Carolina NAACP, Greensboro, North Carolina

Oversight of the Smithsonian Institution: Opportunities for Growth by 
        Honoring Latino Americans and Asian Pacific Americans

Full Committee

February 5, 2020

Witnesses:

    Hon. Jose E. Serrano, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.; 
Hon. Will Hurd, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.; Hon. Grace 
Meng, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.; Mr. Lonnie G. Bunch 
III, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; Dr. 
Beth Lew-Williams, Associate Professor of History, Princeton 
University, Princeton, New Jersey; Mr. Henry Munoz, Chair, 
National Museum of the American Latino Commission, Washington, 
D.C.; Dr. Eric Petersen, Specialist in American National 
Government, Congressional Research Service, Washington, D.C.; 
and Ms. Lisa Sasaki, Director, Smithsonian Asian Pacific 
American Center, Washington, D.C.

Native American Voting Rights: Exploring Barriers and Solutions

Subcommittee on Elections

February 11, 2020

Witnesses:

    Ms. Jacqueline De Leon, Staff Attorney, Native American 
Rights Fund, Boulder, CO; Mrs. Patricia Ferguson-Bohnee, 
Director, Indian Legal Clinic, Sandra Day O' Connor College of 
Law, Phoenix, AZ; Mr. Leonard Forsman, Chairman, Suquamish 
Tribe, Suquamish, WA; The Honorable Ben Ray Lujan, Member of 
Congress, Washington D.C.; Ms. Doreen McPaul, Attorney General, 
Navajo Nation; Mr. Elvis Norquay, Member, Turtle Mountain 
Reservation, Rolla, ND; and Ms. Amber Torres, Chairperson, 
Walker River Paiute Tribe

Oversight of The Government Publishing Office

Full Committee

March 3, 2020

Witnesses:

    Mr. Hugh Halpern, Director, Government Publishing Office, 
Washington, D.C.; Ms. Laurie Hall, Superintendent of Documents, 
Government Publishing Office, Washington, D.C.; and Mr. Michael 
P. Leary, Inspector General, Government Publishing Office, 
Washington, D.C.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Voting Rights and Election Administration: 
        Ensuring Safe and Fair Elections

Subcommittee on Elections

June 11, 2020

Witnesses:

    Hon. Marcy Kaptur, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.; 
Hon. Gwen Moore, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.; Ms. 
Kristen Clarke, President & Executive Director, Lawyers' 
Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Mr. Mark Dimondstein, 
President, American Postal Workers Union; Ms. Sherrilyn Ifill, 
President & Director--Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense & 
Educational Fund, Inc.; Mr. Lawrence Norden, Director, Election 
Reform, Democracy, Brennan Center for Justice; Hon. R. Kyle 
Ardoin, Secretary of State, State of Louisiana; and Hon. John 
H. Merrill, Secretary of State, State of Alabama

Exploring the Feasibility and Security of Technology to Conduct Remote 
        Voting in the House

Full Committee

July 17, 2020

Witnesses:

    Hon. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk of the U.S. House of 
Representatives; William Crowell, Partner, Alsop Louie 
Partners; Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the House; Jon 
Green, Vice President and Chief Security Technologist, Aruba 
Networks; Dr. Ronald L. Rivest, Institute Professor, MIT 
Computer Science and Artifical Intelligence Lab; Dr. Aviel 
Rubin, Professor and Technical Director, The Johns Hopkins 
University Information Security Institute; and Dr. David 
Wagner, Professor, Computer Science Division, University of 
California, Berkeley

Voting Rights and Election Administration in the U.S. Virgin Islands 
        and Other Territories

Subcommittee on Elections

July 28, 2020

Witnesses:

    Hon. Stacey E. Plaskett, Member of Congress, Washington 
D.C.; Hon. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Member of Congress, 
Washington D.C.; Hon. Michael F. Q. San Nicolas, Member of 
Congress, Washington D.C.; Hon. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, 
Member of Congress, Washington D.C.; Mr. Gerard Emanuel, 
Retired Educator; Dr. Gwen-Marie Moolenaar, President, League 
of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands; and Neil Weare, 
President and Founder, Equally American Legal Defense & 
Education Fund

Voting Safely in a Pandemic

Full Committee

August 28, 2020

Witnesses:

    Hon. Donald L. Palmer, Commissioner, U.S. Election 
Assistance Commission; Hon. Alex Padilla, Secretary of State, 
State of California; Ms. Julie Wise, King County Director of 
Elections, State of Washington; Ms. Vanita Gupta, President and 
Chief Executive Officer, The Leadership Conference on Civil & 
Human Rights; and Ms. Amber McReynolds, Chief Executive 
Officer, National Vote at Home Institute

Voting Rights and Election Administration: Combatting Misinformation in 
        the 2020 Election

Subcommittee on Elections

October 6, 2020

Witnesses:

    Hon. Benjamin Hovland, Commissioner, U.S. Election 
Assistance Commission; Hon. Jena Griswold, Secretary of State, 
State of Colorado; Ms. Inajo Davis Chappell, Member, Board of 
Elections, Cuyahoga County, Ohio; and Mr. Spencer Overton, 
President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

Meetings

Markup of H.R. 1 or a related measure, and for other purposes

February 26, 2020

Markup of Committee Resolution 116-08

March 12, 2019

Markup of H. Res. 245 and Committee Resolution 116-09

March 25, 2019

Markup of H.R. 2722, the SAFE Act

June 21, 2019

Markup of H.R. 4617 Stopping Harmful Interference In Elections For A 
        Lasting Democracy Act (SHIELD Act)

October 16, 2019

Markup of H.R. 1980

November 12, 2019

                         Committee Resolutions

    The Committee passed 24 resolutions over the course of the 
116th Congress. These resolutions are reprinted in Appendix I--
Committee Resolutions.



                             MINORITY VIEWS

                     LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OPERATIONS

    During the 116th Congress, the Committee Republican and 
Majority staffs of the Committee on House Administration (the 
Committee) worked on several bipartisan issues impacting 
Legislative Branch operations. The Committee Republicans 
appreciate the bipartisan efforts to:
           Establish ``subject-specific'' re-occurring 
        oversight meetings to address: Copyright IT 
        Modernization, Cannon House Office Building Renovation, 
        District Office Outreach, and improving the services 
        offered by House Information Resources.
           Direct the United States Capitol Police and 
        encourage the Fraternal Order of Police to start 
        collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
           Identify and work to confirm a permanent 
        agency head for the Government Publishing Office, which 
        had gone without a permanent director for over two 
        years.
           Identify and work to confirm a permanent 
        agency head for the Architect of the Capitol
           Conduct several oversight hearings 
        including: Priorities for House Officers, United States 
        Capitol Police, Congressional Research Service, Cannon 
        House Office Building Renovation, Smithsonian 
        Institute, and Government Publishing Office.
           Update the Member and Committee Handbooks to 
        address advanced payments and incorporate changes 
        necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
           Establish the SPF Sean Cooley and SPC 
        Christopher Horton Congressional Gold Star Family 
        Fellowship Program.
           Implement the first ever initiative to 
        provide a paid transition aide to member-elects of the 
        117th Congress.
           Direct the CAO to revise the existing 
        Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the General Services 
        Administration covering district office leases and 
        services.
           Provide oversight of the Library of 
        Congress's Visitor Experience project.
           Provide oversight of the Capitol Visitor 
        Center's re-fresh of Exhibition Hall.

                     CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

    The hearing held by the Committee focusing on the 
Congressional Research Service (CRS) was a productive first 
step in addressing several long-term management issues at CRS. 
The Committee Republicans were hopeful that the hearing would 
be a starting point in addressing the challenges CRS faces. 
Unfortunately, that never occurred, and Committee Republicans 
believe most of the issues raised at the hearing still have not 
been addressed. Committee Republicans look forward to working 
together in a bipartisan way to conduct proper oversight the 
Congressional Research Service in the 117th Congress.

                            SHARED EMPLOYEES

    The Committee Republicans were optimistic that the Majority 
would be willing partners to fully implement the necessary 
controls over shared employees that had been developed in the 
115th Congress to address identified vulnerabilities. That 
implementation has not occurred. To make matters more 
frustrating, it appears the Majority put more effort into 
approving a significant six-figure settlement with several 
former shared employees, than working together to implement 
needed controls over shared employees and existing 
vulnerabilities.

                      UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE

    The Committee Republicans introduced the Capitol Police 
Advancement Act of 2020. This piece of legislation calls to 
increase transparency of the department and provide authorities 
needed to remove bad actors from the police force. While much 
of the debate around policing in America was focused on local 
and state police departments, the Committee felt it was 
important to advocate for policy changes that would address 
some longstanding issues on the Capitol campus. Furthermore, 
Committee Republicans support the regional reorganization of 
the department to better protect Members and staff in the 
districts. This initiative has been approved by the Capitol 
Police Board and hopefully the Majority will support 
implementation.

                 NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICES HEADQUARTERS

    The Committee Republicans want to see more of an effort put 
into upgrading programs within the National Library Services 
(NLS), the most impactful step to that end is for Congress to 
find a permanent long-term headquarters. A proposal that has 
support from the Library of Congress, NLS, Senate, and 
Committee Republicans has been pending approval with the 
Majority of the Committee for over a year.

          HOUSE COMMISSION ON CONGRESSIONAL MAILING STANDARDS

    The Committee Republicans would like to associate 
themselves with the following portion of the Majorities 
Committee Activity Report and emphasize the gratitude to 
Franking Commission Chairwoman Susan Davis and Ranking Member 
Bryan Steil:

          ``The House Commission on Congressional Mailing 
        Standards, commonly known as the Franking Commission, 
        is responsible for issuing regulations governing the 
        proper use of official communications resources, 
        providing advice and counsel to Members and committees 
        through advisory opinions, and hearing formal 
        complaints against Members who have allegedly violated 
        relevant law and regulations. During this Congress, and 
        in coordination with the Select Committee on the 
        Modernization of Congress, the Commission revised the 
        regulations on the use of the official communications 
        resources to more reasonably reflect the realities of 
        contemporary digital communications. These changes will 
        also simultaneously provide more transparency to the 
        public and more flexibility for Members.''

             SELECT COMMITTEE ON MODERNIZATION OF CONGRESS

    The Select Committee on Modernization (SCMC), established 
at the beginning of the 116th Congress for the first session 
and later extended for the entire Congress. The SCMC passed at 
total of 97 recommendations. The recommendations ranged from 
way to improve communication with constituents, additional 
human resource support for offices, efforts to promote 
bipartisanship, and reimaging how the House uses information 
technology. Many of the recommendations are in the process of 
being implemented or are already in place, the benefits already 
being realized by offices. The 117th Congress provides an 
enormous opportunity to build on this work through the 
Committee prioritizing which additional recommendations should 
be implemented. The Committee Republicans are supportive of the 
SCMC being authorized for the 117th Congress and look forward 
to collaborating with them again.

                           COVID-19 RESPONSE

    As the global pandemic began to impact Congressional 
operations there was a real spirit of bipartisanship to address 
the immediate needs of the House. The initial effort to 
transition thousands of staff to telework posture was a 
monumental task that went extremely well. Additionally, there 
was collaboration on establishing supply lines, initial 
procurements and distribution of personal protection equipment, 
both in DC and districts. An internal COVID taskforce was 
created consisting of Congressional support agencies, 
Leadership staff from both sides, and staff from both sides of 
the Committee. For many weeks the taskforce met daily, these 
conversations were helpful often resulting in resolution on 
timely issues. As it became apparent that the pandemic was 
going to have a lengthy impact on operations; the Committee 
Republicans began to advocate for the development of a 
transparent, comprehensive plan to balance the health and 
safety of our workforce with the Constitutionally required work 
of the House. That plan should have been based in science and 
medical advice, developed in a bipartisan way, and made 
available to everyone. It should have addressed a comprehensive 
health monitoring program including testing, reconfiguring of 
multi-use space to accommodate social distancing requirements, 
consistent occupancy limits and a way to enforcement them, and 
clearly established phases that would drive the institution's 
operating posture.
    Instead what was developed at the Majority's direction was 
a patchwork of confusing guidance, inconsistent messaging, and 
the appearance that decisions that should be made by medical 
professionals were instead being driven by political 
conveniences. For the final seven months of the 116th Congress 
the Majority of the Committee has effectively abdicated the 
spirit of bipartisanship that has been the hallmark of the 
Committee for many years when addressing House operations. 
Despite the unjustified mode of operation by the Majority, the 
Committee Republicans hope the spirit of bipartisanship will 
return in the 117th Congress and continue to stand ready to 
work together.

                               ELECTIONS

    Throughout the 116th Congress there was fundamental 
difference on election policy between Committee Republicans and 
the Majority. The 116th Congress started with H.R. 1 and its 
provisions that would have mandated a Federal takeover of 
elections, legalized ballot harvesting nationwide, funded 
Congressional campaigns with taxpayer dollars, limited free 
speech, and further politicized the Federal Election 
Commission. After the hyper-partisan H.R. 1 failed to become 
law, the Committee Republicans offered several commonsense 
election related bills including the Election Security 
Assistance Act and the Honest Elections Act.

                       ELECTION OBSERVER PROGRAM

    The Committee Republicans wanted to highlight the 
importance of the Election Observer Program. The program has 
provided Committee Republicans with an incredible amount of 
data and established strong relationships and communication 
with key outside partners that will be critical to our efforts 
to fight back in this contested election fight. A few 
highlights from this year's program:
           Our team recruited and trained more than 70 
        Republican House staffers to serve as official election 
        observers.
           Through the program, we deployed observers 
        to 19 districts across the countrywho are observing to 
        ensure ballots in the closest House races are being 
        processed fairly and counted accurately.
           In the weeks following the election, we 
        dedicated significant resources to observation in 
        Allegheny Co., PA, southwestern Iowa, Gwinnett Co., GA, 
        Clark County, NV, Illinois, Utah, New York, and 
        California, among others. As counting and other post-
        election work progressed, we remained on the groundto 
        closely monitor races.
           We raised issues with access for observers, 
        segregation of ballots, glitches with voting machines, 
        processes for provisional ballots, inventory of memory 
        cards, and others. A comprehensive analysis on election 
        administration issues will be forthcoming in the 117th 
        Congress.
           The Committee also conducted significant 
        time fact-finding in various States prior to the 
        general election to hear directly from local election 
        administrators on the challenges they face. This work 
        will help inform Committee Republicans develop policy 
        moving forward.
                                   Rodney Davis
                                           Ranking Member.