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Some longstanding Congressional process inefficiencies have been addressed in the wake of COVID. I was happy to join @kevinesterling & Claire Abernathy for @BrookingsGov "TechTank" to chronicle some of the ways the House has innovated: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2020/06/18/congressional-modernization-jump-started-by-covid-19/
"The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates why the work of the @ModernizeCmte is necessary and how much work remains in the efforts to modernize the House (and Senate)."
Even though the House was not prepared for remote work, it adjusted quickly
- By 3/4 @HouseAdm_Dems @HouseAdmnGOP allowed offices to use unspent funds to purchase remote tech, SAA issued guidance on continuity of operations, CAO set up a House Telework Readiness Center
- By 3/4 @HouseAdm_Dems @HouseAdmnGOP allowed offices to use unspent funds to purchase remote tech, SAA issued guidance on continuity of operations, CAO set up a House Telework Readiness Center
HUGE advancements in allowing for digital submission of documents:
- 4/6: @SpeakerPelosi announced a new system for the digital submission of bills, co-sponsorships, and extension of remarks through an email system managed by the House Clerk
- 4/6: @SpeakerPelosi announced a new system for the digital submission of bills, co-sponsorships, and extension of remarks through an email system managed by the House Clerk
- 5/20: Digital submission of committee reports was also in place
(in our @APSAtweets recommendations, we identified previous requirement of submitting reports via thumb drives as a security vulnerability)
(in our @APSAtweets recommendations, we identified previous requirement of submitting reports via thumb drives as a security vulnerability)
Remote proceedings were slow to get started but are now ubiquitous
- 4/28: 1st bipartisan remote convening by @HouseVetAffairs
- 4/20: 1st Senate virtual forum @HSGAC Subcomm on Investigations
- 5/5 first hybrid hearing in @SenateBanking @BankingGOP
- 4/28: 1st bipartisan remote convening by @HouseVetAffairs
- 4/20: 1st Senate virtual forum @HSGAC Subcomm on Investigations
- 5/5 first hybrid hearing in @SenateBanking @BankingGOP
Congress has been slow to adopt new technologies because of institutional path dependence... with COVID, old ways were no longer adequate... the House has adapted quickly &, importantly, worked collaboratively across different offices to prepare for remote work in the chamber.
