Summary
Mission:
The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (“Select Committee”) was established by H.Res. 6 on January 4, 2019 and is tasked to investigate, study, make findings, hold public hearings, and develop recommendations to make Congress more effective, efficient, and transparent on behalf of the American people. The Select Committee is one of the only truly bipartisan committees in Congress, with an equal number of Republican and Democratic members.
Democratic Members (Majority):
Derek Kilmer, Washington, Chair
Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri
Zoe Lofgren
Ed Perlmutter
Republican Members (Minority):
William Timmons, South Carolina, Ranking Member
Rodney Davis, IL
Bob Latta, OH
Guy Reschenthaler
Featured Video:
Business Meeting to Consider Slate of Recommendations – July 29, 2021
News
Press Releases and news can be found here at the committee website.
Bainbridge Island Review, – September 13, 2021
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, the Democrat representing the 6th Congressional District in Congress, sat down Aug. 20 for a roundtable discussion with reporters from the Kitsap Daily News on issues of local and regional importance, including his work as chairman of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
The select committee’s mission, he said, is to make Congress more accessible to the American people and to strengthen the institution by better equipping staff members to handle the increasingly complex duties they are asked to perform.
About
History
The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (“Select Committee”) was established by H.Res. 6 on January 4, 2019 and is tasked to investigate, study, make findings, hold public hearings, and develop recommendations to make Congress more effective, efficient, and transparent on behalf of the American people. The Select Committee is one of the only truly bipartisan committees in Congress, with an equal number of Republican and Democratic members.
The Members were appointed by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
In the 116th Congress, the Committee was helmed by Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chair Tom Graves (R-GA).
During the 117th Congress, the Committee is helmed by Chair Derek Kilmer and Vice Chair William Timmons (R-SC).
Two members are each drawn from the House Rules Committee, the House Administration Committee, and the congressional freshman class.
Although the Select Committee was originally set to expire in February 2020, the House voted on November 14, 2019 to extend the committees work to the end of the 116th Congress. However, on January 4, 2021 the House adopted the Rules of the 117th Congress, officially reauthorizing the Select Committee to continue making Congress work better for the American people.
A first for congressional select committees, the Members release recommendations on a rolling basis throughout the year. Though the committee does not have legislative jurisdiction, on December 10, 2019 all 12 committee members introduced H.Res. 756, the Moving our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization (MODCOM) resolution. The resolution incorporates 29 of the recommendations passed by the Select Committee to improve transparency, accessibility and communication throughout the House. The resolution overwhelmingly passed the full House on March 10, 2020.
The Select Committee released its 116th public report on October 14, 2020, which details 97 recommendations and the committee’s research, conversations with experts, staff and Members throughout the last two years.
Source: Committee website
Legislation
Hearings
Source: Committee website
See Also
Committee Activity
Source: Committee website
