Zoe Lofgren: “The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress was created by Speaker Nancy Pelosi on January 4, 2019, when the…”

“The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress was created by Speaker Nancy Pelosi on January 4, 2019, when the House adopted title II of H. Res. 6, the House Rules package. The House voted an overwhelming 418-12 to create the committee. The Speaker was insistent that the committee's membership contains a diverse set of views, which is why its membership is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats and is required to have two first- term Members among its ranks. I am proud to serve on the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, a committee whose guiding principle, in the words of Chairman Derek Kilmer, is to ``make Congress work better so that the institution and its Members can better serve the American people.'' During its first year of work, the committee has heard from former Members, discussed making legislative information more transparent, and focused on cultivating diversity and improving retention among congressional staff. The committee has also worked to promote civility and collaboration and listened carefully to Members about the congressional schedule. The committee is already having an effect. Shortly after a hearing on congressional mailing standards, the Franking Commission moved quickly to modernize their rules so Members could communicate with their constituents more directly.…”