Congress needs to reform itself in wake of coronavirus, write 110 members of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus in USA Today

Today, in an open letter to Congress published in USA Today, a bipartisan group of 110 former members of Congress, governors, and Cabinet secretaries who are all part of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus urged current lawmakers to embrace institutional reforms in the wake of the public health and economic crises spurred by the coronavirus pandemic.

“We hope that leaders in both chambers of Congress will harness the moments following this grave and uncertain time and boldly lead to restore the institution,” read the letter, which was signed by 70 Democrats and 40 Republicans.

The letter calls for bipartisan cooperation and critical institutional reforms that will improve the functioning of both the House and Senate. It was organized by Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus, which is co-chaired by former Amb. Connie Morella (R-MD), Amb. Tim Roemer (D-IN), and Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN). 

Read the full letter here.

The full list of the 110 members of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus who signed this letter are as follows:

Rep. Jason Altmire, D-PA

Rep. Les AuCoin, D-OR

Rep. Brian Baird, D-WA

Rep. Mike Barnes, D-MD

Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-SC

Rep. Charlie Bass , R-NH

Sen. Mark Begich, D-AK

Rep. Douglas Bereuter, R-NE

Rep. Don Bonker, D-WA

Sec. Bill Brock, R-TN

Gov. John Carlin, D-KS

Gov. Arne Carlson, R-MN

Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-MO 

Rep. Bob Carr, D-MI

Rep. John Cavanaugh, D-NE

Rep. Ben Chandler, D-KY

Rep. Rod Chandler, R-WA

Rep. William Clinger, R-PA

Rep. Tom Coleman, R-MO

Rep. Sam Coppersmith, D-AZ 

Rep. Jerry Costello, D-IL

Sen. Tom Daschle, D-SD

Rep. Hal Daub, R-NE

Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-TN

Rep. Tom Davis, R-VA

Rep. Charlie Dent, R-PA

Rep. Charles Djou, R-HI

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-CT

Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-IN

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-ND

Sen. Dave Durenberger, R-MN

Rep. Vic Fazio, D-CA

Sen. Russ Feingold, D-WI

Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-TN

Amb. Wyche Fowler, D-GA

Rep. Martin Frost, D-TX

Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-MO 

Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, R-MD

Sec. Glickman, D-KS   

Rep. Gene Green, D-TX

Sec. Chuck Hagel, R-NE

Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-IN

Sen. Gary Hart, D-CO

Rep. Joe Heck, R-NV

Rep. Dennis Hertel, D-MI

Rep. Paul Hodes, D-NH

Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman, D-NY

Rep. Jerry Huckaby, D-LA

Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-IL

Rep. Bob Inglis, R-SC

Rep. Steve Israel, D-NY

Sen. Bennett Johnston, D-LA 

Rep. Barbara Kennelly, D-CT  

Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-AZ

Rep. Mike Kopetski, D-OR

Rep. Steve Kuykendall, R-CA

Sec. Ray LaHood, R-IL

Rep. Martin Lancaster, D-NC  

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA

Rep. Larry LaRocco, D-ID 

Rep. Rick Lazio, R-NY

Rep. Jim Leach, R-IA

Rep. John LeBoutillier, R-NY

Rep. Sandy Levin, D-MI

Rep. Mel Levine, D-CA

Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-AR 

Rep. Andrew Maguire, D-NJ   

Rep. Marjorie Margolies, D-PA   

Rep. Pete McCloskey, R-CA

Rep. Matthew McHugh, D-NY 

Gov. John McKernan, R-ME

Rep. Tom McMillen, D-MD 

Rep. George Miller, D-CA

Sec. Norman Mineta, D-CA

Amb. Connie Morella, R-MD

Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-FL  

Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-PA 

Rep. Sue Myrick, R-NC

Rep. Glenn Nye, D-VA

Rep. Tom Osborne, R-NE

Sec. Leon Panetta, D-CA

Rep. Tom Petri, R-WI

Sen. Larry Pressler, R-SD

Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-OH

Sec. Tom Ridge, R-PA

Gov. Bill Ritter, D-CO

Amb. Tim Roemer, D-IN   

Gov. Roy Romer, D-CO

Sec. Ed Schafer, R-ND

Rep. Claudine Schneider, R-RI

Rep. Patricia Schroeder, D-CO 

Rep. Philip Sharp, D-IN

Rep. Chris Shays, R-CT

Rep. Karen Shepherd, D-UT

Rep. David Skaggs, D-CO

Rep. Jim Slattery, D-KS  

Rep. Peter Smith, R-VT

Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-ME

Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-FL

Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-TX  

Rep. Bart Stupak, D-MI  

Amb. Richard Swett, D-NH

Rep. Robin Tallon, D-SC   

Rep. John Tanner, D-TN

Rep. Lee Terry, R-NE

Rep. Karen Thurman, D-FL   

Rep. John Tierney, D-MA 

Sen. Mark Udall, D-CO  

Rep. Zach Wamp, R-TN

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-CA  

Sen. Tim Wirth, D-CO

Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-CA