Issue One applauds the House for its vote to fix Congress

In response to today’s House vote to pass H.Res.756, the Moving Our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernizing Resolution, which adopts nearly 30 recommendations by the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, Issue One released the following statement:

“The House just showed that bipartisan work is possible, and that it can produce important bipartisan reforms that will begin to give Americans the 21st century Congress they deserve,” said Issue One Executive Director Meredith McGehee. 

“Bipartisan action today on making Congress work better and more effectively for the American people is deeply appreciated and long overdue. Creating a diversity office, seeking to improve staff retention, increasing constituent outreach to citizens, and making Congress more transparent are essential to restoring the people’s trust in the legislative branch,” said Issue One ReFormers Caucus Co-chair Amb. Tim Roemer (D-IN).

“At a time when most people write off Congress as a hopeless case, this resolution takes a first step forward to restoring faith in our government,” said ReFormers Caucus Co-chair Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN). “Today’s bipartisan vote demonstrates we can have a Congress that functions and is accountable to voters, if members make it their priority.”

Issue One applauds Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), chair of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, as well as vice chair, Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA). Their groundbreaking work is a replicable example for their colleagues of what a productive relationship between principled members of different parties looks like. Issue One will continue to support the modernization committee as it further examines ways to make Congress more responsive to all Americans.