Influenced by the work and recommendations of the non-sunsetted Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, the new Subcommittee on Modernization with the Committee on House Administration — established in February 2023 — is working in an evenly bipartisan manner to advance solutions to make the House a more functional, accessible, transparent, and technologically adept institution. The select committee advanced a total of 202 bipartisan recommendations — of which over 100 were fully or partially implemented.
Established in the 116th Congress with overwhelming support from both parties, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress is made up of an even number of Republicans and Democrats. It has produced more than 100 bold recommendations — nearly all of which were unanimous — and passed 29 through the House, making the institution more functional, accessible, transparent, representative, and technologically adept. The select committee serves as one of the strongest models for productive, bipartisan collaboration in Congress.
Issue One and partner organizations called for the creation of this select committee, and we have continuously advocated for and helped inform its work. Issue One has repeatedly given testimony before the select committee focused on attracting and retaining smart and diverse staff, with several of our recommendations adopted by the committee. We also successfully pushed for the select committee to be extended past its initial one-year mandate.
Cites Issue One's "The Road to Fair Pay" report...
Issue One's "The Road to Fair Pay" report cited...
Typical staff assistant on Capitol Hill no longer makes less than a living wage, but more reforms are needed to attract and retain staffers from all socioeconomic backgrounds...
In the media
Cites Issue One's "The Road to Fair Pay" report...
In the media
Issue One's "The Road to Fair Pay" report cited...
Press releases
Typical staff assistant on Capitol Hill no longer makes less than a living wage, but more reforms are needed to attract and retain staffers from all socioeconomic backgrounds...
New research by Issue One shows that the salaries of the lowest-paid staffers on Capitol Hill have been improving in recent years. This is thanks, at least in part, to…
Reports
Why fair pay for congressional staffers matters for representative democracy...
Introduction Experienced congressional staffers are vital for the functioning of Congress, but for too long, Americans from all social and economic backgrounds haven’t been able to equally serve in these…
Press releases
Last week, the U.S. House Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) closed its doors. This closure was the result of a provision in the legislative branch appropriations bill for FY2024…
In the media
ReFormers Caucus letter to Congress about collaboration and civility cited...
Press releases
Today 75 members of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus, a bipartisan group of nearly 200 former members of Congress, governors, and Cabinet officials, sent a letter to the leadership of the…
Press releases
Last Friday, Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) announced that he will not be seeking reelection for Washington’s 6th congressional district, a seat he has held since 2013. A committed public servant,…
Analysis
The new Subcommittee on Modernization was established to advance solutions for a more efficient, effective, and responsive House of Representatives. For four years, the bipartisan Select Committee on the Modernization…
Sign-on letters
Today, 40 former members of Congress from Issue One’s bipartisan ReFormers Caucus commended the House of Representatives for continuing to invest in our nation’s legislative branch. In a letter addressed…
