H.Res. 756 — Moving Our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization Resolution

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 756 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 756

Implementing the recommendations adopted by the Select Committee on the 
                       Modernization of Congress.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 10, 2019

Mr. Kilmer (for himself, Mr. Graves of Georgia, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Rodney 
 Davis of Illinois, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Woodall, Ms. DelBene, Mrs. Brooks 
  of Indiana, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Newhouse, Ms. Scanlon, and Mr. Timmons) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
     on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on 
 Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Judiciary, for a period to 
      be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Implementing the recommendations adopted by the Select Committee on the 
                       Modernization of Congress.

    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This resolution may be cited as the ``Moving Our 
Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization 
Resolution''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this resolution is 
as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
         TITLE I--STREAMLINING AND REORGANIZING HUMAN RESOURCES

Sec. 101. Centralized human resources program.
Sec. 102. Reports on operation of Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Sec. 103. Examining feasibility of updating staff payroll system.
Sec. 104. Examining feasibility of adjusting the statutory limitation 
                            on number of employees of Member offices.
    TITLE II--IMPROVING ORIENTATION FOR MEMBERS-ELECT AND PROVIDING 
        IMPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS

Sec. 201. Plan for providing pay and benefits to staff of new Members-
                            elect.
Sec. 202. Improving the orientation experience of new Members.
Sec. 203. Exploring the feasibility of establishing a Congressional 
                            Leadership Academy.
Sec. 204. Requiring annual cybersecurity training for Members and 
                            employees.
           TITLE III--MODERNIZING AND REVITALIZING TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 301. Reforming House Information Resources.
Sec. 302. Providing technologies to improve constituent engagement.
Sec. 303. Streamlined approval process for outside technology vendors.
Sec. 304. Enabling Member offices to beta test new technologies.
Sec. 305. Creating single point of contact between House offices and 
                            HIR.
Sec. 306. Improving Member feedback regarding outside vendors and HIR 
                            services.
Sec. 307. Leveraging bulk purchasing power of the House.
Sec. 308. Requiring Congressional Research Service to provide rapid 
                            response short fact sheets.
Sec. 309. Establishing nonpartisan constituent engagement and services 
                            page on HouseNet.
              TITLE IV--MAKING THE HOUSE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL

Sec. 401. Ensuring accessibility of House websites.
Sec. 402. Close captioning of proceedings; captioning service for 
                            videos created by House offices.
Sec. 403. Comprehensive review of accessibility of United States 
                            Capitol Buildings and Grounds.
        TITLE V--IMPROVING ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS

Sec. 501. Adopting standardized format for legislative documents.
Sec. 502. Legislation comparison project.
Sec. 503. Database of information on expiration of authorizations of 
                            programs.
Sec. 504. Database of votes taken in committees.
Sec. 505. Assignment of unique identifiers for reports filed by 
                            registered lobbyists.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this resolution, the following definitions apply:
            (1) The term ``Chief Administrative Officer'' means the 
        Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives.
            (2) The term ``Clerk'' means the Clerk of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (3) The term ``HIR'' means the Office of House Information 
        Resources.
            (4) The term ``Member'' means a Member of the House of 
        Representatives and a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the 
        Congress.

         TITLE I--STREAMLINING AND REORGANIZING HUMAN RESOURCES

SEC. 101. CENTRALIZED HUMAN RESOURCES PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment and Operation of Program.--In order to improve 
recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce, develop best human 
resources practices, and take steps to improve competitive compensation 
and benefits for employees, the Chief Administrative Officer shall 
establish and operate a centralized human resources program to assist 
Member, committee, and leadership office staff.
    (b) Features of Program.--The program established under this 
section shall provide the following services:
            (1) Developing a centralized repository of practices 
        collected from internal and external sources that have proven 
        to be successful in hiring, promoting, and managing staff, 
        updated from time to time.
            (2) Improving diversity recruitment by implementing and 
        promoting best practices for actively seeking out candidates of 
        various backgrounds, experiences, and talents, including 
        through outreach to under-represented colleges and 
        universities, community colleges, historically Black colleges 
        and universities, and organizations for individuals with 
        disabilities, and compiling a list of such candidates into the 
        House resume portal.
            (3) Reevaluating current Member, committee, and leadership 
        office employee benefits (including the evaluation of the 
        capacity and costs of the House child care center and student 
        loan repayment program) and submitting to the Committee on 
        House Administration on a regular and ongoing basis 
        recommendations for additions or improvements to such benefits 
        which will improve recruitment and retention, exploring options 
        such as telework, flex schedules, returnship programs, and 
        sabbaticals.
            (4) Conducting a biennial staff survey as well as offering 
        an optional exit survey to Member, committee, and leadership 
        office staff.
            (5) Making improvements to the House resume bank, including 
        making such bank into a user-friendly, searchable portal 
        through which Member, committee, and leadership offices can 
        select a range of criteria to narrow down the candidate pool, 
        and including ways to promote and publicize the existence and 
        availability of such bank to internal and external users.
            (6) Improving and managing the House Vacancy Announcement 
        and Placement Service.
            (7) Providing Members-elect with information on the full 
        range of services offered to their staff in an easily 
        understandable and organized format immediately following the 
        certification of their election results.
    (c) Operation of Program.--
            (1) Staff.--The Chief Administrative Officer shall 
        designate a Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer who shall be 
        responsible for the operation of the program established under 
        this section, using existing staff and resources of the Office 
        of the Chief Administrative Officer.
            (2) Location; availability of services online.--The program 
        shall be located in a physical location which is easily 
        accessible to the offices using the resources of the program, 
        and shall provide an online portal through which offices may 
        obtain these services.
    (d) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations and take any other steps as may be required to carry out 
this section.

SEC. 102. REPORTS ON OPERATION OF OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

    In accordance with House Resolution 6, One Hundred Sixteenth 
Congress, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion of the House of 
Representatives shall submit the following plans and reports:
            (1) Not later than 60 days after the appointment of the 
        Director of the Office, the Office shall submit to the 
        Committee on House Administration an operational plan for the 
        Office that shall include, consistent with applicable House 
        rules, regulations, and law, a plan for appointing and 
        establishing duties for staff of the Office which shall set 
        forth a proposed maximum number of staff.
            (2) Not later than 90 days after submitting the operational 
        plan under paragraph (1), the Office shall submit a diversity 
        plan to the Committee on House Administration for the 
        Committee's review and approval, and shall include in the plan 
        the following:
                    (A) Policies to direct and guide House employing 
                offices to recruit, hire, train, develop, advance, 
                promote, and retain a diverse workforce, consistent 
                with applicable House rules, regulations, and law.
                    (B) The development of a survey, in consultation 
                with the Committee on House Administration, to evaluate 
                diversity in House employing offices.
                    (C) A framework for the annual diversity report 
                required under paragraph (3).
                    (D) A proposal for the composition of an Advisory 
                Council that shall, as necessary, inform the work of 
                the Office.
                    (E) Any additional components as determined by the 
                Committee on House Administration.
            (3) At the end of each session of Congress, the Office 
        shall submit a House of Representatives diversity report to the 
        Speaker, the majority leader and minority leader, the chair and 
        ranking minority member of the Committee on House 
        Administration, and the chair and ranking minority member of 
        the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch of the Committee on 
        Appropriations.

SEC. 103. EXAMINING FEASIBILITY OF UPDATING STAFF PAYROLL SYSTEM.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
adoption of this resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer and the 
Inspector General of the House of Representatives shall submit to the 
Committee on House Administration a report on the feasibility of 
updating the employee payroll system in order to address considerations 
of younger and lower-paid employees, as well as issues experienced 
generally by some employees regarding the current monthly pay schedule.
    (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            (1) The results of any employee surveys regarding the 
        desirability of changing the employee payroll system or 
        providing both a monthly or bimonthly system.
            (2) An analysis of any costs associated with making changes 
        to the current employee payroll system, including providing 
        additional options for the schedule of payments.
            (3) An analysis of any impediments or concerns with making 
        any changes to the current staff payroll system.
    (c) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 104. EXAMINING FEASIBILITY OF ADJUSTING THE STATUTORY LIMITATION 
              ON NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES OF MEMBER OFFICES.

    (a) Requirement.--The Chief Administrative Officer shall enter into 
a contract with an outside entity under which the entity shall work 
with the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare and submit a report 
examining the feasibility of adjusting the statutory limitation 
established in 1975 on the number of employees who may be employed in 
the office of a Member.
    (b) Contents of Report.--The report described in subsection (a) 
shall include the following:
            (1) Information regarding the size and demographic makeup 
        of each congressional district, including the number and 
        coverage area of each district office.
            (2) The average number of employees for each district 
        office, including common tasks by position.
            (3) Recommendations regarding the optimal number of 
        employees in both offices located in House office buildings and 
        district offices to address common office workflows and 
        constituent requests, including changes in technology that have 
        occurred recently and are expected to occur in the near future 
        that would have an effect on such number.
            (4) Recommendations regarding employee salaries and costs, 
        including recommendations for necessary changes to the Members' 
        Representational Allowance that would be necessary to carry out 
        such recommendations.
    (c) Deadlines.--
            (1) Recommendation of contractors.--Not later than 60 days 
        after the date of adoption of this resolution, the Chief 
        Administrative Officer shall identify for the Committee of 
        House Administration a multiple number of entities who, in the 
        judgement of the Chief Administrative Officer, are capable of 
        providing the report described in subsection (a).
            (2) Submission of report.--Under the contract entered into 
        pursuant to this section, the entity shall submit the report 
        not later than 180 days after the signing of the contract.

    TITLE II--IMPROVING ORIENTATION FOR MEMBERS-ELECT AND PROVIDING 
        IMPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS

SEC. 201. PLAN FOR PROVIDING PAY AND BENEFITS TO STAFF OF NEW MEMBERS-
              ELECT.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, the Clerk of the House shall submit a 
report to the Committee on House Administration that includes--
            (1) a detailed plan for paying a salary and providing 
        benefits for an individual to serve as an employee of a Member-
        elect during the period beginning on the date on which the 
        Member-elect is elected and ending on the date on which the 
        Member-elect takes the oath of office;
            (2) a timeline for the implementation of the plan and a 
        statement of the expected costs of such a plan (including one-
        time and ongoing costs); and
            (3) a description of any obstacles preventing the 
        implementation of such a plan, including the need to make 
        changes in law.
    (b) Application to Only New Members.--The plan described in 
subsection (a) shall apply only with respect to an individual serving 
as an employee of a Member-elect who, at the time the Member-elect is 
elected, is not already serving as a Member.
    (c) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 202. IMPROVING THE ORIENTATION EXPERIENCE OF NEW MEMBERS.

    (a) In General.--In providing orientation services for new Members, 
including in-person courses and sessions, the Committee on House 
Administration shall carry out the following:
            (1) The Committee shall work to ensure that orientation 
        services are made available to all new Members, including 
        Members elected in a special election during a Congress.
            (2) The Committee shall work to ensure that courses on the 
        Rules of the House, decorum and debate, and other such courses 
        on practices to promote civility and respect are made available 
        to Members.
            (3) The Committee shall work to ensure that archived audio 
        and visual recordings of orientation sessions are made 
        available for reference.
            (4) The Committee shall work to provide a range of House 
        training programs and support services, including courses to 
        promote civility and encourage decorum, for new Members and the 
        senior staff of new Members throughout the Members' first term.
            (5) To the extent the Committee considers appropriate, the 
        Committee shall examine the feasibility of providing a ``just 
        in time'' approach to orientation sessions under which 
        information is provided at the time at which it will be most 
        useful to the Members.
    (b) Providing Services in Nonpartisan Manner.--To the greatest 
extent practicable, the Committee on House Administration shall ensure 
that the orientation services provided to new Members, including in-
person courses and sessions, are provided in a nonpartisan manner.
    (c) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations or take any other steps as may be required to carry out 
this section.

SEC. 203. EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A CONGRESSIONAL 
              LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.

    (a) Survey of Members.--The Chief Administrative Officer shall 
conduct a survey of Members, in writing and electronically, to 
determine the level of interest in establishing a Congressional 
Leadership Academy to provide online and in-person continuing education 
opportunities that will promote professional development and 
institutional training, including the feasibility of setting up a pilot 
program to establish such an Academy.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the adoption 
of this resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer shall submit a 
report to the Committee on House Administration on the results of the 
survey conducted under subsection (a), and shall include in the 
estimates of costs of establishing and operating a Congressional 
Leadership Academy as well as any impediments to establishing such an 
Academy, including impediments relating to technology, security, or 
content.

SEC. 204. REQUIRING ANNUAL CYBERSECURITY TRAINING FOR MEMBERS AND 
              EMPLOYEES.

    (a) Requirement for Training.--The Chief Administrative Officer 
shall carry out a cybersecurity training program under which each 
Member, officer, and employee of the House receives an appropriate 
amount of cybersecurity training each year.
    (b) Deadlines.--
            (1) New members and employees.--A new Member, officer, or 
        employee of the House shall receive training under the program 
        under this section not later than 30 days after beginning 
        service to the House.
            (2) Certification of completion by employees.--Not later 
        than January 31 of each year, each officer and employee of the 
        House shall file a certification with the Chief Administrative 
        Officer that the officer or employee completed an information 
        security training program as established by this subsection.
    (c) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations or take any other steps as may be required to carry out 
this section.

           TITLE III--MODERNIZING AND REVITALIZING TECHNOLOGY

SEC. 301. REFORMING HOUSE INFORMATION RESOURCES.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer shall 
submit a report to the Committee on House Administration on the 
operations of the Office of House Information Resources. Such report 
shall include--
            (1) a roadmap for addressing the root causes of HIR's 
        systemic inability to deliver enterprise programs and 
        information technology services in a timely manner that 
        satisfies the needs of Member offices;
            (2) recommendations to improve the quality of HIR services, 
        such as web design and information technology support;
            (3) recommendations for changes to HIR's mission to better 
        align it with the needs of Member offices; and
            (4) methods to reduce duplicative spending on information 
        technology services.
    (b) Conducting Outside Review.--The Committee on House 
Administration may direct the Chief Administrative Officer to enter 
into a contract with an outside entity to provide the Committee with an 
independent review of the operations of HIR and to provide independent 
recommendations to the Committee regarding strategies and steps for 
reforming HIR's operations.
    (c) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations or take any other steps as may be required to address the 
report submitted by the Chief Administrative Officer under subsection 
(a) and, if applicable, the recommendations provided by an outside 
entity pursuant to the contract entered into under subsection (b).

SEC. 302. PROVIDING TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE CONSTITUENT ENGAGEMENT.

    The Committee on House Administration may issue regulations or take 
any other steps as may be required to ensure that Member offices have 
the necessary technology and software to improve the efficiency and 
operation of Member offices and to improve constituent engagement, 
including, as soon as practicable after the date of the adoption of 
this resolution, the implementation of the following:
            (1) The ability of individuals to use mobile devices and 
        computers of the House to initiate and receive video calls, 
        including through the use of Voice Over Internet Protocol 
        (VoIP) applications.
            (2) The ability of Members to sign legislation, 
        correspondence, and constituent consent forms using electronic 
        signatures, in accordance with guidance developed in 
        coordination with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
            (3) The ability of individuals to set up a virtual private 
        network to connect to the network of the House on any mobile 
        device or computer of the House, in accordance with security 
        guidelines established by the Chief Administrative Officer.
            (4) The ability of the constituents of a Member to upload 
        requests for casework directly to the Member's official public 
        website.

SEC. 303. STREAMLINED APPROVAL PROCESS FOR OUTSIDE TECHNOLOGY VENDORS.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, HIR shall submit a report to the Committee 
on House Administration describing the steps necessary to create a 
streamlined process for the approval of outside technology vendors by 
HIR, including a discussion of unique legal, statutory, or other 
considerations relating to the House environment, costs, obstacles to 
creating and operating such an approval process, and security or other 
issues relating to such a process.
    (b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 304. ENABLING MEMBER OFFICES TO BETA TEST NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later that 120 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, HIR shall submit a report to the Committee 
on House Administration on establishing a program under which Member, 
committee, and leadership offices may elect to beta test a new 
information technology or application developed by an outside vendor 
prior to the final approval by House Information Resources of the use 
of such technology or application for such offices, and shall include 
in the report a description of the steps necessary to set up such a 
program, the operation of such program, the identification of 
additional costs that may be incurred by such a program, and the 
identification of the steps necessary to ensure security and steps 
necessary to protect against jeopardizing the House enterprise.
    (b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 305. CREATING SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN HOUSE OFFICES AND 
              HIR.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer shall 
submit a report to the Committee on House Administration on the steps 
and actions necessary to ensure that HIR establishes a single point-of-
contact within HIR for each office of the House so that the same 
employee of HIR is responsible for responding to requests from the 
office and for coordinating the delivery of products and services to 
the office, including a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages 
of such a single point-of-contact.
    (b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 306. IMPROVING MEMBER FEEDBACK REGARDING OUTSIDE VENDORS AND HIR 
              SERVICES.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, HIR shall submit a report to the Committee 
on House Administration on the steps necessary to--
            (1) create a customer satisfaction portal on HouseNet that 
        allows Members and employees to rate and review outside vendors 
        and HIR services;
            (2) annually survey district-level staff and district-
        specific technology concerns; and
            (3) survey Members and employees on what technologies they 
        would like to use.
    (b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 307. LEVERAGING BULK PURCHASING POWER OF THE HOUSE.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer shall 
submit a report to the Committee on House Administration on the steps 
necessary to provide a standard suite of information technology (as 
described in subsection (b)) for the use of offices of Members of the 
House, including various packages and options, and shall include in the 
report an analysis of alternative methods for funding the purchase of 
such a suite, including increasing the Members' Representational 
Allowances or creating additional accounts. The report shall also 
include a detailed marketing and communications plan, including 
strategies to disseminate information regarding the standard suite to 
Member offices.
    (b) Contents of Standard Suite.--The standard suite of information 
technology described in this subsection consists of the following, in 
such quantity and with such features as the Chief Administrative 
Officer determines to be appropriate to enable offices of Members of 
the House to quickly and effectively carry out their operations in a 
cost-effective manner:
            (1) Desktop and portable computers, including hardware, 
        software, and related equipment and supplies.
            (2) Mobile and stationary telephones, including related 
        equipment and supplies.
            (3) Printers, including hardware, software, and related 
        equipment and supplies.
            (4) Internet products and services, including website 
        development and administration services.
            (5) Related information technology and telecommunications 
        services, including technical support and customer service.
            (6) Subscriptions and subscription services.
    (c) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 308. REQUIRING CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE TO PROVIDE RAPID 
              RESPONSE SHORT FACT SHEETS.

    The Committee on House Administration shall work closely with the 
Congressional Research Service to ensure that the Service has the 
capability to rapidly provide short, nonpartisan fact sheets which may 
be disseminated by Member offices.

SEC. 309. ESTABLISHING NONPARTISAN CONSTITUENT ENGAGEMENT AND SERVICES 
              PAGE ON HOUSENET.

    The Committee on House Administration may issue regulations, or 
take any other steps as may be required, to establish a nonpartisan 
constituent engagement and services page on HouseNet which will better 
disseminate best practices and ideas regarding ways to optimize and 
improve constituent engagement and service.

              TITLE IV--MAKING THE HOUSE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL

SEC. 401. ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY OF HOUSE WEBSITES.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer shall 
submit a report to the Committee on House Administration detailing a 
plan to ensure that all House websites and applications are accessible. 
Such report shall include--
            (1) a schedule for scanning and analyzing all House 
        websites and applications to determine the accessibility level 
        of each such website and application;
            (2) an analysis of the resources and assistance necessary 
        to ensure all relevant systems are compatible with common 
        programs used by major disability groups; and
            (3) a plan to ensure that all updates to such websites and 
        applications, as well as new websites and applications, are 
        accessible.
    (b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 402. CLOSE CAPTIONING OF PROCEEDINGS; CAPTIONING SERVICE FOR 
              VIDEOS CREATED BY HOUSE OFFICES.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, the Chief Administrative Officer and the 
Clerk shall submit a report to the Committee on House Administration 
detailing a plan to ensure that all House proceedings that are 
broadcast on television or streamed on the internet provide closed 
caption services, and provide a free captioning service for all web 
videos created by Member, committee, and leadership offices, as well as 
the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer and the Office of the 
Clerk. Such report shall include--
            (1) a statement of the estimated costs of providing close 
        captioning services for all such proceedings;
            (2) a statement of the estimated costs of providing 
        captioning service for all such web videos;
            (3) an estimated timeline for carrying out the plan; and
            (4) a discussion of any barriers to carrying out the plan, 
        including statutory or regulatory impediments.
    (b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 403. COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ACCESSIBILITY OF UNITED STATES 
              CAPITOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, the Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant 
at Arms of the House of Representatives, and the Executive Director of 
the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, shall provide a joint 
report to the Committee on House Administration identifying areas of 
the Capitol buildings and the United States Capitol Grounds that are 
not currently accessible, the estimated costs of making such areas 
accessible, including a timetable and plan for making accessibility 
modifications, and a discussion of future challenges to ensuring full 
accessibility.
    (b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

        TITLE V--IMPROVING ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS

SEC. 501. ADOPTING STANDARDIZED FORMAT FOR LEGISLATIVE DOCUMENTS.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, the Clerk shall submit a report to the 
Committee on House Administration regarding the status of the overall 
implementation and adoption of a standardized format for drafting, 
viewing, and publishing legislation to improve transparency and 
efficiency throughout the lawmaking process, specifically including the 
status of the overall implementation of the Extensible Markup Language, 
or XML, schema known as United States Legislative Markup.
    (b) Initial Report.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include a detailed plan for completing the overall implementation and 
adoption of the format described in such subsection, including a 
timeline, a statement of the costs incurred as of the date of such 
report, and a statement of the expected costs anticipated to be 
incurred in the future.
    (c) Quarterly Reports.--Not later than 15 days after the last day 
of each calendar quarter that begins after the submission of the report 
under subsection (a), the Clerk shall submit to the Committee on House 
Administration a status report on the progress made during that quarter 
regarding the overall implementation and adoption of the format 
described in such subsection, including any updates to the timeline and 
to the costs incurred during that quarter and expected to be incurred 
in the future, and a detailed account of actions taken to implement and 
adopt the format during the quarter covered by the report.
    (d) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 502. LEGISLATION COMPARISON PROJECT.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, the Clerk shall submit a report to the 
Committee on House Administration regarding the status of the 
completion of the legislative comparison project required by clause 12 
of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
    (b) Initial Report.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include a detailed plan for completing the legislative comparison 
project, including a timeline, a statement of the costs incurred as of 
the date of the report, and a statement of the expected costs 
anticipated to be incurred in the future.
    (c) Quarterly Reports.--Not later than 15 days after the last day 
of each calendar quarter that begins after the submission of the report 
under subsection (a), the Clerk shall submit to the Committee on House 
Administration a status report on the progress made during that quarter 
regarding the completion of the legislative comparison project, 
including any updates to the timeline and to the costs incurred during 
that quarter and expected to be incurred in the future, and a detailed 
account of actions taken to complete the legislative comparison project 
during the quarter covered by the report.
    (d) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 503. DATABASE OF INFORMATION ON EXPIRATION OF AUTHORIZATIONS OF 
              PROGRAMS.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, the Clerk shall submit a report to the 
Committee on House Administration regarding the establishment and 
maintenance, on its public website, of an up-to-date database that is 
searchable, sortable, and downloadable of the expiration dates of all 
Federal programs and the primary committee of subject matter 
jurisdiction over each such program.
    (b) Initial Report.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include a detailed plan for the completion and implementation of such 
database, including a timeline and a statement of ongoing and expected 
costs of development and implementation, any necessary legal or 
legislative authorities, as well as any barriers of difficulties 
identified regarding the completion and operation of the database. Such 
report shall also include a discussion and recommendations on ensuring 
that such database--
            (1) is updated on a continual and ongoing basis, including 
        requiring that the Clerk posts all relevant information not 
        later than 30 days after receipt; and
            (2) includes information provided by standing and select 
        committees (except the Committee on Appropriations, the 
        Committee on Ethics, the Committee on Rules, and the Permanent 
        Select Committee on Intelligence), as well as recommendations 
        to ensure that such committees provide the required information 
        on a timely and regular basis.
    (c) Annual Reports.--Not later than 15 days after the last day of 
each calendar year that begins after the submission of the report under 
subsection (a), the Clerk shall submit to the Committee on House 
Administration a report regarding the progress made regarding the 
establishment and maintenance of the database described in such 
subsection, including any updates to the timeline and to the costs 
incurred or expected to be incurred (as required under subsection (b)), 
and a detailed account of actions taken to establish and maintain the 
database during the year covered by the report.
    (d) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 504. DATABASE OF VOTES TAKEN IN COMMITTEES.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, the Clerk shall submit a report to the 
Committee on House Administration regarding the establishment and 
maintenance, on its public website, of a separate database for the 
116th Congress and each subsequent Congress of all recorded votes in 
committees (except for recorded votes taken by the Committee on Ethics 
or for any votes taken by any committee in executive session) that is 
sortable, up-to-date, and downloadable.
    (b) Initial Report.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include a detailed plan for completion and implementation of the 
database described in such subsection, including a timeline and a 
statement of the ongoing and expected costs of development and 
implementation, any necessary legal or legislative authorities, as well 
as any barriers of difficulties identified regarding the completion and 
operation of the database. Such report shall also include a discussion 
and recommendations on ensuring that such database--
            (1) is updated on a continual and ongoing basis; and
            (2) requires each standing and select committee to provide 
        to the Clerk with information respecting recorded votes taken 
        in that committee (excluding votes which are not required to be 
        included in the database) within 72 hours of such vote, to 
        include a brief description of the matter on which the recorded 
        vote was taken, the name of each Member of the committee voting 
        on that matter, whether the vote was in the affirmative or the 
        negative, and the total tally of the votes.
    (c) Quarterly Reports.--Not later than 15 days after the last day 
of each calendar quarter that begins after the submission of the report 
under subsection (a), the Clerk shall submit to the Committee on House 
Administration a report regarding the progress made regarding the 
establishment and maintenance of the database described in such 
subsection, including any updates to the detailed timeline and to the 
costs incurred or expected to be incurred (as required under subsection 
(b)), and a detailed account of actions taken to establish and maintain 
the database during for the quarter covered by the report.
    (d) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.

SEC. 505. ASSIGNMENT OF UNIQUE IDENTIFIERS FOR REPORTS FILED BY 
              REGISTERED LOBBYISTS.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, the Clerk shall submit a report to the 
Committee on House Administration regarding the status of assigning a 
unique identification number with respect to each person who files a 
registration statement or other report required to be filed with the 
Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et 
seq.), to be used for all purposes under such Act (including the public 
availability of such statements and reports) with respect to each 
statement or report required to be filed by that person with the Clerk.
    (b) Initial Report.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include a detailed plan for assigning the unique identification numbers 
described in such subsection, including a timeline, a statement of the 
ongoing and expected costs of carrying out such plan, and a description 
of any obstacles to carrying out the plan (including obstacles relating 
to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 or other laws).
    (c) Quarterly Reports.--Not later than 15 days after the last day 
of each calendar quarter that begins after the submission of the report 
under subsection (a), the Clerk shall submit to the Committee on House 
Administration a report regarding the progress made regarding the 
overall implementation of the assignment of the unique identification 
numbers described in such subsection, including any updates to the 
timeline and to the costs incurred or expected to be incurred as 
required under subsection (b) and a detailed account of actions taken 
to carry out the assignment of such unique identification numbers 
during for the quarter covered by the report.
    (d) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration may issue 
regulations to carry out any recommendations made in the report 
required under subsection (a) or take any other steps as may be 
required to carry out this section.
                                 <all>
Moving Our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization Resolution

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