22 Sep 2026 Appetite for Modernization Stronger than Ever: Recommendations for Congress in Government Reform

BPC Action, along with members of the Fix Congress Cohort, sent a letter to the Subcommittee on Modernization and Innovation expressing their gratitude for the work the subcommittee has done throughout the 119th Congress to move the institution forward by continuing the implementation of recommendations made by the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress and by exploring new areas for further innovation. 

Many of the Fix Congress Cohort member organizations formally submitted recommendation ideas through the subcommittee’s official portal. Now that the submission period has closed, the cohort has identified some common themes they see across the submissions. 

  • Opportunities for Continual Innovation: Throughout the month that the subcommittee portal was available, one thing became clear within the community—appetite for modernization and innovation is as strong as ever. Not only has the external stakeholder community contributed dozens of recommendations, but the cohort has also heard from numerous internal stakeholders of the many ideas they have for improving the functioning of Congress. 
  • As such, the cohort strongly encourages the subcommittee to support more regular opportunities, venues, and mediums to collect modernization proposals. This could take many forms including continuation of the submission portal, regular staff and member listening sessions, or more formal and regular outreach to Congressional Member Organizations (CMOs) and Congressional Staff Organizations (CSOs). 
  • Think Baskets of Work, Not Just Bespoke Projects: The cohort encourages the subcommittee to examine each area of potential action holistically. Submissions include many ideas for individual projects that could improve the efficiency and functionality of a certain task, staff position, or office. However, the cohort believes modernization has reached a point of maturity in which attention to discrete problems is 1) less urgent, thanks to previous subcommittee work, and 2) no longer a sufficient strategy for achieving systemic change. 
  • Before pursuing a list of one-off projects, the subcommittee should assess the full list of submitted projects to identify areas where work can be grouped to support the better integration of complex systems across areas of focus. For example, many organizations submitted technology project proposals that would help support congressional staff in their day-to-day operations. Before prioritizing certain projects or allocating funds, the House would benefit from thinking through how these projects fit together and what infrastructure they require in the short term to build upon them in the long. Doing so will help enable interoperability and consistency across projects, provide a more fiscally sustainable approach, and ensure that all recommendations are building toward a shared vision for the future of Congress. 

Read the full letter from the undersigned organizations: 

American Governance Institute 

Bipartisan Policy Center Action 

Brennan Center for Justice 

Fix Our House 

Inclusive Abundance Action 

POPVOX Foundation 

Public Good Group 

Recoding America 

R Street Institute 

Tags:
, ,
Print page