Foreword
By Seamus Kraft, Executive Director of The OpenGov Foundation
The United States Congress is stuck between a rock and a hard place, squarely lodged between the paper-based past and the growing demands of our digital age. As House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers puts it:
“What we’re seeing is a 19th century institution often using 20th century technology to solve 21st century problems. We need to change that.”
We wholeheartedly agree. This report is a lever to help extricate Congress from its current morass and get our representative democracy moving again on a steady arc of positive change.
Contained in these pages is proof that a better Congress is possible. But it will not be easy. Congress faces countless complex and interlocking problems that have grown over decades, on everyone’s watch. The research, insights, and opportunities in this report are published freely and openly so that everyone can see what we see. If more know about the challenges facing Congress, more have the opportunity to help fix them.
If you take one thing away from this report, take this: While the quality of Congress’ critical systems, training, and technology may be in doubt, the quality of its hardworking people never should be. Every day they give life and meaning to government of, by, and for the people. They are the glue that binds our representative democracy, performing a half-dozen minor civic miracles before lunch, while helping countless people have a voice in the critical decisions that impact their lives, families, and businesses.
I had the honor of serving as a House staffer from 2009 to 2013. I would have given all the money in the world to have a report like this. It is our humble contribution towards creating a Congress that can tackle 21st century challenges, evolve with the times and the technology, and be for all Americans what it was for me and thousands of others — a truly remarkable and rewarding place for public service.
Serving those who serve the people is why The OpenGov Foundation exists. And that’s why you’re now reading this report. I hope you enjoy using it, reusing it, and adding to it as much as we have enjoyed building it for you.
Section 1: Project overview
This article is part of From Voicemails to Votes (PDF), a report conducted by The OpenGov Foundation on the mindsets, capacities, tools, and operations of Congressional offices with regard to constituent engagement. More about the project here.
