Torres Leads Subcommittee Dems in Highlighting Future of Constituent Engagement
“The goal is to create systems that make it easier for people to be heard.”
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Modernization and Innovation, emphasized how new technologies can help constituents meaningfully connect and engage with their Member of Congress during the Subcommittee hearing.
Ranking Member Torres delivered opening remarks stressing the need to prioritize all constituents and their access to Congress.
“We need to design tools that are accessible, transparent, and responsive to the lived experiences of our communities. These new methods of engagement must also protect constituents’ privacy and personal information, when necessary,” said Ranking Member Torres.
Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Joe Morelle also delivered opening remarks where he focused on the need to ensure constituents know how to access community services, especially in a time when “we have lost the faith and confidence of the American people, institutionally as government.”
During the hearing, Ranking Member Torres addressed her concerns regarding the protection of constituents’ private data and asked witness Ken Ward, Senior Director of the House Digital Service, how Congress can improve constituent experiences while also safeguarding personal data. Mr. Ward then offered ideas that would address Rep. Torres’ concerns and directly provide constituents with secure access to timely casework updates.
Additionally, Mr. Ward highlighted in his written testimony that the “evolution of AI technologies coupled with growth in secure storage and computing technologies makes now the perfect time to consider revamping how Members’ constituent data is securely controlled, updated, transferred and made available to applications.” According to Mr. Ward, “[i]nstead of the current structure, where a small pool of vendors are responsible for collecting, updating, storing and transferring Members’ constituent data, the House should consider creating a secure, House-controlled constituent data environment that can be leveraged by various House and vendor applications as authorized by each Member.”
You can read all of the witness testimony here. Click hereto watch the entire Subcommittee hearing.
###