At a Subcommittee on Modernization and Innovation hearing, Ranking Member Norma Torres emphasized the need for accessible, secure, and responsive tools to help constituents engage with Congress. She called for systems that reflect the lived experiences of diverse communities while protecting personal data.
Ranking Member Joe Morelle echoed the urgency of rebuilding public trust in government by improving access to community services. Witness Ken Ward, Senior Director of the House Digital Service, testified that advances in AI and secure computing make this a pivotal moment to modernize how constituent data is managed and shared across platforms.
Ward proposed replacing the current vendor-controlled model with a secure, House-managed data environment that would give Members more control over constituent information and enable real-time casework updates. The hearing marked a bipartisan recognition of the need to evolve congressional engagement infrastructure.