At R Street, Nan Swift wries on the Select Committee on the Organization of Congress (SCOMC):
While the rest of Congress squabbles over masks, the SCOMC has continued to work diligently, guided by their commitment to civility, consensus and purpose. The results of this distinctive approach to policy-making speak for themselves. In addition to some recommendations that Congress adopted last year, such as making the Office of Diversity and Inclusion permanent and permitting electronic submission of committee reports to the House Clerk, the work of the Select Committee continues to form the basis of key reforms in the House. The Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Legislative Branch Appropriations bill just passed by the House included an increase in the Members Representational Allowance (MRA), a key SCOMC priority that should boost office staff pay, professionalism and retention. The bill also included a much-needed funding bump for the Government Accountability Office, which should likewise help ensure Congress has access to key oversight resources. Bringing this legislative branch funding better in line with the growing needs of Member offices and congressional support organizations should improve congressional capacity. Similarly, funding in the FY22 legislative branch bill for paid interns will help achieve the Select Committee’s goal to increase staff diversity.