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The umbrella organization over Studio, Deployed and Policy seeking to bridge the gap between innovators and policymakers for a freer and more abundant future.

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Modernizing the First Branch of Government

Reboot Congress 2017 Recap

Read Part 1 Read Part 2

About the Event

Held in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol, Reboot Congress 2017, was an invite-only conversation that brought together a dynamic mix of problem solvers - civic tech innovators, engineers and designers, elected officials, senior staffers, policy experts, and other stakeholders working to modernize Congress. Hosted in Partnership with Democracy Fund the event highlighted ongoing modernization and transparency efforts, amplified the impact of existing change agents, and further defined a roadmap for collaborative success into the future.

Gallery

Speakers

  • Congressman Kevin McCarthy

    House Majority Leader and Representative of California's 23rd district

  • Congressman Steny Hoyer

    Democratic Whip and Representative for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District

  • Congressman Seth Moulton

    Representative for Massachusetts's 6th Congressional District

  • Congressman Will Hurd

    Representative for the 23rd District of Texas

  • Dave Zvenyach

    Executive Director of 18F

  • Betsy Wright Hawkings

    Director of Governance Program at Democracy Fund

  • Carrie Adams

    Deputy Digital Director for Leader Charles E. Schumer

  • Yuri Beckelman

    Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Mark Takano

  • Wilsar Johnson

    Digital Director for US Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman

  • Daniel Shuman

    Policy Director at Demand Progress, Founder at Congressional Data Coalition

  • Seamus Kraft

    Co-Founder and Executive Director at OpenGov Foundation

  • Alex Wirth

    Co-Founder of Quorum

  • Erie Meyer

    United States Digital Service

  • Travis Moore

    Founder of TechCongress

  • Eva Pereira

    Associate on the Tech Innovation Team at Knight John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

  • Chris Nehls

    Research and Systems Associate for the Governance Program at Democracy Fund

  • Ken Ward

    Ceo at Fireside 21

  • Kathy Goldschmidt

    Director of Strategic Initiatives at Congressional Management Foundation

  • Aaron Snow

    COO at cBrain North America; formerly co-founder/Exec Director at 18F

  • Laurent Crenshaw

    Director of Public Policy for Yelp

  • Joshua Tauberer

    Founder of GovTrack

  • Molly Reynolds

    Fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings

  • Jessica Yabsley

    Communications Director at Data Coalition

  • Alex Kouts

    Head of Product at Lincoln

  • Kirsten Gullickson

    Senior Systems Analyst with the Office of the Clerk, United States House of Representatives

  • Shannon Sartin

    Procurement Specialist at USDS

Agenda

8:30 - 9:00am

Checkin and Opening Remarks

9:00 - 9:30am

Feature vs. Bug: Transforming an Institution Designed to Move Slowly

Featuring Rep. Hurd and Rep. Moulton, moderated by Travis Moore

Presented in partnership with:

9:30 - 9:40am

Democracy Fund Presentation

9:40 - 10:15am

Funding Congressional Modernization: Priorities and Opportunities in the 115th Congress

Featuring Betsy Wright Hawkings - Democracy Fund and Eva Pereira - Knight Foundation, moderated by Alex Kouts - Lincoln Network

10:15 - 10:45am

Remarks by Minority Whip Steny Hoyer and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy

Featuring Leader McCarthy and Minority Whip Hoyer, moderated by Seamus Kraft

Presented in partnership with:

10:45 - 11:00am

Recharge Break

11:00 - 11:45am

Building a Modern Congress: The Bulk Data Task Force Success Story as a Model for Overcoming Institutional Challenges in Congress

Featuring Kirsten Gullickson, Josh Tauberer, Molly Reynolds, moderated by Daniel Schuman

Presented in partnership with:

11:45 - 12:30pm

Investing in Human Capital: Organizational and Tech Strategies That Empower Capitol Hill Staffers to be More Efficient and Effective

Featuring Carrie Adams, Wilsar Johnson, Kathy Goldschmidt, moderated by Yuri Beckelman

Presented in partnership with:

12:30 - 1:30pm

Networking Lunch

1:30 - 2:15pm

50 Shades of Procurement Reform: Why This Subject Seems Hot Right Now and How to Move Beyond the Headlines

Featuring Jessica Yabsley, Dave Zvenyach, Ken Ward, moderated by Shannon Sartin

2:15 - 3:00pm

Digital Service to the Rescue: Lessons Learned So Far and How to Expand the Impact of this Model

Featuring Erie Meyer, Aaron Snow, and Laurent Crenshaw moderated by Seamus Kraft

Presented in partnership with:

3:00 - 3:15pm

Recharge Break

3:15 - 4:00pm

Market Leaders in Congressional Tech: The Triumphs and Challenges of Building a Company Focused on Disrupting Congress

Featuring Alex Wirth - Quorum, Alex Kouts - Countable/Lincoln Network, moderated by Aaron Ginn - Lincoln Network

4:00 - 4:15pm

Closing Remarks

5:30pm

Door Stop Awards 2017 Party

The 2017 Door Stop Awards

Presented by

Lincoln Network and The OpenGov Foundation are joining forces to present the 2017 Door Stop Awards for Congressional Innovation and Transparency. Awards will be presented on May 17, 2017 in Washington, D.C. at an evening party as part of Reboot Congress.

The Door Stop Awards will recognize Members of Congress, top government officials and staff who are advancing durable and genuine changes to bring Congress into the 21st century. These good government successes almost always happen quietly and outside the limelight, but have resulted in long-term transparency, greater openness, and improved efficiency or effectiveness. The Door Stop Award winners didn’t just open government to the public once, they placed "door stops" ensuring that government remains open and accessible to the American people.

2017 Recipients

  • Rep. Seth Moulton

    6th Congressional District of Massachusetts

  • Rep. Will Hurd

    23rd Congressional District of Texas

  • Rep. Mike Quigley

    5th Congressional District of Illinois

  • Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers

    5th Congressional District of Washington

  • Kirsten Gullickson

    Senior Systems Analyst with the Office of the Clerk, United States House of Representatives

  • Matt Lira

    Former Senior Advisor to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy

  • Stephen Dwyer

    Senior Advisor to House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer

  • Reynold Schweickhardt

    Director of Technology Policy at U.S. House of Representatives

Our Sponsors

Title Sponsor

The Democracy Fund invests in organizations working to ensure that our political system is able to withstand new challenges and deliver on its promise to the American people.

Supporting Sponsors