I have often pondered what our forefathers would think of the advancements in technology and how it translates to democracy. Thomas Jefferson once said, “Information is the currency of democracy.” I have to think he would have enjoyed having information available at his fingertips through the Internet.

As technology has advanced, and people have more access to information than ever before, we have seen more people getting involved in their government. As a former civics teacher, the idea of more people being active in their government and becoming involved in the legislative process is heartening.

As I have traveled around the district, meeting with folks, it has become more apparent that people want to be active participants in government. They care about what is going on and want to understand the legislation Congress is considering.

Whether people support or oppose proposed legislation, it is vitally important that they are able to obtain accurate information and make sure their voices are heard. It is important to be active in your government whether it is local, state or federal.

Recently, I signed on as a sponsor of H. Res. 554 which would prohibit the House of Representatives from considering legislation that has not been made publicly available, via the Internet, to Members of Congress and the general public for at least 72 hours.

This bill amends an already established House rule. Currently, transparency rules require legislation to be posted for 72 hours prior to a Roll Call, but the rule can be waived by a majority. This amendment would make it considerably more difficult to waive this rule, requiring a two-thirds majority for a waiver.

In the past, constituents did not have instant access to this type of information. With most people having some Internet access available in their community, it makes this process much more open and transparent. It gets folks involved in their government which is a foundation of democracy.

Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of an open government. I believe this is an important step to achieving those goals. We must work hard to inform the public of what we are doing as legislators.  This bill would help ensure transparency rules cannot be easily circumvented.

Giving Members of Congress and their constituency time to fully read and study legislation is an invaluable part of government. As a Member of Congress, it is my responsibility to represent the people of my district and cast my vote with their best interests in mind. It is the right of every constituent to be involved in the legislative process.

Promoting openness and transparency by allowing the public to read the legislation and provide their Representatives with feedback is vital to what we do in Congress.

As Members of Congress making good decisions that reflect the beliefs of the people we represent must be our top priority.