Helping the US Congress keep pace with a rapidly changing world
POPVOX Foundation provides nonpartisan, practical support for Members of Congress and staff to modernize their work through the adoption of modern technology and best practices. Since our founding in 2021, we have celebrated the House's and Senate's modernization initiatives, and continue to encourage innovations that improve legislative capacity and service to constituents.
Resources Demystifying AI
With hands-on training and resources, we collaborate with Members and staff to build legislative capacity, demystify emerging technologies, and support the day-to-day work of legislative offices.
AI Training for Internal Congressional Office Use
Independent, practical AI training for Congressional offices — aligned with guidance and focused on responsible use to expand staff capacity
View ResourceWhere the House and Senate Are on Internal Use of AI
An overview of House and Senate rules for internal AI use, including current policies, approved tools, and staff restrictions
View ResourceWhat Is An AI Agent?
A plain-language overview of AI agents, including how they work, key risks, benefits, and legislative applications
View ResourceWhat Is RAG And Why It Matters for Legislative AI Use Cases
Plain-language overview of RAG and how it makes AI more accurate, transparent, and reliable for legislative and government work
View ResourceProposed: The Congressional Capacity and Technology Office
A proposal to establish the Congressional Capacity and Technology Office (C-TECH) to build Congress's capacity to adopt AI and other emerging technologies
View ResourceAn Introduction to AI and Use Cases for Congressional Offices
Introductory training on generative AI for Congress, covering approved tools, prompting, research, drafting, and responsible use
View ResourceHarnessing AI to Master a New Policy Portfolio
A Step-By-Step Guide for Congressional Staff
A practical guide for using AI to understand new policy areas with prompts, steps, and common pitfalls
View ResourceUnderstanding AI-Powered Deep Research Tools
A Primer for Legislative Staff
An overview of Deep Research tools in ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, including use cases, differences, and best practices
View ResourceAI Field Guide
A self-led adventure into GenAI for Congress, featuring quests, prompts, and use cases to build skills, workflows, and confidence
View ResourceGenAI Change Management
A Starter Kit for Chiefs of Staff
A guide for Congressional Chiefs of Staff to manage generative AI adoption, support staff, and integrate AI into office operations responsibly
View ResourceCreating & Using Custom GPTs
A Guide for Congressional Offices
Step-by-step guide to creating Custom Bots for Congressional offices to improve research, onboarding, and knowledge management
View ResourceGenerative AI Use Policy
A Template for Congressional Offices
Customizable AI use policy template for congressional offices to guide responsible, compliant use of generative AI tools
View ResourceAI Tools for Casework
A Guide for Congressional Staffers
A practical guide to using AI tools for Congressional casework to improve efficiency while protecting constituent information
View ResourceKeeping Pace
POPVOX Foundation's mission is to help Congress close the gap between how fast technology is moving and how well institutions understand it. We call this gap the Pacing Problem.
Congress faces a genuine capacity challenge that touches every core function of the institution. Members, staff, and institutional support offices must understand emerging technologies at the same time they are adopting them, regulating them, and providing oversight of how the Executive branch is using them
Keeping Pace hits inboxes monthly, giving Congressional and legislative staff practical, nonpartisan AI and technology education: no vendor bias, no asks, no politics.
We track the latest in AI’s technological development to explain what is actually happening beneath the headlines, and surface the tools, frameworks, and precedents that legislative staff can put to use. This is not an AI policy newsletter; it’s a technology explainer newsletter that demystifies cutting edge AI developments to inform those in Congress so they can keep pace with the rapidly changing world.
The Horizon 3 (H3) Project
With support from Recoding America, the H3 Project is building a long-term vision for Congressional technology and capacity.
Congress is attempting to govern 21st-century challenges with processes rooted in the 19th century and technology built for the 20th. While some modernization efforts have helped relieve immediate pressures on Members and staff, they have not produced the conditions necessary for sustained institutional improvement.
Meeting today's challenges requires more than incremental fixes. It requires institutional transformation.
The H3 Project aims to develop a coherent, navigable vision for the future of Congressional technological capacity by informing, connecting, and supporting policymakers, funders, and researchers working to strengthen Congress as an institution.
Learn more and contribute your ideas! We'd love to hear from you.
Gavel In
“Gavel In” is a limited-run explainer podcast series to mentor new Members Elect of the incoming Congress, their staff, and families, to help them prepare for the whirlwind of establishing their new offices, teams and roles in our nation’s capital.
It augments the House of Representatives’ official New Member Orientation and breaks down complex topics in short, easy-to-understand lessons on House Floor operations, office structure and hiring, budgeting, technology, security, ethics, and also the intricacies of parliamentary procedure, rules, and how a bill becomes a law.
Cohosted by POPVOX Foundation’s Managing Director Aubrey Wilson and Rebuild Congress Initiative’s Director of Congressional Engagement Taylor J. Swift, “Gavel In” is a nonpartisan resource to demystify the experience of working in Congress.
“Gavel In" Season 2 — set to be released in 2026 — will build on these topics and more, supporting incoming Members and their families with lessons learned by both current Freshmen and departing Members.
Legacy Projects
Years of projects building a stronger, more capable Congress
Congress isn’t static and neither is POPVOX Foundation’s project list. Our team includes multiple prior Congressional staffers who are passionate about supporting individuals within the House and Senate with the best tools, resources, and expertise possible to meet real challenges.
In collaboration with a number of partners, we have tackled many aspects of Congressional capacity over the years and continue to pilot new initiatives to reimagine a strong, capable Congress.
Departure Dialogues
Initiative to preserve departing federal employees' knowledge for Congress, researchers, and stronger government oversight
View ResourceCasework Resources
Practical resources, webinars, and research to help congressional staff strengthen casework, oversight, and constituent service
View ResourceFuture of Constituent Engagement
A research initiative examining how Congress can modernize constituent engagement beyond mail and phones through new tools and methods
View ResourceFuture-Proofing Congress
A report on Congressional modernization highlighting Member-led upgrades, institutional capacity, and recommendations for strengthening Congress
View ResourceLegislative Technology
A series on legislative technology in Congress and global parliaments, highlighting innovations that support modernization efforts
View ResourceLife in Congress
A resource hub for building a modern, representative, and adaptive Legislative branch workforce
View ResourceOutcomes Driven Legislation
Resources for Members and Congressional staff on policymaking in the post-Chevron landscape
View ResourceThe First Branch Intern Project and Internapalooza
A case study on institutional adoption showing how civil society pilots helped transform Congressional intern onboarding into formal practice
View Resource