An Open Letter to Congress
My Open Letter to Congress Submitted by Jim McConnell, Voting Citizen, Trophy Club, Denton County, Texas
To the Members of Congress,
Thank you for your continued service and dedication to our communities and to the country as a whole.
Terminology Note
Throughout this letter, I use United States-specific government terms such as “Congress,” “House,” and “Departments.” These ideas are also applicable across other government types and international systems. The intention is to promote effective, accountable governance.
Personal Background and Perspective
Although I have never worked inside a congressional office or stood on the congressional floor, I have observed closely. I have watched C-SPAN and followed political briefings with interest and concern. While I rarely share my political views publicly, I pay attention to policy discussions and media framing.
I recommend the short but impactful book How to Kill 11 Million People by Andy Andrews. It addresses the importance of truth in public communication. Two moments from C-SPAN had a lasting effect on me. I saw skilled congressional members ask thoughtful, well-researched questions. Two of them brought technical expertise, which added depth.
In contrast, I often found the questions during press briefings to lack rigor. The responses were frequently even weaker. I studied journalism in high school under an exceptional teacher, Kelly McWilliams. That experience, and a video by Paul Harvey, gave me a foundation in high-integrity reporting. These lessons help me recognize when key questions are left unasked. In context to this letter, I think the collective “we” are not asking tough enough questions about the security of our government agencies.
Proposal: Measurable Security and Fraud Program Metrics
I respectfully propose the introduction of legislation requiring federal departments and agencies to report on the maturity of their converged security and fraud programs. These reports should be based on measurable, standards-aligned metrics—such as percentages reflecting NIST frameworks or equivalent guidelines. They should be updated quarterly, publicly shared, and subject to audit by oversight bodies like the GAO or Inspector General.
This approach would increase transparency, drive meaningful progress, and improve decision-making. Imagine congressional hearings supported by simple visual aids—red and green pie charts showing agency progress or setbacks. These visuals would support accountability, focus appropriations, and streamline Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
It would also encourage the inclusion of security metrics in future legislation and promote downstream compliance in the government supply chain. I lightheartedly suggest naming the initiative the Joint Interagency Maturing Security Act.
Next Steps
If any members of Congress or their staff are interested in discussing this further, I would welcome the opportunity to engage. I am available for briefings, working sessions, or whiteboard-style planning discussions.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim McConnell
Trophy Club, Denton County, Texas
A Voting Citizen