As the rest of the country starting to get used to virtual life during the coronavirus pandemic, Congress has a hard time keeping up.

Lawmakers in both the chambers insist that the day to day operations of Congress — hearings, mark-ups, press conferences, caucus meetings — should also continue in some form. At the same time, the House and Senate remain out for weeks in order to prevent the spread of the virus on Capitol Hill.

But congressional leaders from both the parties have stubbornly resisted technology that would allow members to vote remotely. And only now are top lawmakers starting to explore options to make other congressional duties digital.

“Leadership from both parties has been very resistant to the use of technology,” said Congresswoman Katie Porter from California, who said she has privately been urging House leaders to embrace more modern tools to conduct congressional business. “We have to do better than this.”

The reluctance to the technological advancement of a legislative body that is still entangled in the  1700s has frustrated members in both parties, who privately complain that leadership has ignored the ideas about how to transition to a more digital workflow. And it means that at a moment of national crisis, Congress is likely unable to function at full capacity.

Democrats are especially anxious to begin public oversight of the administration’s disbursement of $2 trillion in coronavirus relief funds. On Thursday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the formation of a select committee for coronavirus oversight in the House. Still, it’s unclear when the panel will officially be established or how its members will conduct business.

Leadership for both the parties have started to do some improvising. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries called for a Zoom press conference this week and has started surveying members about their tech access as they consider taking caucus meetings online.