Phase 1 of the program, which ushered in a more user-friendly Web interface for a accessing files, was implemented in June. Officials are now preparing to move to Phases 2 through 4.

"It's always hard to have a record-keeping function that competes with personnel in the field [but] that ought to be one of the highest budget priorities," Rep. Zoe Lofgren said. Digitization will "give power to your agency in ways that will far exceed the funding necessary" in the short-term, the California Democrat added.

"We have to bring ourselves into the modern era and we have to digitize everything," Mueller agreed. "It is question of resources and bringing on board the next technology," he said, predicting that in the year ahead, "we'll leap ahead" in that effort.