Bill Summary
This legislation proposes changes to the appointment and removal processes for three key government positions: the Librarian of Congress, the Comptroller General, and the Director of the Government Publishing Office (GPO).
**Key Provisions:**
1. **Appointment Process**:
- All three positions will be filled through a concurrent resolution adopted by Congress, which will follow recommendations made by a designated commission. This commission will include prominent congressional leaders from both parties and relevant committees.
2. **Commission Structure**:
- The commission for each position will comprise the Speaker and minority leader of the House, the majority and minority leaders of the Senate, and one member each from the relevant congressional committees (Joint Committee on the Library for the Librarian, Joint Committee on Printing for the GPO).
3. **Term of Service**:
- The Librarian of Congress will serve a 10-year term, while the legislation does not specify a term length for the other positions.
4. **Removal Process**:
- The Librarian of Congress, Comptroller General, and Director of the GPO can be removed from their positions by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of Congress.
5. **Repeals and Amendments**:
- The bill repeals existing laws related to the succession of the Librarian of Congress and makes several amendments to relevant sections of the U.S. Code regarding the appointment and removal of the Comptroller General and the Director of the GPO.
Overall, this legislation seeks to enhance congressional oversight and involvement in the appointment of these critical government officials, ensuring a more structured and bipartisan approach.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the legislation could affect people:
1. **Increased Accountability and Transparency**: By modifying the appointment process for the Librarian of Congress, Comptroller General, and Director of the Government Publishing Office to require a concurrent resolution from Congress, this legislation may enhance accountability and transparency. Citizens may feel more assured that these important positions are filled by individuals who have been vetted through a formalized process involving multiple political leaders. This could potentially lead to greater public trust in these institutions, which serve critical roles in preserving national heritage and managing public resources.
2. **Impact on Employment and Career Paths**: The establishment of commissions to recommend candidates for these positions may influence the career trajectories of individuals in public service or academia. Those aspiring to be appointed to such roles might need to align their qualifications and experiences with the preferences of the commission members. Additionally, the term limit of 10 years for positions like the Librarian of Congress could encourage more turnover, providing opportunities for new candidates but also creating uncertainty for employees and stakeholders relying on the continuity of leadership.
3. **Political Dynamics and Influence**: The requirement for a three-fifths vote in both chambers of Congress to remove these officials can lead to significant political maneuvering. This may result in increased influence from party leaders and could lead to partisan conflicts affecting the stability of these positions. Public servants in these roles may find themselves navigating a politically charged environment, which could affect their ability to operate independently and make decisions in the best interest of the public. This political dynamic might also influence the types of candidates who are ultimately appointed, potentially skewing the selection process toward individuals who align more closely with prevailing political ideologies.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6517 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6517
To modify the appointment process for the Librarian of Congress, the
Comptroller General, and the Director of the Government Publishing
Office, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 9, 2025
Mr. Case (for himself, Ms. Norton, and Mr. Tonko) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House
Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To modify the appointment process for the Librarian of Congress, the
Comptroller General, and the Director of the Government Publishing
Office, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS.
(a) Appointment.--The Librarian of Congress shall be appointed by
the adoption by Congress of a concurrent resolution. The concurrent
resolution shall provide for the appointment of the individual selected
by the commission established under subsection (b).
(b) Commission.--There is established a commission for the purposes
of recommending an individual to be appointed as Librarian of Congress
under subsection (a). The commission established under this subsection
shall consist of the following:
(1) The Speaker and minority leader of the House of
Representatives.
(2) The majority and minority leaders of the Senate.
(3) One Republican and Democrat Member each from the Joint
Committee of Congress on the Library.
(c) Term of Service.--The Librarian of Congress shall be appointed
for a term of 10 years.
(d) Removal.--The Librarian of Congress may be removed from office
at any time upon an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members
duly chosen or sworn in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(e) Conforming Amendment.--The Librarian of Congress Succession
Modernization Act of 2015 (2 U.S.C. 136 et seq.) is repealed.
SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL.
(a) In General.--Section 703 of title 31, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (a) through (f) as
subsections (b) through (g), respectively;
(2) by inserting before subsection (b), as redesignated by
paragraph (1), the following:
``(a) The Comptroller General shall be appointed by the adoption by
Congress of a concurrent resolution. The concurrent resolution shall
provide for the appointment of the individual selected by the
commission established under subsection (b)(2).'';
(3) in subsection (b), as so redesignated--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Comptroller
General and Deputy Comptroller General are'' and
inserting ``Deputy Comptroller General is'';
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter before
subparagraph (A), by striking ``the President'' and
inserting ``the Congress or the President,
respectively,''; and
(C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) A commission established because of a vacancy in the
office of the Comptroller General shall recommend one
individual. The Congress may ask the commission to recommend
additional individuals.''; and
(4) in subsection (f)(1)(B), as so redesignated, by
striking ``joint resolution of Congress'' and inserting ``with
respect to the Comptroller General, by concurrent resolution of
Congress, and with respect to the Deputy Comptroller General,
by joint resolution of Congress''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--Section 772(a) of title
31, United States Code, is amended by striking ``section 703(e)(1)''
and inserting ``section 703(f)(1)''.
SEC. 3. DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE.
Section 301 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:
``Sec. 301. Director of the Government Publishing Office: appointment
``(a) The Director of the Government Publishing Office shall be
appointed by the adoption by Congress of a concurrent resolution. The
concurrent resolution shall provide for the appointment of the
individual selected by the commission established under subsection (b).
``(b) There is established a commission for the purposes of
recommending an individual to be appointed as Director under subsection
(a). The commission established under this subsection shall consist of
the following:
``(1) The Speaker and minority leader of the House of
Representatives.
``(2) The majority and minority leaders of the Senate.
``(3) One Republican and Democrat Member each from the
Joint Committee of Congress on Printing.
``(c) The Director may be removed from office at any time upon an
affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members duly chosen or sworn in
the Senate and the House of Representatives.''.
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