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.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6517
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-09: 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-22T08:08:10Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation modifies the appointment processes for three key legislative branch positions—the Librarian of Congress, the Comptroller General, and the Director of the Government Publishing Office—shifting authority from the President to Congress via concurrent resolution, while establishing congressional commissions to recommend candidates.
Key Provisions
- Librarian of Congress: Appointed through a concurrent resolution of Congress based on recommendations from a commission consisting of the Speaker and House minority leader, Senate majority and minority leaders, and one Republican and one Democrat from the Joint Committee on the Library. The term is set at 10 years, with removal possible by a three-fifths vote of both chambers. The 2015 Librarian of Congress Succession Modernization Act is repealed.
- Comptroller General: Appointed similarly by concurrent resolution following commission recommendations. The commission includes congressional leaders, with adjustments to existing procedures for vacancies and removals (now by concurrent resolution for the Comptroller General).
- Director of the Government Publishing Office: Appointed by concurrent resolution based on a commission of House and Senate leaders plus members from the Joint Committee on Printing. Removal requires a three-fifths vote of both chambers.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Replaces presidential appointment authority with congressional appointment via concurrent resolution for all three positions.
- Creates new bipartisan congressional commissions to select and recommend candidates.
- Introduces fixed terms (explicitly 10 years for the Librarian) and supermajority removal processes not present in prior statutes.
- Updates related sections in Title 31 and Title 44 of the U.S. Code to reflect the new appointment and removal mechanisms.
Potential Impacts
- Strengthens Congress's direct role in selecting officers within the legislative branch, potentially affecting operations at the Library of Congress, Government Accountability Office, and Government Publishing Office.
- May alter the balance of influence between the legislative and executive branches regarding these positions.
- Could influence public access to information, government oversight, and printing services, though effects on citizens or international relations are indirect.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Congressional leadership and members of the Joint Committee on the Library and Joint Committee on Printing.
- Incumbents and future holders of the Librarian of Congress, Comptroller General, and Director of the Government Publishing Office positions.
- Agencies including the Library of Congress, Government Accountability Office, and Government Publishing Office.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- These changes apply to legislative branch entities, potentially raising questions about Congress's authority to appoint its own officers without presidential involvement.
- The use of concurrent resolutions (which do not require presidential signature) for appointments represents a procedural shift from traditional joint resolutions or presidential nominations.
- The three-fifths removal threshold introduces a higher barrier for removal compared to standard majority votes in some prior laws.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-09: 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.
- 2025-12-09: 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.
- 2025-12-09: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- 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. — issued 2025-12-09 — PDF (5 pages)