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© 2026 Govwatch

HR9342Referred to Committee

GPO Modernization Act of 2026

Share:
Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2026-06-18
Introduced
0
Cosponsors
HR
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Stephanie I. Bice
Stephanie I. Bice
Republican · OK · Representative
Votes with party: 97.7% (574 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/B000740

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (0)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

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.

2026-06-18

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

Currently in

  • House Committee on Oversight and Government ReformReferred To · 2026-06-18
  • House Committee on House AdministrationReferred To · 2026-06-18

Plain-English Summary

The Government Publishing Office, which prints and distributes official government documents, would receive updated powers and responsibilities to better handle its work. The specific changes aren't detailed in the available information, but they could affect how federal agencies publish documents, how citizens access government records, and the operations of the printing office itself.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

Full Bill Text

Verbatim text published on Congress.gov via GovInfo. Use Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to search within this excerpt.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9342 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9342 To revise certain authorities of the Government Publishing Office, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 18, 2026 Mrs. Bice 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 revise certain authorities 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. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``GPO Modernization Act of 2026''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I--SALES PROGRAMS Sec. 101. Sale of Government documents. TITLE II--PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAMS Sec. 201. Purpose and establishment. Sec. 202. Definitions. Sec. 203. Availability of Government publications. Sec. 204. Selections available to depository libraries. Sec. 205. Distribution to depositories. Sec. 206. Conforming amendment related to libraries of executive departments. Sec. 207. Requirements for depository libraries. Sec. 208. Free use of Government public information in depositories. Sec. 209. Regional depositories. Sec. 210. Cataloging and access. Sec. 211. National Collection of United States Public Information. Sec. 212. Printing or publication of Congressional Directory. TITLE III--GPO OPERATIONAL MODERNIZATION Sec. 301. Updating Oversight by the Joint Committee. Sec. 302. Modernizing authorities of the Government Publishing Office. Sec. 303. Updating and Modernizing Congressional Publishing. Sec. 304. GPO and the Federal Register. Sec. 305. Acceptance of gifts. Sec. 306. Simplified acquisitions. Sec. 307. Supplies or services. Sec. 308. Detail of employees. Sec. 309. Equalizing GPO Compensation with Other Legislative Branch Agencies. Sec. 310. Leave carryover for certain Government Publishing Office positions. TITLE IV--PREPARATION OF CONSTITUTION ANNOTATED Sec. 401. Repeal requirement for Congressional Research Service to prepare Annotated Constitution and supplements in hardbound version. TITLE I--SALES PROGRAMS SEC. 101. SALE OF GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS. (a) Authority of Superintendent of Documents.--Section 1702 of title 44, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in the first undesignated paragraph, by striking ``The Director'' and inserting ``(a) Appointment.--The Director''; (2) in the second undesignated paragraph-- (A) by striking ``When an officer'' and inserting ``(b) Receipt and Sale.--When an officer''; and (B) by striking ``who shall receive and sell'' and inserting ``who may receive and sell''; and (3) in the third undesignated paragraph, by striking ``The Superintendent of Documents'' and inserting ``(c) Reports and Distribution.--The Superintendent of Documents''. (b) Remove Requirement for Approval From Department in Which Document Originated.--Section 1707 of such title is amended by striking ``, subject to the approval of the Secretary or head of the department in which the public document originated''. (c) Prices; Resale Authority.--Section 1708 of such title is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 1708. Prices for sales copies of publications; crediting of receipts; resale by dealers; sales agents ``(a) Prices.--The price at which additional copies of Government publications are offered for sale to the public by the Superintendent of Documents shall be based on the cost as determined by the Director of the Government Publishing Office plus a premium to cover the costs of sale and delivery. A discount may be allowed as determined by the Superintendent of Documents. ``(b) Resale Authority.--The Superintendent of Documents may prescribe terms and conditions under…
Show the remaining 6,131 wordsHide the remaining 6,131 words
which the Superintendent authorizes the resale of Government publications by book dealers, and the Superintendent may designate any Government officer as the Superintendent's agent for the sale of Government publications under regulations agreed upon by the Superintendent of Documents and the head of the respective department or establishment of the Government.''. (d) Authority of Superintendent of Documents To Establish Requirements for Distribution, Sale, and Disposal of Unneeded Documents.--Section 1720 of such title is amended by striking ``distribution or sale'' and inserting ``distribution, sale, or disposal in accordance with requirements established by the Superintendent of Documents''. TITLE II--PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAMS SEC. 201. PURPOSE AND ESTABLISHMENT. Chapter 19 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by inserting before section 1901 the following new section: ``Sec. 1900. Purpose and establishment of the public information programs of the Superintendent of Documents ``(a) The purposes of this chapter are the following: ``(1) To ensure the public's right to free, equitable, and convenient access to Government public information. ``(2) To establish the Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents in the Government Publishing Office, that together, function to identify, acquire, catalog, preserve, authenticate, disseminate, reformat, and provide no- fee permanent public access to the corpus of Government public information for future generations, including the following programs and activities: ``(A) The Federal Depository Library Program. ``(B) The Cataloging and Access Services Program. ``(C) Online System of Access. ``(D) The National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information. ``(E) Preservation Program. ``(F) Sales to the Public. ``(b) The Superintendent of Documents shall engage in activities that enhance awareness and access to Government public information or provide services that support libraries in their efforts to serve their communities.''. SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. Section 1901 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 1901. Definitions ``In this chapter-- ``(1) the term `access services' means those functions or services which enable or enhance discovery, awareness, and use of Government public information in the National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information, and Federal documents collections held by Federal depository libraries; ``(2) the term `Government public information' means Federal Government publications or information resources, regardless of physical form or medium, compiled by Government employees, or at Government expense, or as required by law, and disseminated to the public by an agency or a contractor thereof or of educational value, including such publications or information resources which have been declassified; ``(3) the term `Government publication' means informational matter which is published as an individual document at Government expense, or as required by law; ``(4) the term `information' means any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts, data, or opinions in any medium or form, including textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative, electronic, or audiovisual forms; ``(5) the term `information lifecycle management' means the process of planning, budgeting, administering, processing, and controlling information, whether in the form of a tangible or digital information asset, throughout the stages of the asset, including the asset's-- ``(A) creation, identification, and acquisition; ``(B) organization, bibliographic control, and metadata; ``(C) preservation, digitization, and reformatting; ``(D) authentication, access, and dissemination; ``(E) promotion; ``(F) storage; and ``(G) management through a trusted digital repository; ``(6) the term `permanent public access' means making Government public information resources discoverable and available to, and accessible by, the public on an indefinite, continuing basis, without charge; ``(7) the term `preservation' means strategic initiatives, programs, and processes designed to maintain useful access to information assets, serving the information needs of both present and future generations; and ``(8) the term `unreported public information' means Government public information which is not cataloged or otherwise identifiable or retrievable by an end user of the catalog described in section 1917.''. SEC. 203. AVAILABILITY OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. Section 1902 of such title is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 1902. Availability of Government publications through Superintendent of Documents; notification of publications not ordered from Government Publishing Office ``(a) Availability.--The Superintendent of Documents shall make Government public information available to depository libraries through the Superintendent of Documents Public Information Programs. ``(b) Requirements.--Each component of the Government shall-- ``(1) notify the Superintendent of Documents of tangible Government public information content it has issued that is not also available digitally; ``(2) notify the Superintendent of Documents of digital Government public information content it has issued; ``(3) collaborate with the Superintendent of Documents to ensure any such digital Government public information remains permanently accessible; and ``(4) furnish to the Superintendent of Documents any tangible Government public information it has issued that was obtained from sources other than the Government Publishing Office, unless other arrangements have been made with the Superintendent of Documents to ensure the information is accessible to depository libraries. ``(c) Exceptions.--The requirements of subsection (b) do not apply to Government public information that is confidential in character or classified for reasons of national security.''. SEC. 204. SELECTIONS AVAILABLE TO DEPOSITORY LIBRARIES. Section 1904 of such title is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 1904. Selections available to depository libraries ``The Superintendent of Documents shall notify depository libraries of those Government public information products, regardless of format, that are available for selection for inclusion in their depository collections.''. SEC. 205. DISTRIBUTION TO DEPOSITORIES. Section 1905 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 1905. Distribution to depositories; designation of additional libraries; justification; authorization for certain designations ``(a) Government public information available from the Superintendent of Documents under this chapter shall be distributed or made accessible to depository libraries specifically designated by law and to libraries designated pursuant to this section. ``(b) Libraries within areas served by Members of the House, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may be designated by them to receive Government public information to the extent that the total number of libraries designated by them does not exceed two within each area. ``(c) Not more than two additional libraries within a State may be designated by each Senator from the State. ``(d) The Mayor of the District of Columbia may designate two depository libraries in the District of Columbia. ``(e) The Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Governor of Guam, the Governor of American Samoa, and the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may each designate one depository library in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, respectively. The Governor of the United States Virgin Islands may designate one depository library on the island of Saint Thomas and one on the island of Saint Croix. ``(f) The Superintendent of Documents may designate libraries to be digital-only depository libraries for Government public information if they are located in an area with no congressional vacancies and they are not eligible to be designated under existing by-law library provisions of this section. Digital-only depository libraries must be freely accessible to and provide services for the public and otherwise meet the requirements of this title. ``(g) Before a library is designated as a depository for Government public information, the Superintendent of Documents shall assess the potential depository library to determine its sustainability for housing a depository collection and for providing access services, including providing access to digital content. The head of that library shall furnish justification of the necessity for the additional designation to the library's Senator, Member of the House, Delegate, Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia or Governor, as the case may be. The justification shall also include the assessment of the Superintendent of Documents. The justification for depository library designations shall be transmitted to the Superintendent of Documents by the Senator, Member of the House, Delegate, the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia or Governor, as the case may be.''. SEC. 206. CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATED TO LIBRARIES OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS. Section 1907 of title 44, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``Government publications'' and inserting ``Government public information''; and (2) in the last sentence, by striking ``Library of Congress and the Archivist of the United States'' and inserting ``Superintendent of Documents''. SEC. 207. REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPOSITORY LIBRARIES. Section 1909 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 1909. Requirements of depository libraries; reports on conditions; consultations and training; termination; replacement ``(a) Only a library able to provide access to, custody of, and services for deposited materials or access to and services for online digital content and located in an area where it can best serve the public need may be designated as a depository library. The designated depository libraries shall report to the Superintendent of Documents at least every two years concerning their condition. ``(b) The Superintendent of Documents shall regularly assess conditions in depository libraries. The Superintendent of Documents shall provide needed training and support by making visits to depository libraries or by other means and include the results of consultations in the Superintendent of Documents' annual report. When the Superintendent of Documents ascertains that the designated depository has ceased to be maintained so as to be accessible to the public, or that the Government publications which have been furnished the library have not been properly maintained, the Superintendent of Documents shall remove the library from the directory of depository libraries if the library fails to correct the unsatisfactory conditions within an agreed upon time frame. A library may be designated, pursuant to section 1905 of this chapter, to replace a library deleted by the Superintendent of Documents, provided that the designation may not be in excess of the number of depository libraries authorized by law.''. SEC. 208. FREE USE OF GOVERNMENT PUBLIC INFORMATION IN DEPOSITORIES. Section 1911 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 1911. Free use of Government public information in depositories; disposal of unwanted Government public information ``(a) Free Use by the Public.--Depository libraries shall, pursuant to standards established by the Superintendent of Documents, make Government public information accessible for free use by the public. ``(b) Digital Information Substitutes.--Depository libraries may substitute digital information for tangible publications in accordance with Superintendent of Documents policy and guidance. ``(c) Disposal.--A depository library not served by a regional depository library, or that is a regional depository library, may dispose of unwanted Government public information in accordance with Superintendent of Documents policy and guidance. Depository libraries may dispose of tangible publications which are Government property after retention for five years under section 1912 of this title, if the depository library is served by a regional depository library.''. SEC. 209. REGIONAL DEPOSITORIES. Section 1912 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 1912. Regional depositories; designation; functions; shared responsibilities, disposal of publications ``(a) Not more than two depository libraries in each State and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may be designated as regional depositories and shall receive from the Superintendent of Documents copies of or access to all new and revised Government publications authorized for dissemination to depository libraries. Designation of regional depository libraries may be made by a Senator or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico within the areas served by them. Prior to the designation the Superintendent of Documents shall consult with the head of the potential regional depository library and ascertain that the library will fulfill the requirements for depository libraries. The agreement to function as a regional depository library shall be transmitted to the Superintendent of Documents by the Senator or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico when the designation is made. ``(b) Regional depository libraries shall retain at least one copy of all Government publications received, except those authorized to be discarded by the Superintendent of Documents policy and guidance or covered by collaborative agreements approved by the Superintendent of Documents, or make accessible digital versions (in accordance with Superintendent of Documents policy) and, within the area served, will provide leadership and coordination for the provision of program- related activities for depository libraries. ``(c) Regional depository libraries from different States may share responsibilities by entering into agreements in accordance with Superintendent of Documents guidance and upon approval of a Senator from each of the States. ``(d) The Superintendent of Documents shall establish not fewer than four multistate collection service areas to support collaborative collection and service coordination among depository libraries within such area. ``(e) Publications distributed by the Superintendent of Documents to depository libraries are holdings of the National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information and remain the property of the United States Government. Libraries designated as regional depositories will coordinate with the Superintendent of Documents on the disposition of Government Publications from depository libraries, within the areas served by them, which the depository library has retained for five years or when the depository library is relinquishing its depository designation. The Superintendent of Documents shall manage the National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information to maximize the access to, use of, and preservation of Government public information in the depository library program.''. SEC. 210. CATALOGING AND ACCESS. (a) In General.--Chapter 19 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``Sec. 1917. Cataloging and access services ``(a) Cataloging Described.--The Superintendent of Documents shall provide descriptive cataloging records for the corpus of Government public information. The cataloging records shall be created using library or information industry standards and best practices and shall include metadata elements in accordance with Superintendent of Documents policy. ``(b) Access and Awareness Services.--The Superintendent of Documents shall engage in activities that enhance access to and awareness of Government public information or provide services that support libraries or organizations that support libraries in their efforts to serve their communities' Government information needs. ``(c) Specific Access Services.-- ``(1) The Superintendent of Documents shall maintain an online comprehensive catalog of historical and current, tangible and digital Government public information cataloged under subsection (a), and such catalog shall show where the Government public information may be obtained or accessed. The catalog shall be machine- or device-independent and available for free use by the public. ``(2) The Superintendent of Documents shall carry out a program to bring unreported Government public information under bibliographic control and to make records associated with such information available through the catalog established by this section and such other methods as may be appropriate. ``(3) The Superintendent of Documents may make the records of such catalog available to Federal depository libraries, bibliographic utilities that support widely available record sharing, or other entities that make available Government public information. ``(4) The Superintendent of Documents may accept records for inclusion in such catalog from libraries and agencies of the Federal Government, Federal depository libraries, bibliographic utilities that support widely available record sharing, or other entities that make available Government public information. ``(5) The Superintendent of Documents may acquire digital Government public information for inclusion in the Cataloging and Access Services Program, Federal Depository Library Program, and GPO's System of Online Access through automated and manual harvesting of public websites. Such content will be cataloged, made accessible through the catalog established under this subsection, and preserved.''. (b) Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 17 of such title is amended by repealing sections 1710 and 1711. SEC. 211. NATIONAL COLLECTION OF UNITED STATES PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) In General.--Chapter 19 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``Sec. 1918. National Collection of United States Public Information ``(a) Establishment and Purpose.-- ``(1) Establishment.--There is hereby established a National Collection of United States Government Public Information (referred to in this chapter as the `National Collection'). ``(2) Purpose.--The Federal Government's publications and information are national assets and resources. Their availability and accessibility ensures an informed citizenry and an improved quality of life for them while spurring innovation. The National Collection is established to ensure the public's right to free, equitable, and convenient access to Government public information. ``(b) Scope of the National Collection.--The content included in the National Collection is the corpus of Government public information. ``(c) Responsibilities of the Superintendent of Documents.--The Superintendent of Documents shall administer the National Collection and shall-- ``(1) guarantee free permanent public access to the geographically distributed National Collection; ``(2) apply information lifecycle management best practices to the National Collection; ``(3) acquire and bring under bibliographic control public Government information products, regardless of format, in scope of the National Collection; ``(4) ensure a minimum of four tangible copies of distributed publications exist in the depository library program distributed geographically in four National Collection service areas; and ``(5) collaborate with stakeholders, including the Library of Congress, libraries of the United States, Federal agencies, Congress, the Judiciary, and Federal Depository Library Program member libraries in as much as is practicable, to ensure preservation, comprehensiveness, and accessibility of the National Collection. ``(d) Responsibilities of the Director of the Government Publishing Office.--The Director of the Government Publishing Office, acting through the Superintendent of Documents, shall-- ``(1) operate a digital repository system that functions as the Government Publishing Office's online system of access through which members of the public may obtain, at no charge, information that is included in the National Collection; ``(2) develop and enhance such system as needed; ``(3) digitize, authenticate, manage, preserve, and provide a permanent means of accessing information; ``(4) provide access to information in an open format to the extent practicable; ``(5) provide funding for system development, operational support, and infrastructure; and ``(6) have the ability to provide services to Federal agencies for the purpose of carrying out this title. ``(e) Protecting User Privacy.--The Director of the Government Publishing Office, acting through the Superintendent of Documents, shall implement measures to protect the privacy of individuals using the digital repository described in subsection (d), and shall ensure that such measures provide users with at least the same level of privacy as provided under section 552a of title 5 (commonly known as the Privacy Act of 1974) and section 208 of the E-Government Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-347). ``(f) Removal of Public Government Information From National Collection.--The Superintendent of Documents shall publicly disclose online, not less than annually, a list of any public Government information removed from public access in the National Collection or the digital repository described in subsection (d), and the reasons for such removals.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Chapter 41 of title 44, United States Code, is hereby repealed. SEC. 212. PRINTING OR PUBLICATION OF CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTORY. Section 721 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 721. Congressional Directory ``There shall be prepared under the direction of the Director of the Government Publishing Office (1) a Congressional Directory, which shall be prepared in a digital format available at a public website of the Government Publishing Office as early as practicable during the first session of each Congress and (2) a supplement to each Congressional Directory, which shall be prepared in a digital format available at a public website of the Government Publishing Office as early as practicable during the second regular session of each Congress.''. TITLE III--GPO OPERATIONAL MODERNIZATION SEC. 301. UPDATING OVERSIGHT BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE. (a) Redesignation of Joint Committee on Printing to Joint Committee on Publishing.-- (1) The Joint Committee on Printing is hereby redesignated the Joint Committee on Publishing. (2) Any reference to the Joint Committee on Printing in any law, rule, regulation, certificate, directive, instruction, or any other official paper in force on the date of enactment of this Act shall be considered to refer and apply to the Joint Committee on Publishing. (b) Modernizing Joint Committee Structure.--Chapter 1 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``CHAPTER 1--JOINT COMMITTEE ON PUBLISHING ``101. Joint Committee on Publishing: membership. ``102. Joint Committee on Publishing: purpose and authority. ``103. Joint Committee on Publishing: succession; powers during recess. ``104. Joint Committee on Publishing: remedial powers. ``Sec. 101. Joint Committee on Publishing: membership ``The Joint Committee on Publishing shall consist of the chair and four members of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the chair and four members of the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives. ``Sec. 102. Joint Committee on Publishing: purpose and authority ``The Joint Committee on Publishing shall oversee the Government Publishing Office and supervise the Director of the Government Publishing Office. ``Sec. 103. Joint Committee on Publishing: succession; powers during recess ``The members of the Joint Committee on Publishing who are reelected to the succeeding Congress shall continue as members of the committee until their successors are chosen. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall, on the last day of a Congress, appoint members of their respective Houses who have been elected to the succeeding Congress to fill vacancies which may then be about to occur on the Committee, and the appointees and members of the Committee who have been reelected shall continue until their successors are chosen. When Congress is not in session, the Joint Committee may exercise all its powers and duties as when Congress is in session. ``Sec. 104. Joint Committee on Publishing: remedial powers ``The Joint Committee on Publishing may use any measures it considers necessary to remedy neglect, delay, duplication, or waste in the public printing and binding and the distribution of Congressional publications in any form.''. (c) Removing Extraneous References to the Joint Committee on Printing.-- (1) Section 1108 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking ``, subject to regulation by the Joint Committee on Printing,''. (2) Section 1301 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking ``in accordance with directions of the Joint Committee on Printing,''. (3) Section 1320A of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking ``and with the approval of the Joint Committee on Printing''. (4) Section 312 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 825k) is amended by striking ``All printing for the Federal Power Commission'' and all that follows through ``providing for interdepartmental work.''. (5) Section 5(c) of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 954(c)) is amended by striking ``In the case of publications under paragraph (10) of this subsection such publications may be supported without regard for the provisions of section 501 of title 44, United States Code, only if the Chairperson consults with the Joint Committee on Printing of the Congress and the Chairperson submits to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report justifying any exemption from such section 501.''. (6) Section 7(c) of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 956) is amended by striking ``In the case of publications under clause (8) of this subsection such publications may be supported without regard for the provisions of section 501 of title 44, United States Code, only if the Chairperson consults with the Joint Committee on Printing of the Congress and the Chairperson submits to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report justifying any exemption from such section 501.''. (7) Section 411(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking the last sentence. (d) Services for the National Capital Region.--Section 1121 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 1121. Paper and envelopes for Government agencies in the National Capital region ``The Director of the Government Publishing Office may procure, as provided by sections 509-516 of this title, and furnish on requisition, paper and envelopes (not including envelopes printed in the course of manufacture) in common use by two or more departments, establishments, or services of the Government in the National Capital region, within the meaning of section 8702 of title 40, United States Code, and reimbursement shall be made to the Director of the Government Publishing Office from appropriations or funds available for the purpose. Paper and envelopes so furnished by the Director of the Government Publishing Office may not be procured in any other manner.''. SEC. 302. MODERNIZING AUTHORITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE. (a) Print and Publishing Procurement Services.--Section 502 of title 44, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``, publishing'' after ``binding''; (2) in the text, by inserting ``, publishing'' after ``binding''; and (3) by striking ``Joint Committee on Printing'' and inserting ``Joint Committee on Publishing''. (b) Repeal of Certain Provisions.--Sections 503, 504, 1104, 1105, and 1112 of title 44, United States Code, are repealed. (c) Conforming Amendments.--Sections 505, 508 through 515, 517, 702, 703, 707, 709, 714, 717, 718, 722 through 724, 728, 738, and 901 through 905 of title 44, United States Code, are amended by striking ``Joint Committee on Printing'' in each place it appears and inserting ``Joint Committee on Publishing''. SEC. 303. UPDATING AND MODERNIZING CONGRESSIONAL PUBLISHING. (a) House and Senate Documents and Reports.--Section 701 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 701. `Usual number' of documents and reports; distribution of House and Senate documents and reports; binding; reports on private bills; number of copies printed; distribution ``(a) The order by either House of Congress to print a document or report shall signify the `usual number' of copies for binding and distribution among those entitled to receive them. A greater number may not be printed unless ordered by either House, or as provided by this section. When a special number of a document or report is ordered printed, the usual number shall also be printed, unless already ordered. ``(b) The `usual number' of documents and reports shall be established by the Joint Committee on Publishing, and shall be printed at one time and distributed according to instruction of the Joint Committee Publishing.''. (b) Bills and Resolutions.--Section 706 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 706. Bills and resolutions: number and distribution ``(a) Public bills, resolutions, and private bills shall be printed in bill form, and, unless specially ordered by either House, shall be printed only when referred to a committee, when favorably reported back, and after their passage by either House. Concurrent and simple resolutions shall be printed in bill form when reported and after their passage by either House, except by special order. ``(b) The Director of the Government Publishing Office shall ensure the distribution of such printed copies to the Senate document room, the Secretary of the Senate, the House document room, and the Superintendent of Documents and other entities at the direction of the Joint Committee on Publishing.''. (c) Congressional Record.--Section 906 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 906. Congressional Record: gratuitous copies; delivery ``The Director of the Government Publishing Office shall furnish copies of the daily and permanent forms of the Congressional Record under the direction of the Joint Committee on Publishing.''. SEC. 304. GPO AND THE FEDERAL REGISTER. Title 44, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in section 1502, by striking ``, together with the Director of the Government Publishing Office,''; (2) in section 1503, by striking ``to the Government Publishing Office'' and insert ``for publication''; (3) by amending section 1504 to read as follows: ``Sec. 1504. `Federal Register'; publishing; contents; distribution; price; physical copies ``Documents required or authorized to be published by section 1505 shall be published immediately in a serial publication designated the `Federal Register'. The Director of the Government Publishing Office may make available the facilities of the Government Publishing Office for the prompt publication of the Federal Register in the manner and at the times required by this chapter and the regulations prescribed under it under an agreement with the Archivist of the United States. The contents of the daily issues shall constitute all documents, required or authorized to be published, filed with the Office of the Federal Register up to the time of the day immediately preceding the day of publication fixed by regulations under this chapter. There shall be published with each document a copy of the notation, required to be made by section 1503, of the day and hour when, upon filing with the Office, the document was made available for public inspection. Distribution shall be made at a time in the morning of the day of distribution fixed by regulations prescribed under this chapter. The prices to be charged for the Federal Register may be fixed by the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register established by section 1506 without reference to the restrictions placed upon and fixed for the sale of Government publications by sections 1705 and 1708. The Director of the Office of the Federal Register shall arrange for the printing of at least two physical copies of each published Federal Register issue. Of those, not less than two copies shall be stored, each in a separate facility, to ensure the preservation of the Federal Register for the purposes of continuity of government.''; (4) by amending section 1505(c) to read as follows: ``(c) Alternative Publication.--In a continuity of operations event that limits the fulfillment of the publication requirements of this chapter, the Office of the Federal Register may establish an alternative method to publish the Federal Register until such time that the regular publication may resume.''; (5) in section 1506(a), by striking ``an officer of the Department of Justice designated by the Attorney General, and the Director of the Government Publishing Office or Acting Director of the Government Publishing Office'' and inserting ``and an officer of the Department of Justice designated by the Attorney General''; and (6) by amending section 1509 to read as follows: ``Sec. 1509. Costs of publication, etc. ``(a) If the Government Publishing Office publishes the Federal Register or Code of Federal Regulations, the cost of such publishing, and, except as provided in subsection (b), other expenses incurred by the Government Publishing Office in carrying out the duties under this chapter shall be charged to the revolving fund provided in section 309. Reimbursements for such costs and expenses shall be made by the Federal agencies and credited, together with all receipts, as provided in section 309(b). ``(b) If the Government Publishing Office publishes any other publications of the Federal Register program, the costs of such publications and other expenses incurred by the Government Publishing Office in connection with such publications, shall be borne by the appropriations to the Government Publishing Office and the appropriations are made available, and are authorized to be increased by additional sums necessary for the purposes, the increases to be based upon estimates submitted by the Director of the Government Publishing Office.''. SEC. 305. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS. (a) Authorizing Acceptance of Gifts.--Section 318(a) of title 44, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (1); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting ``; and''; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(3) in accordance with subsection (c), accept, hold, administer, and utilize gifts and bequests of property for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Government Publishing Office.''. (b) Authority Described.--Section 318 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(c)(1) Gifts and bequests of money and the proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts or bequests shall be deposited in the Revolving Fund established under section 309 of this title and shall be used solely for governmental purposes. ``(2) Property accepted pursuant to this provision, and the proceeds thereof, shall be used as nearly as possible in accordance with the terms of the gift or bequest. ``(3) For purposes of Federal income, estate, or gift taxes, property accepted under this section shall be considered as a gift, devise, or bequest to the United States.''. (c) Technical Amendment.--The heading of section 318 of such title is amended by adding ``; gift acceptance'' at the end. SEC. 306. SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS. Section 311 of title 44, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in the section heading, by striking ``small purchase'' and inserting ``simplified acquisition''; (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: ``(b) In addition to the authority to negotiate otherwise provided by law, the Director of the Government Publishing Office may negotiate purchases and contracts for supplies or services for which the Director of the Government Publishing Office determines that it is impracticable to secure competition by advertising. The Director of the Government Publishing Office may designate one or more employees of the Government Publishing Office to carry out this subsection.''; and (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``$100,000'' and inserting ``$350,000''. SEC. 307. SUPPLIES OR SERVICES. Section 314 of title 44, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in the section heading, by striking ``inks, glues, and other supplies'' and inserting ``supplies or services''; (2) by striking ``Inks, glues, and other supplies manufactured'' and inserting ``Supplies manufactured or services performed''; and (3) by inserting ``publishing'' after ``in connection with its''. SEC. 308. DETAIL OF EMPLOYEES. Section 316 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking ``and binding'' and inserting ``, binding, and publishing''. SEC. 309. EQUALIZING GPO COMPENSATION WITH OTHER LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AGENCIES. Section 303 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking the second sentence. SEC. 310. LEAVE CARRYOVER FOR CERTAIN GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE POSITIONS. Section 6304(f)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``or''; (2) in the first subparagraph (H), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; (3) in the second subparagraph (H)-- (A) by redesignating such subparagraph as subparagraph (I); and (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and (4) by adding at the end the following: ``(J) a position in the Government Publishing Office senior level service.''. TITLE IV--PREPARATION OF CONSTITUTION ANNOTATED SECTION 401. REPEAL REQUIREMENT FOR CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE TO PREPARE ANNOTATED CONSTITUTION AND SUPPLEMENTS IN HARDBOUND VERSION. (a) Repeal.--The first section of Public Law 91-589 (2 U.S.C. 168) is amended-- (1) by striking ``the Librarian of Congress'' and inserting ``(a) subject to subsection (b), the Librarian of Congress''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(b)(1) Upon the completion of the October 2031 term of the Supreme Court and upon the completion of each tenth October term of the Supreme Court thereafter, the Librarian of Congress shall have prepared a digital decennial revised edition of the Constitution Annotated, which shall contain annotations of all decisions theretofore rendered by the Supreme Court construing provisions of the Constitution, in place of the hardbound decennial revised edition of the Constitution Annotated described in subsection (a)(3). ``(2) Upon the completion of the October 2026 term of the Supreme Court and upon the completion of each subsequent October term of the Supreme Court beginning in an odd-numbered year (the final digit of which is not a 1), the Librarian shall have prepared a digital cumulative pocket-part supplement to the most recent decennial revised edition of the Constitution Annotated, which shall contain cumulative annotations of all such decisions rendered by the Supreme Court which were not included in the most recent revised edition of the Constitution Annotated, in place of the hardbound editions of the cumulative pocket-part supplement described in subsection (a)(4).''. (b) Ensuring Availability of Digital Versions.--Section 2 of Public Law 91-589 (2 U.S.C. 168a) is amended-- (1) by striking ``All hardbound'' and inserting ``(a) All hardbound''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(b)(1) The digital decennial revised editions of the Constitution Annotated prepared under subsection (b)(1) of the first section of this Joint Resolution and the digital cumulative pocket-part supplements prepared under subsection (b)(2) of the first section of this Joint Resolution shall be available at a public website of the Library of Congress. ``(2) The Librarian of Congress shall ensure the continuing availability of the documents referred to in paragraph (1) to Congress and the public.''. (c) Repeal of Additional Printing Requirements.-- (1) Mandatory printing of additional copies.--Section 3 of Public Law 91-589 (2 U.S.C. 168b) is amended-- (A) by striking ``There shall be printed'' and inserting ``(a) There shall be printed''; and (B) by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(b) Subsection (a) does not apply after completion of the October 2026 term of the Supreme Court, and the Librarian of Congress shall provide the decennial revised editions of the Constitution Annotated and the cumulative pocket part supplements prepared under this Joint Resolution exclusively in a digital format available at a public website of the Library of Congress.''. (2) Printing of additional copies pursuant to concurrent resolution.--Section 4 of Public Law 91-589 (2 U.S.C. 168c) is repealed. <all>
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