House Passes Legislative Branch Improvements Legislation

WASHINGTON — Today, Rep. Joe Morelle (NY-25), the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, delivered opening remarks on the House floor in support of H.R. 6028 – the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act.

The following remarks were prepared for delivery:
 
“I rise in support of H.R. 6028, the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act. 
 
“This bill updates the appointment process for the heads of two legislative branch agencies: the Library of Congress and Government Publishing Office, and creates a new presidential appointment, subject to Senate confirmation, for the Register of Copyrights.
 
“I thank Chairman Steil and his staff for working with us to improve prior versions of this legislation. The amended bill makes clear that the U.S. Copyright Office—currently part of the Library—remains in the legislative branch. 
 
“And it protects the Copyright Office’s workforce, who will enjoy the same rights, privileges, and protections they hold today as Library employees. 
 
“I have long said that the Librarian of Congress should be appointed by Congress. Still, we must make this change thoughtfully and be mindful of the consequences—particularly for the Copyright Office. 
 
“Copyright authority is enshrined in Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the Constitution, and the Copyright Office has resided in the legislative branch for well over a century. 
 
“It should remain there, and that is the intent of this bill.  
 
“The copyright economy contributes more than $2 trillion to our economy each year and supports more than 11 million American jobs—but only with a stable, reliable, and apolitical copyright system. 
 
“This bill helps preserve it at a critical moment for copyright stakeholders and the millions of Library users.
 
“The Library and the Copyright Office have operated in partnership for more than 150 years. 
 
“The Copyright Office depends on the Library's infrastructure, and the Library builds its collections through copyright deposits. Severing that relationship would harm both institutions. 
 
“The revised bill recognizes this: 

• It establishes a significant transition period; 
• Allows the Copyright Office to continue using Library support services;
• Requires the Register to consult with the Librarian before taking any action affecting the Library's access to copyright deposits; 
• Safeguards the rights of Copyright Office employees; 
• And keeps the Office in the legislative branch where it belongs

“Again, I thank the Chairman for accepting these changes.
 
“For too long, Congress has allowed its own authority and capacity to atrophy. 
 
“The Library, the Copyright Office, and the other support agencies we rely on are funded from a legislative branch budget that amounts to roughly four-tenths of one percent of all federal discretionary spending. If we are serious about legislating on questions as complex as AI and copyright, we must be serious about sustaining the institutions that make that work possible.
 
“This bill is not perfect. But it ensures the Librarian of Congress can be hired—and fired—only by Congress and does so while preserving both the Library and Copyright Office as the preeminent institutions in their fields.  
 
“I urge my colleagues to vote yes, and I reserve the balance of my time.”

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