U.S. Public Printer Testifies Before Committee on House Administration

U.S. Public Printer Testifies Before Committee on House Administration

William J. Boarman outlines recent accomplishments and future plans for Government Printing Office

Washington, DC (May 11, 2011): U.S. Public Printer William J. "Bill" Boarman testified today before the Committee on House Administration's Subcommittee on Oversight. The hearing was called to discuss the future of the Government Printing Office and the ways in which the advent of new technologies can enhance operations and create cost savings and organizational efficiencies.

During his testimony, Boarman outlined an impressive series of accomplishments since his appointment in January of this year.

"[Upon my arrival] I found an agency where overhead costs had mushroomed by 50% in the past 5 years," said Boarman. " I found an agency top heavy with senior-level managers, some of whom spent what was, in my opinion, an excessive amount of time on travel, including an astonishing amount of travel overseas...And there was a growing volume of uncollected bills to Federal agencies that GPO seemed unable to resolve. This pattern of excessive spending and costs was simply unsustainable."

Under Boarman's direction, GPO reduced its FY 2012 appropriations request by more than $5 million, reduced its annual spending plan by $15 million and implemented efficiencies that allowed for the reduction of senior level management. Additionally, Boarman testified that the agency "implemented controls on hiring, travel, and related discretionary accounts to stem the flow of spending in these areas."

Boarman testified about his efforts to ensure that GPO can continue to meet the growing and evolving Congressional printing needs, within a context of reduced funding and greater fiscal responsibility.

"With reduced funding, we're doing more with less," said Boarman. "We implemented a project to make Federal court opinions available online. We expanded our partnership with Google Books. We've identified additional building space we can make available for the use of legislative branch entities."

"We know Congress's need for printing is changing," continued Boarman. "To address that issue, we've launched a comprehensive online survey of congressional offices about their need for printed products from GPO. This is the first time this has ever been done."

During the hearing, acting Subcommittee Ranking Member Charles A. Gonzalez (D-TX), applauded the Senate Rules Committee for its favorable vote on Mr. Boarman's nomination. The appointment will now move to the Senate floor for final approval.

"GPO has always been front and center in providing Congress with the information products it needs," said Boarman. "With the measures we have put in place since January, we will be able to continue that record. "

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