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HR6028119th CongressWALLET

Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act

Sponsored By: Representative Griffith

Introduced

Summary

Would modernize and centralize leadership and appointment rules for the Library of Congress, the Government Publishing Office, and the Copyright Office. It would set a common Commission-based selection and removal framework, shift supervisory authority over copyright to a Presidentially nominated Register of Copyrights, and authorize a new merit-based human capital system at the GPO.

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  • Leaders and top offices: Would create a Commission made up of oversight committee leadership and House and Senate leaders to select the Librarian of Congress and the GPO Director from three recommended candidates. If no deputy is appointed within 120 days, oversight committee leaders would recommend a candidate and House and Senate leadership would appoint by majority vote.
  • GPO workforce: Would let the GPO Director establish a merit-based human capital system outside the competitive service, require public notice and Joint Committee on Printing approval, and preserve civil-rights and collective bargaining protections. The system would become effective within a 180-day implementation window.
  • Copyright Office and creators: Would transfer supervisory authority from the Librarian to a Presidentially nominated, Senate-confirmed Register of Copyrights who would serve a 10-year term after joint recommendations by Judiciary Committee leaders. The bill would ratify Copyright Office actions taken between May 8, 2025 and enactment.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

GPO could print for all agencies

If enacted, the GPO could print and publish for Congress, the White House, and the courts. It could also serve every executive department and independent agency. A 1993 law note would be repealed. These changes would start 180 days after enactment. This could shift work between GPO and private printers.

Stronger workplace rights for GPO staff

If enacted, the GPO would set up a new merit-based personnel system. Hiring and promotions would be based on fitness, not politics. The GPO would need public notice and committee approval before changing these rules. You could not be punished for commenting on proposed rules. The Congressional Accountability Act would also cover GPO staff, letting employees use its workplace protections. Hiring preferences would follow standard federal rules, and existing claims and awards would continue.

New hiring rules at Copyright Office

If enacted, the President would nominate the Register of Copyrights after Judiciary Committee leaders recommend three candidates. The Senate would need to confirm. The Register would hire staff and could create up to four Associate Register jobs. Many copyright statutes would replace “Librarian” with “Register” or “Copyright Office.” Updated rules for Copyright Royalty Judges and Copyright Claims Officers would apply to new appointments.

New rules for GPO leadership

If enacted, House and Senate leaders would pick the GPO Director by majority vote from three candidates. They could remove the Director at any time by majority vote. The Director would not be treated as a political appointee for certain pay rules. That pay-status change would start the first day of the first pay period after enactment. The Director would need to name a Deputy within 120 days when the job is open. The Deputy would act as Director when needed, and deputy vacancies would be reported to the commission.

New rules for Librarian of Congress

If enacted, House and Senate leaders would choose the Librarian from three recommended candidates by majority vote. They could remove the Librarian at any time by majority vote. The Librarian would not count as a political appointee for certain pay rules. The Librarian would have 120 days to name a Deputy when the job is open, and the Deputy would serve as Acting Librarian when needed. If no Deputy is named in time, leaders would recommend and appoint one. The removal rule would apply to current and future Librarians.

When these changes would start

Most changes would start on the day the bill is signed. Section 9 and its changes would begin 180 days after enactment. Some appointment rules would apply only to hires made after enactment. Some removal and pay-status rules would apply to people already in office.

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Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Griffith

VA • R

Cosponsors

  • Miller (IL)

    IL • R

    Sponsored 3/12/2026

  • Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 3/12/2026

  • Loudermilk

    GA • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

  • Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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