Discussion · House of Representatives
H. Morgan Griffith Republican
“I want the House to pass this bill. The Government Publishing Office spends too much time and money printing paper documents. This bill moves more government records online so people can read them easily. It also makes it easier for the office to buy equipment and pays its workers the same as other congressional staff.”
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 9342, the GPO Modernization Act of 2026, led by Representative Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, provides several much-needed reforms for the Government Publishing Office. Founded in 1861, the Government Publishing Office has long functioned as an important resource not only for Congress but for the Federal Government as a whole by printing, preserving, and distributing official government documents. Despite the important nature of its work, many of the operations of the GPO are still mired in slow and expensive physical printing processes. This bipartisan legislation transports the GPO into the modern era by digitizing important government documents through programs like the National Collection of U.S. Public Information. This serves as a centralized digital library that will greatly expand access for Americans to easily view government resources and stay informed with current events. H.R. 9342 will also increase fiscal responsibility and efficiency within the GPO by transferring costly, time-consuming print products, such as the Congressional Directory, into a digital format. Additionally, H.R. 9342 cuts bureaucratic red tape by simplifying the acquisition process for key operational equipment and updates GPO employee salaries to ensure that they are on par with other legislative branch agencies. Taken together, the GPO Modernization Act will help ensure that the Government Publishing Office will have the tools and staff it needs to successfully transfer its inventory and operations to a digital-first format and continue to support the Federal Government for years to come. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 9342, the GPO Modernization Act of 2026, led by Representative Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, provides several much-needed reforms for the Government Publishing Office. Founded in 1861, the Government Publishing Office has long functioned as an important resource not only for Congress but for the Federal Government as a whole by printing, preserving, and distributing official government documents. Despite the important nature of its work, many of the operations of the GPO are still mired in slow and expensive physical printing processes. This bipartisan legislation transports the GPO into the modern era by digitizing important government documents through programs like the National Collection of U.S. Public Information. This serves as a centralized digital library that will greatly expand access for Americans to easily view government resources and stay informed with current events. H.R. 9342 will also increase fiscal responsibility and efficiency within the GPO by transferring costly, time-consuming print products, such as the Congressional Directory, into a digital format. Additionally, H.R. 9342 cuts bureaucratic red tape by simplifying the acquisition process for key operational equipment and updates GPO employee salaries to ensure that they are on par with other legislative branch agencies. Taken together, the GPO Modernization Act will help ensure that the Government Publishing Office will have the tools and staff it needs to successfully transfer its inventory and operations to a digital-first format and continue to support the Federal Government for years to come. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.