Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
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Congressional Printing: Background and
Issues for Congress
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May 9, 2011
Congressional Research Service
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R40897
CRS Report for Congress
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress
Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
Summary
Periodically, concerns have been raised about the number and variety of products created to
document congressional activity. Other concerns focus on the process for authorizing and
distributing printed government documents to Members of Congress, committees, and other
officials in the House and Senate. These concerns reflect broader issues related to the manner in
which government and private information is created, assembled, distributed, and preserved in
light of the emergence of electronic publishing and distribution.
In the 112th Congress, H.R. 292, the Stop the OverPrinting (STOP) Act, was introduced on
January 12, 2011. The House passed the measure on January 18, 2011. In addition to H.R. 292,
three other measures regarding congressional printing have been introduced, including H.R. 1626,
the Prevent the Reckless, Irresponsible, Needless Typography (PRINT) Act of 2011; S. 210, the
Stop the OverPrinting (STOP) Act; and S. 674, the Congressional Record Printing Savings Act of
2011.
From its establishment in 1861, the Government Printing Office (GPO) has compiled, formatted,
printed, bound, and distributed documents that have recorded the activities of Congress (and the
work of other governmental entities). In current practice, approximately 97% of all government
documents originate in digital form, and are distributed electronically, but are not printed. As a
consequence of electronic production and dissemination, some congressional materials are now
more readily available to wider congressional, governmental, and public audiences than when
they were only produced and distributed in paper form.
Some have argued that eliminating paper versions of some congressional documents, and relying
instead on electronic versions, could result in further cost and resource savings and might provide
environmental benefits. At the same time, however, current law regarding document production,
authentication, and preservation, as well as some user demand, require a number of paper-based
documents to be produced and distributed as part of the official record of congressional
proceedings.
As a result of requirements for both electronic and paper-based versions of congressional
documents, GPO oversees an information distribution process that produces and distributes most
of the congressional information for which it is responsible in both electronic and printed forms.
This process provides the necessary information and appropriate formats for Congress to carry
out and document its activities, but it may also result in some unwanted printed copies of
congressional documents being delivered to congressional users who prefer to access those
resources electronically. More broadly, the transition to electronic distribution of materials may
raise questions about the capacity of current law and congressional practices to effectively
oversee GPO’s management and distribution responsibilities regarding congressional
information.
This report, which will be updated as events warrant, provides an overview and analysis of issues
related to the processing and distribution of congressional information by the Government
Printing Office. Subsequent sections address several issues, including funding congressional
printing, printing authorizations, current printing practices, and options for Congress. Finally, the
report provides congressional printing data in a number of tables.
Congressional Research Service
Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
Contents
Congressional Information Distribution Practices in Transition ...................................................1
Legislation in the 112th Congress.................................................................................................3
H.R. 292 ...............................................................................................................................3
H.R. 1626 .............................................................................................................................3
S. 210 ...................................................................................................................................3
S. 674 ...................................................................................................................................4
GPO and Congressional Printing .................................................................................................4
Congressional Printing ..........................................................................................................5
Page Production ..............................................................................................................7
Printing Practices ..................................................................................................................8
Congressional Record.....................................................................................................9
Bills and Resolutions .................................................................................................... 12
Reports and Documents ................................................................................................ 14
Discussion and Analysis............................................................................................................ 15
Potential Options for Congress .................................................................................................. 17
Maintain The Status Quo..................................................................................................... 17
Conduct Studies .................................................................................................................. 18
Consider Legislation ........................................................................................................... 18
Congressional Printing: Data Tables.......................................................................................... 19
Appropriations for the Government Printing Office, Congressional Printing and
Binding Account .............................................................................................................. 19
Congressional Printing: Page Volume ................................................................................. 21
Congressional Record, Daily Edition: Publication and Congressional Distribution
Data................................................................................................................................. 23
Legislative Measures........................................................................................................... 24
Congressional Documents and Reports................................................................................ 25
Figures
Figure 1. Government Printing Office, Congressional Printing and Binding Account
Appropriations, FY1987-FY2011.............................................................................................5
Figure 2. Congressional Record, Daily Edition: Copies Produced FY1985-FY2010 .................. 10
Figure 3. Distribution of the Congressional Record, Daily Edition ............................................ 11
Figure 4. Congressional Record, Daily Edition: Distribution of Congressional Printing
and Binding Copies, FY1987-FY2010.................................................................................... 12
Figure 5. Stages at which Legislative Measures Might be Printed by GPO................................. 14
Tables
Table 1. Congressional Printing Products: Authorized Copies .....................................................5
Congressional Research Service
Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
Table 2. Congressional Printing and Binding Page Volume, Percentage Change in
Selected Categories, FY1985-FY2011......................................................................................8
Table 3. Congressional Record, Daily Edition: Percentage Change in Copies Produced,
FY1985-FY2010.................................................................................................................... 10
Table 4. Congressional Record, Daily Edition: Change in Copies and Distribution of
Congressional Printing and Binding Copies, FY1987-FY2010 ............................................... 12
Table 5. Estimated Prepress and Printing Costs per Page of Selected Congressional
Publications, FY2011............................................................................................................. 16
Table 6. Government Printing Office, Congressional Printing and Binding Account
Appropriations, FY1985-FY2010........................................................................................... 19
Table 7. Congressional Printing and Binding, Page Volume of Selected Categories,
FY1985-FY2011.................................................................................................................... 21
Table 8. Congressional Record, Daily Edition: Copies Produced and Distribution,
FY1985-FY2010.................................................................................................................... 23
Table 9. Authorized Distribution of Legislative Measures ......................................................... 24
Table 10. GPO Distribution of Legislative Measures, FY2009................................................... 25
Table 11. Authorized “Usual Number” of House and Senate Documents and Reports............... 25
Table 12. Authorized Recipients and Copies of Reports on Private Bills, and Concurrent
or Simple Resolutions ............................................................................................................ 26
Table 13. GPO Distribution of Congressional Documents and Reports, FY2009........................ 26
Table 14. Authorized Distribution of the Congressional Record ................................................ 28
Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 34
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................... 34
Congressional Research Service
Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
Congressional Information Distribution Practices in
Transition
Periodically, concerns have been raised about the number and variety of products created to
document congressional activity. Other concerns focus on the process for authorizing and
distributing printed government documents to Members of Congress, congressional committees,
and other officials in the House and Senate.1 Concerns regarding congressional activities are
typically considered in the context of the congressional environment. In the field of information
management, however, they reflect broader issues related to the manner in which government and
private information is created, assembled, distributed, and preserved. 2 A number of issues arise
due to significant transformations in the areas of printing, publishing, and information
management. Those changes have been initiated as a consequence of the emergence in the past
three decades of electronic publishing and distribution, which has expanded the means of
information creation and delivery beyond mechanical compilation and production of documents
that only exist on paper.
Since its establishment in 1861,3 and until the emergence and integration of digital dissemination,
the Government Printing Office (GPO) has compiled, formatted, printed, bound, and distributed
documents that recorded the activities of Congress (and the work of other governmental entities)
through a series of labor- and resource-intensive steps. Over time, the agency has integrated new
technologies into its production processes as they became available, or were mandated. The
enactment of P.L. 103-40, the Government Printing Office Electronic Information Access
Enhancement Act of 19934, required the production of electronic versions of the Congressional
Record and the Federal Register, and provided authority for production and distribution of other
government documents electronically. The act requires GPO to the “extent practicable, [to]
accommodate any request by the head of a department or agency to include … information that is
under the control of the department or agency involved” in its electronic directory and systems of
online access. Arguably, that language does not bind Congress to make its materials available,
since it is not a department or agency. Nevertheless, Congress has made some of its materials
available in electronic form through GPO since P.L. 103-40 was enacted.
1
U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch
Appropriations for 2010, Fiscal Year 2010 Legislative Branch Appropriations Requests, 111th Cong., 1st sess., April 22,
2009 (Washington: GPO, 2009), pp. 161, 164-165; “Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2008,” House Debate,
Congressional Record, daily edition, June 22, 2007, pp. H6982-H6994; Representative Jeff Flake, “Tired of Throwing
Away Congressional Records?” dear colleague letter, June 21, 2007; and Representative Michael T. McCaul, “Cut
Government Waste and Support Capitol Police,” dear colleague letter, June 7, 2006.
2
David Cuillier and Suzanne J. Piotrowski, “Internet Information-Seeking And Its Relation To Support For Access To
Government Records,” Government Information Quarterly, vol. 26, no. 3 (2009), pp. 441-449; Kenneth Thibodeau,
“The Electronic Records Archive Program at the National Archives and Records Administration,” First Monday, vol.
12, no. 7 (July 2, 2007), at http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/1922/1804; and
James A. Jacobs, James R. Jacobs, and Shinjoung Yeo, “Government Information in the Digital Age: The Once and
Future Federal Depository Library Program,” Journal of Academic Librarianship, vol. 31, no. 3 (May 2005), pp. 198208.
3
Prior to 1861, and during a period of transition following the creation of GPO, publication and distribution of
congressional information was handled by private printers and editors. For further discussion, see Elizabeth Gregory
McPherson, “The History of Reporting the Debates and Proceedings of Congress” (Ph.D. diss., University of North
Carolina, 1940).
4
P.L. 103-40, Government Printing Office Electronic Information Access Enhancement Act of 1993, 107 Stat. 112, 44
U.S.C. 4101.
Congressional Research Service
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Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
GPO began producing electronic versions of the daily edition of the Congressional Record and
the Federal Register in 1994. Soon after, GPO began providing access to electronic versions of
congressional documents authorized for distribution by Congress through its GPO Access
website.5 The agency began distributing new documents through its Federal Digital System
(FDsys), and migrating collections from GPO Access in the spring of 2009.6
In current practice, according to GPO, approximately 97% of all U.S. Government documents are
“born digital,” published electronically and available through the internet, and will never be
printed by the federal government.7 As a consequence of electronic production and dissemination,
some congressional materials are more readily available to wider congressional, governmental,
and public audiences than when they were produced and distributed only in paper form. 8 Further,
changes in the production process from the creation of content through delivery to a user, in print
or electronic form, have reduced the resources necessary to produce congressional information. 9
In light of these changes, some have argued that eliminating paper versions of some
congressional documents, and relying instead on electronic versions, could result in further cost
and resource savings, and might provide environmental benefits.10 At the same time, however,
current law regarding document production, authentication, and preservation, as well as some
user demand, require a number of paper-based documents to be produced and distributed as part
of the official record of congressional proceedings.
As a result of requirements for both electronic and paper-based versions of congressional
documents, GPO oversees an information distribution process that produces and distributes most
of the congressional information for which it is responsible11 in both electronic and printed forms.
This process provides the necessary information and appropriate formats for Congress to carry
out and document its activities, but it may also result in some unwanted printed copies of
congressional documents being delivered to congressional users who prefer to access those
resources electronically. More broadly, the transition to electronic distribution of materials may
5
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/.
6
Information about the migration of materials from GPO Access to FDsys is available at http://www.gpo.gov/projects/
fdsysinfo.htm.
7
Government Printing Office, GPO’s Strategic Plan FY2011-2015, Washington, DC, April 2011, unnumbered pages,
http://www.gpo.gov/pdfs/about/2011_StrategicPlan.pdf.
8
Barbara J. Costello, “Moving In The Right Direction: Developments In The Online Availability Of Full-Text
Congressional Committee Hearing Transcripts,” Government Information Quarterly, vol. 25, no. 1 (January 2008), pp.
104-117.
9
Some of the changes include transition from mechanical to electronic means to create, compose, and prepare
congressional documents; the use of recycled paper in printing; and reduced demand for paper-based printed products.
10
Some of the technological transformations GPO has adopted have also incorporated changes that may provide
environmental benefits. Since at least 2000, GPO and its contractors have used paper that meets federal recycled paper
requirements, and all GPO printing inks have been vegetable oil based instead of petroleum based. Recently, the
Speaker of the House, Representative Nancy Pelosi, announced that the daily edition of the Congressional Record is
now printed on 100% recycled paper. See U.S. Government Printing Office, Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2000,
Washington, DC, 2001, p. 2, http://www.gpo.gov/pdfs/congressional/archives/2000gpoannualreport.pdf; and U.S.
Congress, House, Speaker of the House, “Pelosi: Congressional Record Now Printed on 100 Percent Recycled Paper,”
press release, October 2, 2009, http://speaker.house.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=1386.
11
The congressional materials GPO produces include legislation, committee documents, handbooks, manuals, and the
Congressional Record. GPO is not responsible for distributing all congressional information. Some examples of items
for which GPO has no responsibility include various disclosure documents required by the House or Senate, and the
correspondence, media releases, and records of individual Members.
Congressional Research Service
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Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
raise questions about the capacity of congressional authorities to effectively oversee GPO’s
management and distribution responsibilities regarding congressional information under current
law and congressional practices.
This report provides an overview and analysis of issues related to the processing and distribution
of congressional information by the Government Printing Office (GPO). Subsequent sections
address several issues, including funding congressional printing, printing authorizations, current
printing practices, and options for Congress. Finally, the report provides congressional printing
appropriations, production, and distribution data in a number of tables.
Legislation in the 112th Congress
H.R. 292
On January 12, 2011, Representative Christopher J. Lee introduced H.R. 292, the Stop the
OverPrinting (STOP) Act. As introduced, the measure would have amended Section 706 of Title
44 of the United States Code to “make bills and resolutions available for the use of the House of
Representatives and Senate only in an electronic format which is accessible through the Internet,”
with some exceptions. Those exceptions would have included requests by committees for up to
75 printed copies of measures within their jurisdiction, or as many copies of individual bills or
resolutions as may be requested by Members or committees of Congress. The measure was
amended in the House to require the Public Printer to make bills and resolutions available for the
use of offices of Members of Congress only in an electronic format which is accessible through
the Internet. H.R. 292 was passed by the House under suspension of the rules by a vote of 399 to
zero on January 18, 2011. The measure was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration on January 25, 2011. No further action has been taken at the time of this writing.
H.R. 1626
On April 15, 2011, Representative Candace Miller introduced H.R. 1626, the Prevent the
Reckless, Irresponsible, Needless Typography (PRINT) Act of 2011. The measure would limit
the number of copies of the Congressional Record that are authorized to be printed to the
minimum number of copies that are necessary to be printed for archival purposes. H.R. 1626 was
referred to the Committee on House Administration on April 15, 2011. No further action has been
taken at the time of this testimony.
S. 210
On January 26, 2011, Senator Tom Coburn introduced S. 210, the Stop the OverPrinting (STOP)
Act. The measure would require the Public Printer to make bills and resolutions available for the
use of offices of Members of Congress only in an electronic format which is accessible through
the Internet. S. 210 was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration on
January 26, 2011. No further action has been taken at the time of this writing.
Congressional Research Service
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Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
S. 674
On March 30, 2011, Senator Coburn introduced S. 674, the Congressional Record Printing
Savings Act of 2011. The measure would limit the number of copies of the Congressional Record
that are authorized to be printed to the minimum number of copies that are necessary to be printed
for archival purposes. S. 674 was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
on March 30, 2011. No further action has been taken at the time of this writing.
GPO and Congressional Printing
GPO is a legislative branch agency that serves all three branches of the federal government as a
centralized resource for gathering, cataloging, producing, providing, authenticating, and
preserving published information. The agency’s activities are funded through three sources.
These include appropriations, a revolving fund through which executive and judicial branch
agencies pay GPO for information management and distribution services, and sales of products to
nongovernmental entities and the general public.
GPO’s appropriation is included in the annual legislative branch appropriations bill. The bill
funds three GPO accounts: congressional printing and binding (CPB); salaries and expenses of
the Superintendent of Documents (S&E); and, on occasion, a small part of the revolving fund.
Congress allocates a substantial proportion of the funds appropriated to GPO to the CPB account,
which funds the production and dissemination of congressional documents. Since 1988,
appropriations for CPB have comprised an average of 73.08% of funds provided to GPO by
Congress. Activities funded in the revolving fund and S&E accounts do not directly support
congressional publishing activity.12
Figure 1 provides the levels of funding of the CPB account since 1985, based on nominal and
constant (2010) dollars. The data show that CPB spending has declined from $164.3 million in
1985 (2010 dollars) to $93.73 million in 2010. Part of the decline in appropriations reflects
savings resulting from reduced staffing13 due to the implementation by GPO of less laborintensive printing technologies, increased electronic distribution, and somewhat reduced demands
for some types of congressional products. Table 6, in the data tables below, provides GPO CPB
account appropriations data in nominal and constant (2010) dollars and the percentage of
appropriations allocated to CPB since 1987.
12
On several occasions, GPO has made up temporary shortfalls in CPB funding with resources from the revolving
fund. Congressional shortfalls are typically remedied in subsequent appropriations. Some equipment and technology
upgrades for which funds are appropriated to the S&E account, such as GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys), may
affect the distribution of congressional materials.
13
Staffing levels at GPO fell 44.11%, from 5,391 in 1985 to 2,116 in 2008. See CRS Report R40056, Legislative
Branch Staffing, 1954-2007, by (name redacted).
Congressional Research Service
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Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
Figure 1. Government Printing Office, Congressional Printing and Binding Account
Appropriations, FY1987-FY2011
Nominal and Constant (2010) Dollars, Thousands of Dollars
Source: Actual appropriations reported by GPO in annual appropriations requests, in Summary of
Appropriations Estimates tables, various years, and CRS calculations.
Notes: Data incorporate GPO reported sequestrations, restrictions, reductions, rescissions, and transfers from
the GPO revolving fund as noted in Table 6, in the data table section below. These data may not incorporate
supplemental appropriations.
Congressional Printing
In each Congress, thousands of products are created to document the activities of the House and
Senate. The publication of congressional documents is carried out pursuant to statute, or by
resolution of the House or Senate, acting separately or jointly. The number and distribution of
paper-based congressional documents may be set in statute, by the House or Senate, acting
separately or jointly, or by the Joint Committee on Printing (JCP). Table 1 summarizes the
authority and authorized distribution for a number of printed products used by Congress. Current
law provides that GPO “shall accommodate any request” from a government entity to distribute
electronically any information under control of that entity.14
Table 1. Congressional Printing Products: Authorized Copies
Product
Copies Authorized
Authority
Bills and Joint Resolutions
625
44 U.S.C. 706
Congressional Directory
Determined by JCP
44 U.S.C. 721
Congressional Record
Daily Edition, approx. 23,300
Bound, approx. 2,400
Semimonthly edition, no longer produced
44 U.S.C. 906
14
44 U.S.C. 4101.
Congressional Research Service
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Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
Product
Copies Authorized
Authority
Journals of the House and Senate
820
44 U.S.C. 713
Slip Laws
Determined by JCP
44 U.S.C. 709
Statutes at Large
Determined by JCP
44 U.S.C. 728
Simple and Concurrent Resolutions
260
44 U.S.C. 706
Private Bill, Senate
295
44 U.S.C. 706
Private Bill, House
260
44 U.S.C. 706
Manuals of the House and Senate
Determined by each chamber
44 U.S.C. 720
Documents and Reports
“The Usual Number,” 1,682
44 U.S.C. 701
Source: Title 44, U.S. Code.
The publication and distribution of some categories of documents that may not be published on a
regular basis is also authorized in statute. For example, at the conclusion of a Congress in which a
sitting Member of the House or a former Member who served as Speaker dies, GPO, subject to
the direction of JCP, compiles, prepares, and prints, with illustrations, a tribute book. 15
The House or Senate, acting separately or jointly, may authorize the publication of other
documents. Some examples include the following:
•
unanimous consent agreements in the Senate that tributes to retiring Senators
appearing in the Congressional Record be printed as Senate documents;16
•
H.Con.Res. 128, 110th Congress, authorizing the printing of a commemorative
document in memory of the late President, Gerald R. Ford;17
•
a Senate order authorizing the printing of tributes to the late Senator Craig
Thomas;18
•
H.Con.Res. 345, 108th Congress, authorizing the printing of the transcripts of the
proceedings of “The Changing Nature of the House Speakership: The Cannon
Centenary Conference,” held on November 12, 2003;19 and
15
44 U.S.C. 723. The tribute book contains the legislative proceedings of Congress and the exercises at the general
memorial services held in the House in tribute to the deceased Member or former Speaker, together with all relevant
memorial addresses and eulogies published in the Congressional Record during the same session of Congress, and any
other matter JCP considers relevant. The statute also authorizes the production of 50 copies, bound in full morocco,
with gilt edges, and suitably lettered as may be requested, to be delivered to the family of the deceased. According to
GPO, this is no longer done. Email communication with GPO staff, October 23, 2009.
16
Senator Patty Murray, “Tributes to Senator Coleman,” Remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record, daily edition,
July 9, 2009, p. S7332; Senator Mary Landrieu, “Order for Printing of Senate Document,” Remarks in the Senate,
Congressional Record, daily edition, September 27, 2008, p. S10022; and Senator Mitch McConnell, “Order for
Printing Tributes to Retiring Senators,” Remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record, daily edition, November 18,
2004, p. S11513.
17
See U.S. House, Memorial Services in the Congress of the United States and Tributes in Eulogy of Gerald R. Ford
Late a President of the United States, 110th Cong., 1st sess., H. Doc. 110-61 (Washington: GPO, 2007).
18
See “Order for Printing and Submission of Tributes to Senator Craig Thomas,” Congressional Record, daily edition,
June 14, 2007, p. S7776.
19
See U.S. House, The Cannon Centenary Conference: The Changing Nature of the Speakership, 108th Cong., 2nd
sess., H. Doc. 108-204 (Washington: GPO, 2004).
Congressional Research Service
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Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
•
H.Con.Res. 43 and H.Con.Res. 66, 107th Congress, authorizing revised and
updated versions of the House documents entitled Black Americans in Congress,
1870-1989, and Women in Congress, 1917-1990, respectively.20
Page Production
In its annual budget requests, GPO reports the volume of its work in terms of the number of pages
produced, and the number of copies produced for each product. GPO expresses the overall
production of congressional documents in the number of pages produced for several categories of
documents. Generally, page production is a function of congressional activity; more activity,
which may result in an increase in the number or length of days in session, the number of
measures introduced, or the number of hearings held, typically means greater demand for printing
services and increases the volume of pages produced. As noted in congressional testimony, the
number of pages necessary to meet demand varies by Congress and session, according to
workload and activity on the floor. For example, the page volume for the Congressional Record
and bills, resolutions, and amendments may be higher as more measures are introduced during the
first session of a Congress than in the second session.21 GPO’s page production categories include
the following:22
•
Congressional Record, daily edition. A substantially verbatim account capturing
the proceedings of the House and Senate;
•
Miscellaneous Publications. Includes the Congressional Directory, House and
Senate Journals, memorial addresses, nominations, serial sets, and unnumbered
publications;
•
Document Envelopes & Franks. Franked envelopes and perforated sheets with
Members’ signatures for the mailing of documents;
•
Calendars. House and Senate business and committee calendars;
•
Bills, Resolutions & Amendments. Printing of legislative measures, including
prints as introduced, reported, and adopted or passed;
•
Committee Reports. Documents of congressional committees on pending
legislation that carry a congressional document number;
•
Documents. House and Senate documents that carry a congressional number.
Examples may include annual reports, engineers’ reports made by government
agencies, or estimates of appropriations;
20
See U.S. Congress, House, Women in Congress, 1917-2006, 108th Cong., 2nd sess., H. Doc. 108-223 (Washington:
GPO, 2006); and U.S. Congress, House, Black Americans in Congress, 1870-2007, 108th Cong., 2nd sess., H. Doc. 108224 (Washington: GPO, 2008). Some of the content of the publications is also available electronically at
http://womenincongress.house.gov/ or http://baic.house.gov/.
21
U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch
Appropriations for 2010, Fiscal Year 2010 Legislative Branch Appropriations Requests, 111th Cong., 1st sess., April 22,
2009 (Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 161.
22
The categories are based on GPO’s CPB Base Budget Review for FY 2010, in U.S. Congress, House Committee on
Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch Appropriations for 2010, Fiscal Year 2010
Legislative Branch Appropriations Requests, part 1, 111th Cong., 1st sess., April 22, 2009 (Washington: GPO, 2009),
pp. 922-923.
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Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
•
Hearings. All published hearings held before committees; and
•
Committee Prints. Documents on pending legislation printed for the internal use
of committees.
Table 2 provides summary data reflecting the change in page volume levels since 1985. No
particular pattern appears to apply to all categories. Between 2006 and 2010, five of nine
categories increased in volume. Over the period between 1985 and 2010, six of nine categories
decreased in overall volume. Three categories, including daily record, calendars, and hearings,
decreased in both periods while two categories, bills, resolutions, and amendments, and
committee reports increased. At the same time, all categories showed at least one significant
increase or decrease in volume over two separate periods between 1985 and 2011. Table 7, in the
data table section below, provides GPO page data for a number of categories of congressional
printing listed in the agency’s annual appropriations requests.
Table 2. Congressional Printing and Binding Page Volume, Percentage Change in
Selected Categories, FY1985-FY2011
Columns Report Percentage Change For Each Period Listed
19851990
19911995
19962000
20012005
20062010
19852011
Daily Record
19.35%
-14.38%
-25.64%
18.75%
3.06%
-11.29%
Record Index
2.46%
-32.20%
32.35%
8.70%
-9.09%
30.64%
Miscellaneous Publications
-26.09%
73.59%
35.00%
-71.74%
-2.28%
-48.84%
Document Envelopes & Franks
-5.31%
-31.47%
-33.33%
-50.00%
10.48%
-76.53%
Calendars
3.13%
0.41%
-6.06%
-41.38%
8.47%
-31.88%
Bills, Resolutions &
Amendments
15.79%
-28.08%
-31.62%
31.43%
17.80%
48.74%
Committee Reports
13.16%
-25.05%
-26.32%
0.00%
15.15%
7.11%
Documents
-6.06%
-28.63%
56.25%
10.00%
-9.09%
6.36%
Hearings
-3.99%
-13.10%
-12.09%
-0.62%
-17.59%
-49.53%
Committee Prints
-38.89%
16.21%
5.88%
-20.93%
-25.09%
-70.44%
Source: CRS calculations, based on Congressional Printing and Binding Appropriation FY2011 data are
estimates. Volume Increase or Decrease tables submitted by the Government Printing Office in annual
appropriations requests, various years. This table excludes calculations of data included in some of those tables,
including Daily Record data production (which typically is the same as Daily Record data), the record index,
record indexers, U.S. Code and Supplements, miscellaneous printing and binding, and details to Congress.
Printing Practices
For most printed congressional products, there are differences between the authorized levels of
printed versions and the actual number of those documents that are printed. An authorized
number of copies for some printed congressional products is set in statute. In practice the actual
number of copies printed of the Congressional Record; measures introduced, reported, adopted,
or enacted in the House or Senate; and reports and documents printed by the House or Senate is
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Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
generally lower.23 In addition, the Congressional Record is published in fewer paper formats than
authorized, and fewer copies of those remaining formats are produced. These differences reflect
Member needs.24 At the same time, the variable distribution of paper copies and the lack of
explicit, readily identifiable authority to disseminate electronic versions of some congressional
documents25 in statute governing congressional printing may call into question the capacity of
current controls and processes to ensure systematic management by Congress of its published
products. This in turn may raise concerns about the extent to which the public records are
available and retrievable, and whether they will be permanently available in electronic form.
Congressional Record
The JCP controls the arrangement and style of the Congressional Record, and is to provide “that
it shall be substantially a verbatim report of proceedings,” while taking “all needed action for the
reduction of unnecessary bulk.”26 Current law authorizes the printing of the Congressional
Record in three formats: a daily edition, a semimonthly edition, and a bound edition (the
semimonthly edition is no longer produced). P.L. 103-40 requires GPO to make a version
available online. The daily edition, comprising the proceedings of the previous day’s activities on
the House and Senate floors, is typically available electronically by 6 AM and is distributed
across Capitol Hill in paper form by 9 AM each day that Congress is in session.27 The authorized
distribution of the daily edition and bound volumes is summarized in Table 14, in the data table
section below. More than 23,000 copies of the daily edition are authorized in 44 U.S.C. 906. Of
that total, approximately 21,600 (93.9%) are to be distributed to Congress. Congressional copies
include those for congressional use, and copies for distribution to others, as directed by individual
Members. They are charged to the GPO CPB account. Other copies for noncongressional
recipients are charged to requesting agencies and subscribers through GPO’s revolving fund or
the S&E account.
23
Tracking changes to authorized printing levels of congressional documents is likely to yield incomplete information,
since many of the records of changes are not readily available.
24
E-mail communication with GPO staff, October 23, 2009.
25
The only congressional document explicitly mandated in statute to be distributed electronically is a version of the
Congressional Record, pursuant to P.L. 103-40, 41 U.S.C. 4101.
26
44 U.S.C. 901.
27
U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch
Appropriations for 2010, Fiscal Year 2010 Legislative Branch Appropriations Requests, 111th Cong., 1st sess., April 22,
2009 (Washington: GPO, 2009), pp. 161-162.
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Figure 2. Congressional Record, Daily Edition: Copies Produced FY1985-FY2010
Source: Government Printing Office, annual appropriations requests, various years. Data are taken from
Congressional Printing and Binding budget review.
Notes: All publication data reported by GPO are approximate FY2011 data are estimated. GPO did not provide
a breakdown of publication data by CPB and agency and subscription categories in 1985 and 1986.
Figure 2 displays the change in the number of copies of the Congressional Record daily edition
produced from FY1985-FY2010. Distribution of the paper version of the daily edition of the
Congressional Record has declined every year since FY1985, with the total number of copies
declining by 83.21% between FY1985 and FY2009. Since FY1987, the daily edition has been
printed in lower quantities than authorized. The number of both CPB-charged copies and agency
and subscription copies have declined since FY1987, the earliest year for which such data are
available. Between FY1987 and FY2010, the number of copies charged to CPB fell 79.21%.
During the same period the number of copies charged to agencies and subscriptions fell by
83.94%. More recently, between FY2005, and FY2010, the number of copies has fallen 21.28%
for CPB copies and 52.15% for agencies and subscription copies. Table 3 provides summary data
of the changes in copies produced between FY1985 and FY2009. Table 4, in the data table
section below, provides daily edition publication data and distribution to CPB and agency and
subscription recipients between FY1987 and FY2010.
Table 3. Congressional Record, Daily Edition: Percentage Change in Copies
Produced, FY1985-FY2010
Columns Report Percentage Change For Each Period Listed
19851989
19901995
19962000
20012005
20052010
19872010
-21.03%
-13.71%
-17.10%
-19.41%
-32.77%
-80.72%a
Charged to Congressional Printing & Binding
—b
-14.76
-8.76
-14.91
-21.28
-79.21
Government Agencies & Subscriptions
—b
-11.38
-25.82
-26.02
-52.15
-83.94
Total copies, Daily Edition
Source: CRS computations, based on Government Printing Office data taken from the Congressional Printing
and Binding budget review, in annual appropriations requests, various years, available in Table 8. Each column
reports change for the period listed.
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Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
a.
Change, 1985-2010 is -84.35%.
b.
GPO did not provide information for this category in 1985 and 1986.
Figure 3. Distribution of the Congressional
Record, Daily Edition
Approximate Authorized and FY2010 Levels
Most recently, for FY2009, GPO reported the
printing of approximately 4,242 copies of the
daily edition, of which 3,118 (73.5%) copies
were charged to its CPB account.28 Figure 3
provides the approximate authorized level set
by statute for the daily edition of the
Congressional Record, in proportion to the
approximate distribution in FY2010.
The decline in distribution of paper CPB
copies of the Congressional Record daily
edition in the past 18 years may be
attributable in part to two events. The first
was the introduction of electronic versions of
material printed in the Congressional Record.
In 1994, GPO first produced an electronic
version of the daily edition as required by
Congress under P.L. 103-40. This likely
contributes to reductions in the number of
Source: 44 U.S.C. 906, and GPO staff.
printed copies that began as commercial firms
began providing material from the Congressional Record to their subscribers in electronic format
prior to 1994. The ongoing decline is presumably attributable to users turning to the electronic
version in greater numbers over time. The second event occurred in 1996, when the House
ordered the elimination of distribution of CPB copies issued by House Members “for constituent
copies and by-law distribution of the Congressional Record.”29 The House’s actions appear to
have resulted in a sharp decline in the number of copies produced by GPO from FY1996 to
FY1997 and a corresponding decline in the number of copies distributed by Congress to other
users. Figure 4 provides the distribution of CPB copies of the Congressional Record daily edition
between 1987 and 2010.
Similar differences between authorized levels and actual practices apply to other formats of the
Congressional Record. For example, the bound edition is considered the official, permanent
version, and is typically available within four years of the final adjournment of a Congress. 44
U.S.C. 906 authorizes the printing of approximately 2,400 bound copies of the Congressional
28
See U.S. House, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch
Appropriations for 2009, (Washington: GPO, 2008), p. 777.
29
U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative, Legislative Branch
Appropriations Bill, 1996, report to accompany H.R. 1854, 104th Cong., 1st sess., June 15, 1995, H.Rept. 104-141
(Washington: GPO, 1995), p. 25. In the same bill, the House proposed the elimination of “the free distribution of copies
of bills, reports, and other documents to non-Congressional recipients (other than federal depository libraries).”
Following conference negotiations between the House and Senate, some of the distribution of congressional documents
was preserved in the final version of the bill, as was distribution of constituent and by-law copies of the daily edition of
the Congressional Record by Senators. The measure was subsequently vetoed by the President. Congress subsequently
passed the legislative branch appropriations bill for 1996 as H.R. 2492, which was enacted as P.L. 104-53, the
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1996, 109 Stat. 514. It appears that the House proceeded to enforce the
reductions in the distribution of the Congressional Record specified in H.Rept. 104-141 during FY1996.
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Record; in practice GPO prints about 345 copies, of which 92 are paid through CPB. The
semimonthly edition is no longer printed, but GPO continues to produce a semimonthly index.
Figure 4. Congressional Record, Daily Edition: Distribution of Congressional Printing
and Binding Copies, FY1987-FY2010
Source: Government Printing Office, annual appropriations requests, various years. Data are taken from
Congressional Printing and Binding budget review.
Notes: All publication data reported by GPO are approximate.
Table 4. Congressional Record, Daily Edition: Change in Copies and Distribution of
Congressional Printing and Binding Copies, FY1987-FY2010
Change, Fiscal Years
19871989
19901995
19962000
20012005
20052010
19872010
Charged to Congressional Printing and Binding
-2.00%
-14.76%
-8.76%
-14.91%
-21.28%
-79.21%
Congressional Use
-4.69%
-7.21%
-26.85%
-13.62%
-19.32%
-68.09%
Congressional Distribution
0.00%
-20.24%
57.76%
-17.10%
-24.76%
-87.49%
Source: CRS computations, based on Government Printing Office data taken from the Congressional Printing
and Binding budget review, in annual appropriations requests, various years, available in Table 8. Each column
reports change for the period listed.
Bills and Resolutions
All bills and resolutions are printed at least once. Versions of measures that are considered in one
chamber are authorized to be printed when introduced or submitted, 30 reported to the chamber,
and upon passage or adoption by the chamber.31 Under typical circumstances of consideration,
30
While the process is essentially the same, bills are introduced, while resolutions are submitted. Similarly, bills that
receive affirmative final approval are passed, while resolutions are adopted or agreed to. Laws governing the printing
of bills and resolutions do not recognize these distinctions, and speak of the introduction and passage of all measures.
31
44 U.S.C. 706. In addition, House Rule XII, cl. 7 (b)(4) provides that a measure may be reprinted at the written
(continued...)
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Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
bills and resolutions considered and passed by both chambers may be printed in seven different
versions reflecting congressional action.32 Some measures considered by both chambers may
require fewer printings,33 while others require more.34 Measures enacted into law would be
printed an additional three times.35 Figure 5 summarizes the various stages at which legislation
and items adopted by Congress or enacted into law might be printed by GPO. The authorized
numbers of copies, and their distribution to the House and Senate, as specified in statute, are
summarized in Table 9, in the data table section below. In practice, the printing and distribution
of measures varies by the type of measure. With the exception of simple and concurrent
resolutions considered in the House, the number of all other legislative measures printed is less
than authorized. Table 10 provides a summary of current distribution of printed copies of
legislative measures.
(...continued)
request of the sponsor if 20 or more cosponsors are added after the last printing of the measure.
32
A measure that is passed by both chambers would be printed when it is introduced, reported, and passed in the
originating chamber; transmitted to, and reported and passed in the second chamber; and in an enrolled version
reflecting what was finally agreed to by both chambers.
33
For example, S.J.Res. 3, 111th Congress, adjusting the rate of pay for the office of Secretary of Interior, and enacted
as P.L. 111-1, required three printed versions during its consideration by Congress. H.R. 3996, 110th Congress, the
Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007, required six printed versions reflecting congressional activity prior to its enactment
as P.L. 110-166.
34
For example, H.R. 1, 111th Congress, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, required eight printed
versions in the course of congressional consideration before it was enacted as P.L. 111-5.
35
Printing of laws following congressional consideration includes copies for accuracy, slip laws, and final publication
in the Statutes at Large. The costs of printing are charged to CPB.
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Figure 5. Stages at which Legislative Measures Might be Printed by GPO
Source: CRS graphic based on requirements taken from 44 U.S.C., Sections 706, 709, 711, 713, 728, and 901.
Notes: In addition to the statutory stages of printing, House Rule XII, cl. 7 (b)(4) provides that a measure may
be reprinted at the written request of the sponsor if 20 or more cosponsors are added after the last printing of
the measure.
Reports and Documents
The consideration of legislation, the conduct of oversight or investigations by House or Senate
committees, or orders of either chamber could necessitate the publication of committee hearings,
meeting transcripts, and documents; reports to accompany legislation; conference reports; and
other products. The “usual numbers” of printed copies for various types of congressional reports
and documents are specified in 44 U.S.C. 701, but have not been used in several years. Instead,
GPO produces copies of reports or documents in the quantities directed by the House or Senate.36
It appears that copies of most types of documents and reports are printed in smaller increments
36
E-mail communication with GPO staff, October 23, 2009.
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Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
than authorized. Table 11 summarizes the authorized numbers of printed copies for documents,
and reports on bills and joint resolutions in the data tables below. Table 12 provides the
authorized numbers of copies of reports on private bills, and concurrent or simple resolutions.
The actual numbers of copies of various categories of congressional reports and documents
produced by GPO for FY2009 is summarized in Table 13.
Discussion and Analysis
Any further adjustment to statutory printing requirements may be formally authorized by
legislation, committee order, or through report language. In practice, GPO notes that it prints the
number of copies of congressional documents requested. In past debate on proposed amendments
to appropriations bills to reduce or eliminate printing of the daily edition of the Congressional
Record, congressional leaders have said that current levels of distribution to Congress are based
on the availability of appropriations to cover the costs of congressional printing. 37 If that is the
case, the further reduction or elimination of printed copies may impair the ability of some
Members from carrying out their duties. Congressional leaders have also noted that any efforts to
change congressional printing practices must proceed through JCP rather than through
appropriations bills. 38
Officials at GPO39 suggest that much of the reduction in the number of printed congressional
documents could be ascribed to the use of newer printing technologies, and migration by
congressional documents users to information technologies that provide congressional
information through electronic means. Those transitions have generally resulted in a smaller work
force at GPO, a reduction in the number of printed copies produced, arguably, reduced paper
consumption, and smaller appropriations. While overall printing costs have gone down, it is not
clear that continued reduction in print runs would result in significant reductions of costs. In line
with printing industry practices, GPO estimates that prepress processes, actions that must be
taken before multiple copies can be made,40 make up approximately two-thirds of the cost of
producing the daily edition of the Congressional Record. The balance is spent on printing,
binding, and mailing of the finished copies. For FY2011, GPO estimates the cost of producing
one page of the Congressional Record at $782. The agency allocates $532 (68.03%) for prepress,
which GPO refers to as “data preparation,”41 and $250 (31.97%) for printing.
In their budget requests, GPO does not provide estimates for other congressional products broken
down by the cost of prepress and printing processes.42 Table 5 provides some the potential
savings that might result by the elimination of the printed versions of several congressional
37
See “Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2008,” Congressional Record, daily edition, June 22, 2007, pp. H6982H6983.
38
See “Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2008,” Congressional Record, daily edition, June 22, 2007, pp. H6993H6994.
39
This section is based in part on conversations with GPO legislative liaison staff between May 28 and June 6, 2008,
except as noted otherwise.
40
Prepress activities include content creation, page layout and composition, and plate making. For an overview of the
printing process, see Kenneth F. Hird and Charles E. Finley, Offset Lithographic Technology, 4th ed. (Tinley Park, IL:
The Goodheart-Willcox Company, Inc., 2010), pp. 114-417.
41
The prepress cost includes the cost of converting the material into the format for the bound edition.
42
In its cost estimates, GPO provides a unit cost per page which includes the cost of printing all copies charged to CPB.
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products, based on the distribution of prepress and printing cost estimates for the Congressional
Record. Since most of the prepress costs would be necessary to make the Congressional Record
and other congressional documents available to users, whether in electronic or printed form, the
extent of any statutory reduction in authorized printing levels or further reductions in the actual
number of copies that GPO produces may result in somewhat modest cost savings. Any such cost
savings may come at the expense of denying congressional materials to users who prefer the
paper-based documents, or those who do not have access to electronic versions.
Table 5. Estimated Prepress and Printing Costs per Page of Selected Congressional
Publications, FY2011
Category
GPO Estimatea
Prepressb
Printingc
Congressional Record, Daily Editiond
$782
$532a
$250a
Congressional Record Index
$376
$256
$120
Miscellaneous Publicationse
$197
$134
$63
Document Envelopes & Franks
$152
$103
$49
Calendarsf
$143
$97
$46
Bills, Resolutions & Amendments
$41
$28
$13
Committee Reports
$81
$55
$26
Documents
$32
$22
$10
Hearings
$72
$49
$23
Committee Prints
$86
$59
$27
Source: GPO, Budget Justification, Fiscal Year 2011, and CRS calculations.
Notes: Prepress and Printing data are based on 68.03% and 31.97%, respectively, of GPO estimates for each
product category. This distribution is based on estimated prepress and printing costs for the daily edition of the
Congressional Record, as reported by GPO. The prepress cost is determined in part by the original format of the
material to be printed, which varies according to the type of document produced. Consequently, the actual
prepress costs of documents that are handled differently than the prepress process for the Congressional Record
may vary.
a.
GPO estimates for FY2011.
b.
Prepress costs would apply to documents prepared for distribution in electronic and printed forms. Some
of the prepress costs, such as plate making, would be eliminated if printed copies were no longer produced.
GPO does not provide detailed estimates of the costs of individual prepress processes, but it appears that
the actual cost of prepress processes would be somewhat lower than the table suggests.
c.
Printing costs represent potential savings if printing is eliminated.
d.
Includes data preparation for the bound edition.
e.
Includes the Congressional Directory, House and Senate Journals, memorial addresses, nominations, serial
sets, and unnumbered publications.
f.
House and Senate business and committee calendars.
Any effort to reduce the availability of centrally produced printed versions of congressional
documents in favor of electronic delivery and storage may also raise concerns about the
preservation and long-term ability to retrieve congressional records, and the need for reliable
backup systems. While some of the printed records of Congress dating back to the First Congress
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(1789-1791) are retrievable in paper form, concerns have been raised about the ability to retrieve
some electronic records created in the past few decades.43 Other related challenges might include
the costs of document conversion as electronic document creation, management, and storage
technologies evolve in a way that might not incorporate records and documents created with
obsolete systems. Taken together, these concerns might raise questions about the long-term costs
of a “paperless” system in comparison to the current hybrid process of making documents
available in electronic and paper form.
Of particular concern in the congressional environment could be the preservation of an official,
definitive version of a document that is widely accepted by lawmakers, congressional officials,
the executive branch, the courts, and the American public. Currently, GPO provides hard copies
of the Congressional Record, legislative measures at various stages of consideration, related
congressional documents, and laws passed by Congress. Similar materials are available
electronically through the Legislative Information System (LIS) for congressional users, and
through THOMAS, maintained by the Library of Congress,44 for the general public. 45
Nevertheless, congressional rules require legislative measures to be signed by the Member
sponsoring them before introduction, and the preservation of those original, official documents by
congressional officials.46 The bound version of the Congressional Record, which may appear up
to four years after the conclusion of a Congress, is considered, the official, archival product. Any
transition to a more integrated use of electronic documents would likely need to take into account
document verification and authentication procedures to ensure the provenance and accuracy of
any official record of congressional activity, and facilitate the acceptance of those materials as
legitimate.
Potential Options for Congress
Depending on the degree to which Congress believes that action on matters relating to
congressional printing activities might be necessary or desirable, it might consider the following
options to maintain the status quo, conduct studies, or consider legislation.
Maintain The Status Quo
As information publishing and retrieval technologies evolve and demand for paper copies
declines, congressional users may continue to access documents through electronic means in
greater numbers than through the use of GPO-printed paper copies. This could continue the
43
See Kenneth Thibodeau, “If you build it, will it fly? Criteria for success in a digital repository,” Journal of Digital
Information, vol. 8, no. 2 (2007), at http://journals.tdl.org/jodi/article/viewArticle/197/174; Giovanna Pattersona and J.
Timothy Sprehe, “Principal Challenges Facing Electronic Records Management in Federal Agencies Today,”
Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 19, Issue 3, 2002, Pages 307-315; and U.S. General Accounting Office,
“Electronic Records: Management and Preservation Pose Challenges,” Statement of Linda D. Koontz before the House
Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations,
and the Census, July 8, 2003, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03936t.pdf.
44
http://thomas.loc.gov/.
45
LIS, which is available to congressional users, and THOMAS, which is available to the general public, access a
common body of information through different user interfaces.
46
Similarly, there are statutory protocols designating the dispositions of original, signed copies of measures enacted
into law, including 1 U.S.C. 106, 1 U.S.C. 106b, and 1 U.S.C. 107.
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downward trend in the number of copies of congressional documents GPO provides, which likely
would produce marginal reductions in printing costs. It is unlikely that the number of printed
copies could be eliminated without legislation, since a number of paper copies must be preserved
for archival purposes, and some users may prefer printed formats. If no congressional action is
taken, it appears likely that GPO will continue to integrate newer prepress technologies as they
become available. These changes might, or might not, contribute further to reductions in printing
costs over the long term.
Conduct Studies
Congress might consider authorizing JCP, the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress, 47
or another entity to conduct studies related to congressional printing policies. Potential topics
might include the following:
•
how users access congressional documents;
•
whether current distribution practices for GPO-printed and electronic documents
are effective or efficient;
•
the costs of creating paper and electronic documents, including retention of
archival documents, and disposal of obsolete materials;
•
the extent to which current congressional printing and document distribution
practices support Congress in its work; and
•
what potential changes to congressional rules and practices might be necessary if
Congress were to transition to “paperless” operations.
The entity could be charged to report findings, or recommend potential administrative or
legislative actions.
Consider Legislation
Congress might amend current printing authorizations to reflect current printing practices. As
written, 44 U.S.C. 906, regarding the Congressional Record, and 44 U.S.C. 701, authorizing a
“usual number” of congressional documents and reports, provides authorization for the printing
and distribution of thousands of copies more than GPO produces. Entities that no longer exist,
including the Governor of the Canal Zone and national homes for disabled volunteer soldiers, are
technically entitled to receive copies of one or more versions of the Congressional Record. Some
officials, including the Delegates from American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, are not authorized to receive copies in the manner specified for other Members
of Congress. Other recipients may no longer have a need for as many printed copies of
congressional documents as they are authorized to receive. On the other hand, the relatively small
number of copies of the daily and bound editions, and the elimination of the semimonthly edition,
suggest that authorized recipients who want or need the Congressional Record may either have
adequate access or no longer require access. Similar provisions may apply regarding
congressional reports and documents.
47
See 44 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.
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In addition, Congress might consider enacting more explicit statutory instructions defining the
expectations for the production and dissemination of congressional information by GPO or other
official entities.
Congressional Printing: Data Tables
Appropriations for the Government Printing Office, Congressional
Printing and Binding Account
Table 6. Government Printing Office, Congressional Printing and Binding Account
Appropriations, FY1985-FY2010
Nominal and Constant (2010) Dollars, Thousands of Dollars
Fiscal
Year
CPB Appropriation,
Nominal
GPO Appropriation,
Nominal
CPB, 2010 $
GPO, 2010 $
CPB %
2010
$93,768
$147,461
$93,768
$147,461
63.59%
2009
$96,828
$140,567
$96,828
$140,567
68.88%
2008
$89,775
$124,688
$91,234
$126,715
72.00%
2007
$87,209
$120,213
$92,030
$126,858
72.55%
2006
$87,209
$122,193
$94,651
$132,620
71.37%
2005
$88,090
$119,787
$98,691
$134,203
73.54%
2004
$90,573
$134,767
$104,911
$156,101
67.21%
2003
$89,557
$119,025
$106,496
$141,538
75.24%
2002
$81,000
$114,639
$98,516
$139,429
70.66%
2001
$71,305
$99,198
$88,096
$122,557
71.88%
2000
$73,297
$103,169
$93,134
$131,090
71.05%
1999
$74,465
$103,729
$97,798
$136,232
71.79%
1998
$81,669a
$110,746
$109,628
$148,660
73.74%
1997
$81,669
$110,746
$111,336
$150,975
73.74%
1996
$83,770
$114,077
$116,820
$159,085
73.43%
1995
$89,724
$121,931
$128,818
$175,058
73.59%
1994
$88,404
$117,486
$130,520
$173,457
75.25%
1993
$89,591
$118,673
$135,659
$179,696
75.49%
1992
$91,591
$118,673
$142,840
$185,075
77.18%
1991
$77,365
$103,110
$124,286
$165,644
75.03%
1990
$70,468b
$98,363
$117,969
$164,668
71.64%
1989
$72,000a
$97,155
$127,047
$171,434
74.11%
1988
$70,359
$89,521
$130,133
$165,575
78.59%
1987
$72,700
no reportc
$140,026
—
—
1986
$64,936d
$102,472
$129,637
$204,573
63.37%
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Fiscal
Year
CPB Appropriation,
Nominal
GPO Appropriation,
Nominal
CPB, 2010 $
GPO, 2010 $
CPB %
1985
$80,800
$124,004
$164,306
$252,160
65.16%
Source: Actual appropriations reported by GPO in annual appropriations requests, in Summary of
Appropriations Estimates tables, various years, and CRS calculations.
Notes: In different budget requests, GPO may report different data for some years. These data generally are
taken from the appropriations request after the year reported, e.g. 2010 data are taken from the FY2011 budget
request. These data may not include all sequestrations, restrictions, reductions, rescissions, transfers from the
GPO Revolving Fund to which the GPO appropriations may have been subject, or supplemental appropriations.
a.
Includes transfer from GPO Revolving Fund.
b.
After sequestration, restriction on funds, and reduction.
c.
In its FY1988 funding request, GPO did not report an overall appropriation for FY1987, in part because
FY1987 funding processes were concluded after FY1988 request materials were prepared for submission to
Congress
d.
After sequestration.
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Table 7. Congressional Printing and Binding, Page Volume of Selected Categories, FY1985-FY2011
Calendars
Bills,
Resolutions &
Amendments
Committee
Reports
Documents
Hearings
Committee
Prints
11,500,00
21,800
141,300
40,700
35,100
290,700
26,600
30,000
11,600,000
33,300
135,000
38,000
32,000
292,129
20,000
30,000
33,000
11,600,000
21,800
149,300
42,100
34,600
302,300
33,200
—
32,000
28,800
13,000,000
30,000
122,500
40,900
30,000
291,000
23,000
2007
—
29,100
31,000
12,700,000
20,600
165,600
36,400
38,600
377,397
39,700
2006
—
32,700
30,700
10,500,000
30,700
114,600
33,000
35,200
354,475
26,700
2005
—
28,500
26,000
9,000,000
17,000
138,000
39,000
33,000
271,300
34,000
2004
—
30,000
30,000
15,000,000
34,000
106,000
36,000
42,000
323,807
34,000
2003
—
30,000
30,000
17,000,000
25,000
97,000
39,000
43,000
301,424
44,000
2002
—
30,000
32,000
22,000,000
30,000
109,000
49,000
38,000
278,000
30,000
2001
—
24,000
92,000
18,000,000
29,000
105,000
39,000
30,000
273,000
43,000
2000
30,000
29,000
54,000
20,000,000
31,000
80,000
42,000
50,000
400,000
36,000
1999
30,000
29,500
41,000
16,000,000
18,000
85,000
39,000
50,000
305,000
39,000
1998
38,000
29,500
40,000
24,000,000
25,000
71,000
48,000
51,500
356,000
25,500
1997
30,000
22,200
43,000
28,000,000
19,000
96,000
37,000
33,000
410,000
54,000
1996
37,000
39,000
40,000
30,000,000
33,000
117,000
57,000
32,000
455,000
34,000
1995
38,000
31,500
97,000
27,000,000
22,000
99,000
38,000
24,700
510,000
78,000
1994
38,000
37,500
47,000
42,200,000
30,300
162,600
47,000
32,200
460,000
41,000
1993
38,000
29,968
38,897
27,120,000
22,871
110,448
38,103
35,853
429,911
69,557
1992
42,160
42,159
40,982
37,715,000
41,868
200,055
77,862
41,128
515,540
48,469
1991
38,000
36,790
55,880
39,400,000
21,910
137,660
50,700
34,610
586,910
67,120
1990
39,000
37,000
51,000
46,400,000
33,000
110,000
43,000
31,000
553,000
55,000
Fiscal
Year
Bound
Recorda
Daily
Record
Miscellaneous
Publications
Document
Envelopes
& Franks
2011b
—
27,500
35,300
2010
—
33,700
2009
—
2008
CRS-21
Fiscal
Year
Bound
Recorda
Daily
Record
Miscellaneous
Publications
Document
Envelopes
& Franks
Calendars
Bills,
Resolutions &
Amendments
Committee
Reports
Documents
Hearings
Committee
Prints
1989
39,000
30,000
76,000
41,000,000
26,000
112,000
33,000
27,000
532,000
60,000
1988
37,000
40,800
54,000
38,500,000
33,000
96,000
39,000
30,000
495,000
54,000
1987
41,000
33,500
69,000
46,000,000
24,000
107,000
33,000
25,000
538,000
46,000
1986
42,000
42,331
63,000
63,000,000
35,000
92,000
46,000
29,000
547,000
68,000
1985
41,000
31,001
69,000
49,000,000
32,000
95,000
38,000
33,000
576,000
90,000
Source: Government Printing Office, annual appropriations requests, various years. Data are taken from Congressional Printing and Binding Appropriation Volume
Increase or Decrease tables. This table excludes data provided by GPO in some years, including Daily Record data production (which typically is the same as the Daily
Record), record index, record indexers, U.S. Code and Supplements, miscellaneous printing and binding, and details to Congress.
Notes: Data units are original, individual pages produced in each category, except document envelopes and franks, which are reported by GPO in units of 1,000. The data
for document envelopes and franks are converted to more closely reflect page counts. At different times, GPO may report different data for some years. These data
generally are taken from the appropriations request after the year reported, e.g. 2009 data are taken from the FY2010 budget request. Data for 2010 are estimated by
GPO.
a.
GPO did not provide data for the bound edition of the Congressional Record after 2000.
b.
GPO estimates.
CRS-22
Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
Congressional Record, Daily Edition: Publication and
Congressional Distribution Data
Table 8. Congressional Record, Daily Edition: Copies Produced and Distribution,
FY1985-FY2010
Fiscal
Year
Total Copies,
Daily Edition
Govt. Agencies &
Subscriptions
Charged to
Congressional
Printing and
Binding
CPB
Distributed
to Congress
CPB
Distributed by
Congressional
Instruction
2010
4,242
1,124
3,118
2,042
1,076
2009
4,551
1,336
3,215
2,070
1,145
2008
4,759
1,474
3,285
2,053
1,232
2007
5,604
1,776
3,828
2,521
1,307
2006
5,360
1,758
3,602
2,325
1,277
2005
6,310
2,349
3,961
2,531
1,430
2004
6,595
2,457
4,138
2,625
1,513
2003
7,122
2,787
4,335
2,734
1,601
2002
7,541
2,886
4,655
2,930
1,725
2001
7,830
3,175
4,655
2,930
1,725
2000
8,800
3,850
4,950
3,120
1,830
1999
9,220
4,265
4,955
2,960
1,995
1998
9,160
4,190
4,970
2,975
1,995
1997
10,412
4,932
5,480
3,255
2,225
1996
10,615
5,190
5,425
4,265
1,160
1995
18,120
5,760
12,360
5,660
6,700
1994
18,280
5,700
12,580
5,800
6,780
1993
19,500
6,040
13,460
6,010
7,450
1992
20,000
6,300
13,700
8,000
5,700
1991
20,400
6,300
14,100
6,300
7,800
1990
21,000
6,500
14,500
6,100
8,400
1989
21,400
6,700
14,700
6,100
8,600
1988
21,700
6,900
14,800
6,500
8,300
1987
22,000
7,000
15,000
6,400
8,600
1986
26,200a
—
—
—
—
1985
27,100a
—
—
—
—
Source: Government Printing Office, annual appropriations requests, various years. Data are taken from
Congressional Printing and Binding budget review.
Notes: All publication data reported by GPO are approximate. Total copies are the sum of Government
Agencies and Subscription copies, and copies charged to Congressional Printing and Binding. CPB, Distributed to
Congressional Research Service
23
Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
Congress and CPB, Distributed per Congressional Instruction rows provide distribution of Charged to
Congressional Printing and Binding copies.
a.
Beginning in 1987, GPO changed the manner in which it reported the printing and distribution of the daily
edition of the Congressional Record. Distribution data prior to 1987 are not readily comparable to current
agency practices.
Legislative Measures
Table 9. Authorized Distribution of Legislative Measures
Measure
Bills and joint resolutions, each
chambera
Simple and concurrent resolutionsb
Senate private billc
House private billd
Copies
Authorized
625
260
295
260
Recipient
Distribution
Senate document room
225
Secretary of Senate
15
House document room
385
Senate document room
135
Secretary of the Senate
15
House document room
100
Superintendent of
Documents
10
Senate document room
170
Secretary of the Senate
15
House document room
100
Superintendent of
Documents
10
Senate document room
135
Secretary of the Senate
15
House document room
100
Superintendent of
Documents
10
Source: 44 U.S.C. 706.
a.
44 U.S.C. 706 requires that “unless specially ordered by either House,” bills and joint resolutions “shall be
printed only when referred to a committee, when favorably reported back, and after their passage by either
House.”
b.
44 U.S.C. 706 provides for the printing of concurrent and simple resolutions “when reported, and after
their passage by either House.”
c.
44 U.S.C. 706 requires the printing of a Senate private bill when it is introduced, reported and passed.
d.
44 U.S.C. 706 requires the printing of a House private bill when it is introduced, reported and passed.
Congressional Research Service
24
Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
Table 10. GPO Distribution of Legislative Measures, FY2009
House
Senate
Committeesa
Oversb
Difference
from
Authorized
Public Bill, Introduced or Referred in the
House
200
25
75
54
-271
Joint Resolution, Introduced or Referred in
the House
150
25
75
54
-321
Public Bills and Joint Resolutions, Reported in
House
400
25
75
54
-71
Private Bills Introduced in the House
95
20
75
66
-4
Private Bills Reported or Referred in the
House
95
20
75
36
-34
Simple and Concurrent Resolutions in the
House
300
25
75
54
194
Public Bills in the Senate
40
50
50
64
-421
Joint Resolutions in the Senate
40
50
50
64
-421
Public Bills and Joint Resolutions, Referred in
the Senate
40
50
50
64
-421
Private Bills Introduced in the Senate
10
20
51
-214
Private Bills Reported or Referred in the
Senate
50
50
—
—
31
-164
Simple and Concurrent Resolutions in the
Senate
25
25
75
79
-421
Amendments in the Senate
25
200
50
79
—
GPO Category
Source: Information provided by GPO for FY2009. Data in the table include copies billed to GPO’s
Congressional Printing and Binding (CPB) appropriation, which pays for the cost of preparing congressional
documents for printing (including the prepress, or front-end cost) and for the number of copies distributed to
congressional recipients. Excludes the number of copies billed to federal agency requisitions, the Salaries and
Expenses (S&E) appropriation, and reimbursements from public sales. “—” indicates no distribution to that
recipient.
a.
GPO does not specify a distribution plan for committee copies.
b.
Extra copies to replace damaged or missing copies, and billed by GPO to the CPB account.
Congressional Documents and Reports
Table 11. Authorized “Usual Number” of House
and Senate Documents and Reports
Senate
House
Recipient
Unbound
Bound
Unbound
Bound
Senate document room
150
15
220
—
Secretary of the Senate
10
—
10
—
House document room
NTE 500
—
—
15
Congressional Research Service
25
Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
Senate
House
Recipient
Unbound
Bound
Unbound
Bound
Clerk of the House
20
—
NTE 500
—
Library of Congress
10a
NTE 150b
10
—
House Library
—
15
10c
NTE 25a
Superintendent of Documents
—
as requiredd
—
—
Department of Statee
20
20
Source: Authorized in 44 U.S.C. 701(b), except as noted otherwise.
Notes: “—” indicates no authorization in that category. “NTE” indicates statutory authorization not to exceed
the number specified.
a.
Authorized in 44 U.S.C. 1718.
b.
44 U.S.C. 701 provides House documents to the Library for distribution as specified in 44 U.S.C. 1718.
c.
44 U.S.C. 701 provides Senate documents to the Library for distribution as specified in 44 U.S.C. 1718.
d.
44 U.S.C. 701 (b) authorizes the printing of “as many copies as may be required for distribution to State
libraries and designated depositories.”
e.
44 U.S.C. 715.
Table 12. Authorized Recipients and Copies of Reports on Private Bills,
and Concurrent or Simple Resolutions
Recipient
Senate Measures
House Measures
Senate document room
220
135
Secretary of the Senate
15
15
House document room
100
100
Superintendent of Documents
10
10
Library of Congressa
10
10
Source: Source: 44 U.S.C. 701, except as noted otherwise.
a.
Authorized in 44 U.S.C. 1718.
Table 13. GPO Distribution of Congressional Documents and Reports, FY2009
GPO Category
Housea
House
Clerk
Senate
Committees
Oversb
House Report
500c
—
50
150
55
House Report, Simple Resolution
300d
—
25
75
55
House Report, Concurrent Resolution
200e
—
50
75
80
House Report, Private Bill
95
—
25
75
39
House Document
60
5
25
75
79
59
House Document, Appropriationsf
60
5
25
145g
Senate Report
40
—
100
150
65
Senate Report, Simple Resolution
40
—
100
—
65
Congressional Research Service
26
Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
Housea
House
Clerk
Senate
Committees
Oversb
Senate Report, Concurrent Resolution
40
—
200
—
65
Senate Report, Private Bill
25
—
25
—
34
Senate Document
30
5
150
—
59
Senate Document, Appropriationsf
—
5
150
120h
69
GPO Category
Source: Information provided by GPO for FY2009.
Notes: Data include copies billed to GPO’s Congressional Printing and Binding (CPB) appropriation, which pays
for the cost of preparing congressional documents for printing (including the prepress or front-end cost) and for
the number of copies distributed to congressional recipients. Excludes copies billed to federal agency
requisitions, the Salaries and Expenses (S&E) appropriation, and reimbursements from public sales. “—” indicates
no distribution to that recipient.
a.
GPO delivers all House copies to room B-25 of the Ford House Office Building, except as noted.
b.
Extra copies to replace damaged or missing copies.
c.
GPO delivers 200 copies to room B-106, Cannon House Office Building, and 300 copies to room B-25 of
the Ford House Office Building.
d.
GPO delivers 150 copies to room B-106, Cannon House Office Building, and room B-25 of the Ford House
Office Building.
e.
GPO delivers 50 copies to the Legislative Resources Center, room B-106, Cannon House Office Building,
and 150 copies to room B-25 of the Ford House Office Building.
f.
This category appears to fulfill the requirements of 44 U.S.C. 725 requiring the printing of the “usual
number” of annual statements of appropriations prepared pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 105.
g.
Distribution is specified as 75 copies for the House Committee on Appropriations, and 70 copies for the
Senate Committee on Appropriations.
h.
Distribution is specified as 50 copies for the House Committee on Appropriations, and 70 copies for the
Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Congressional Research Service
27
Table 14. Authorized Distribution of the Congressional Record
Daily Edition and Bound Copies
Recipient
Daily
Edition
Copies
Daily
Edition
Total
Bound
Copies
Bound
Total
Vice President
100
100
5
5
Senators, each
50
5,000
5
500
Copies of the daily edition may be transferred only to public agencies and
institutions.
Representatives, each
37
16,095
3
1,305
Of the total, 34 may be transferred only to public agencies and institutions.
Of the remaining three copies, one each is delivered to the Member’s
residence, office, and the Capitol.
Resident Commissioner
37
37
3
3
Of the daily edition total, 34 may be transferred only to public agencies and
institutions. Of the remaining three copies, one each is delivered to the
Member’s residence, office, and the Capitol.
Delegate, District of Columbia
34
34
—
—
May be transferred only to public agencies and institutions.
Delegate, Guam
34
34
—
—
May be transferred only to public agencies and institutions.
Delegate, Virgin Islands
34
34
—
—
May be transferred only to public agencies and institutions.
Former Senators, Representatives, and
Resident Commissioners, each
1
U
—
—
Copies are provided upon request to the Public Printer.
House Committees, one each
1
22
—
—
For a list of House Committees, see http://www.house.gov/house/
CommitteeWWW.shtml.
Senate Committees, one each
1
20
—
—
For a list of Senate Committees, see http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/
committees/d_three_sections_with_teasers/committees_home.htm.
Joint Committees, each
2
U
1
4
Distribution is as may be designated by JCP. Totals include distributions for
the Joint Committees on Printing, Taxation and the Library and the Joint
Economic Committee.
Joint Committee on Printing
—
—
NTE 100
NTE 100
CRS-28
Notes
Daily
Edition
Copies
Daily
Edition
Total
Bound
Copies
Bound
Total
Congressional Commissions
1
up to 82
—
—
Office of the Speaker of the House
6
6
—
—
House Clerk
25
37
2
2
House Clerk
NTE 50
NTE 50
—
—
Authorized copies “for official use.”
House Clerk
NTE 75
NTE 75
—
—
For use on the House floor.
House Sergeant at Arms
25
25
—
—
House Parliamentarian
6
6
2
2
House Legislative Counsel
3
3
1
1
House Library
5
5
NTE 28
NTE 28
House Official Reporters of Debate
15
15
3
3
House Committee Stenographers
4
4
—
—
House Document Room Superintendent
3
3
1
1
House Publications Distribution Service,
Foreman and Superintendent, each
1
2
—
—
Chaplain
1
1
—
—
The statute does not explicitly identify House or Senate officials.
Postmaster
1
1
—
—
The statute does not explicitly identify House or Senate officials.
Sergeant At Arms
1
1
—
—
The statute does not explicitly identify House or Senate officials.
Senate Secretary
25
25
2
2
Senate Secretary
NTE 35
NTE 35
—
—
Recipient
CRS-29
Notes
As many as 82 currently active entities have membership provisions
requiring participation by Members of Congress. An indeterminate number
of those entities may be considered by some to be “congressional
commissions.” See CRS Report RL33313, Congressional Membership and
Appointment Authority to Advisory Commissions, Boards, and Groups, by Matthew
Eric Glassman, Congressional Membership and Appointment Authority to
Advisory Commissions, Boards, and Groups, by Matthew Eric Glassman. 44
U.S.C. 906 does not specify what entities qualify as commissions for
purposes of Congressional Record distribution. As a consequence, the
authorized distribution of the daily edition could fall in the range of zero to
82.
Eight copies of the bound version may be bound in a style and manner
approved by JCP.
Authorized copies “for official use.”
Daily
Edition
Copies
Daily
Edition
Total
Bound
Copies
Bound
Total
Senate Sergeant at Arms
25
25
2
2
Senate Sergeant at Arms
NTE 50
NTE 50
—
—
Senate Legislative Counsel
3
3
1
1
Senate Secretaries of the Majority and
Minority, one each
1
2
—
—
Senate Official Reporters of Debate
15
15
3
3
Senate Library
3
3
NTE 15
NTE 15
Senate Document Room Superintendent
3
3
1
1
Senate Service Department, Foreman
1
1
—
—
Senate Service Department,
Superintendent
1
1
—
—
Office of the Congressional Record Index
10
10
—
—
Library of Congress
NTE
145
NTE 145
150
150
Architect of the Capitol
3
3
1
1
NTE 75
NTE 75
2
2
U.S. Botanic Garden
2
2
—
—
President of the United States
10
10
1
1
Office of the Vice President
6
6
—
—
Former Presidents
1
4
—
—
Former Vice Presidents
1
5
—
—
Executive Department Library, each
2
40
1
20
Department of State, for U.S. Embassies
and Legations Abroad
NTE
150
NTE 150
—
—
Archivist of the United States
5
5
2
2
Recipient
Public Printer
CRS-30
Notes
For use on the Senate floor.
Based on executive departments listed in The United States Manual, 20082009 (Washington: GPO, 2008), pp. vii-viii.
Daily
Edition
Copies
Daily
Edition
Total
Bound
Copies
Bound
Total
Federal Independent Office, each
2
218
1
109
Smithsonian Institution Library
2
2
1
1
Naval Observatory Library
2
2
1
1
Armed Forces Retirement Home, each
facility
1
2
—
—
Of the two armed forces retirement homes, only the Washington, DC
facility is currently operational. The Gulfport, MS, facility was destroyed by
Hurricane Katrina and is being rebuilt.
National Homes for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers, each facility
1
U
—
—
National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers have been incorporated
into facilities maintained by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The
number of facilities of this type could not be determined.
State Soldiers’ Homes, each
1
133
—
—
Superintendent of Documents
Distribution to Depository Libraries
NA
U
NA
U
Chief Justice of the United States
1
1
—
—
United States Supreme Court Associate
Justices, each
1
8
—
—
Marshal of the Supreme Court
2
2
—
—
Clerk of the Supreme Court
2
2
—
—
United States district judges
678
678
—
—
Copies are furnished “upon request to a Member of Congress and
notification by the Member to the Public Printer,” in addition to those
authorized to be furnished to Members under 44 U.S.C. 906.
United States circuit judges
179
179
—
—
Copies are furnished “upon request to a Member of Congress and
notification by the Member to the Public Printer,” in addition to those
authorized to be furnished to Members under 44 U.S.C. 906.
United States Court of Federal Claims
chief judge and each associate judge
16
16
—
—
Copies are furnished “upon request to a Member of Congress and
notification by the Member to the Public Printer,” in addition to those
authorized to be furnished to Members under 44 U.S.C. 906.
United States Court of International
Trade chief judge and each associate judge
9
9
—
—
Copies are furnished “upon request to a Member of Congress and
notification by the Member to the Public Printer,” in addition to those
authorized to be furnished to Members under 44 U.S.C. 906.
Recipient
CRS-31
Notes
Based on independent establishment, government corporations, boards,
commissions, and committees listed in The United States Manual, 2008-2009
(Washington: GPO, 2008), pp. viii-ix and 555-558.
Authorizes “as many daily and bound copies as may be required for
distribution to depository libraries.”
Daily
Edition
Copies
Daily
Edition
Total
Bound
Copies
Bound
Total
Tax Court of the United States
chief judge and each associate judge
19
19
—
—
Copies are furnished “upon request to a Member of Congress and
notification by the Member to the Public Printer ...,” in addition to those
authorized to be furnished to Members under 44 U.S.C. 906.
United States Court of Appeals for
Veterans
Claims, chief judge and each associate
judge
7
7
—
—
Copies are furnished “upon request to a Member of Congress and
notification by the Member to the Public Printer,” in addition to those
authorized to be furnished to Members under 44 U.S.C. 906.
United States Court of Appeals for the
Armed
Forces, chief judge and each associate
judge
5
5
—
—
Copies are furnished “upon request to a Member of Congress and
notification by the Member to the Public Printer ...,” in addition to those
authorized to be furnished to Members under 44 U.S.C. 906.
U.S. Supreme Court Library
2
2
NTE 5
NTE 5
U.S. Court of Federal Claims Library
1
1
1
1
Both versions are provided upon request to the Public Printer.
U.S. Court of International Trade Library
1
1
1
1
Both versions are provided upon request to the Public Printer.
Tax Court of the United States Library
1
1
1
1
Both versions are provided upon request to the Public Printer.
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans
Claims Library
1
1
1
1
Both versions are provided upon request to the Public Printer.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed
Forces Library
1
1
1
1
Both versions are provided upon request to the Public Printer.
U.S. Court of Appeals Libraries
1
12
1
12
Both versions are provided upon request to the Public Printer.
U.S. District Courts Libraries
1
94
1
94
Both versions are provided upon request to the Public Printer.
State Governors
1
50
1
50
Offices of the Governors of Puerto Rico,
Guam and the Virgin Islands, each
5
15
5
15
District of Columbia Government
Establishments’ Libraries each
2
12
1
5
District of Columbia Municipal Libraries,
each
2
54
1
27
NA
—
—
Recipient
Distribution to Depository Libraries
CRS-32
Notes
Daily
Edition
Copies
Daily
Edition
Total
Bound
Copies
Bound
Total
Foreign Embassies and Legations
Reciprocal Copies
1
U
—
—
House Press Gallery
2
2
1
1
Senate Press Gallery
2
2
1
1
Up to
528
U
1
U
Recipient
Each newspaper correspondent listed in
the Congressional Directory
Notes
Upon application. Up to 528 NTE 4 for each press bureau.
Source: 44 U.S.C. 906, some CRS calculations. Quotations in the notes are taken from 44 U.S.C. 906. Each recipient is authorized to receive one copy, unless otherwise
noted.
Notes: This table excludes distributions to the Governor of the Canal Zone, and national homes for disabled volunteer soldiers. “NTE” means not exceed, and is taken
from the statute. “—” means no distribution is authorized. “NA” means not available. “U” means unknown.
CRS-33
Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
Author Contact Information
(name redacted)
Specialist in American National Government
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov, 7-....
(name redacted)
Graphics Specialist
[redacted]@crs.loc.gov, 7-....
Acknowledgments
(name redacted), Information Research Specialist, and Jared Conrad Nagel, Reference Assistant, both
in the Knowledge Services Group, provided research assistance. (name redacted), Analyst on the Congress,
provided technical assistance.
Congressional Research Service
34
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