Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Advances GPO Name Change Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC—April 16, 2014—A Senate bill to change the name of the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) to the Government Publishing Office has moved another step forward in the legislative process. S. 1947, the Government Publishing Act of 2014, was introduced on January 16 by Senators Amy Klobuchar and Saxby Chambliss and reported out of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee on April 10. It now moves forward to the full Senate for consideration.
The word "publishing" better reflects the current role that GPO plays in providing access to Government information in digital format through the agency's Federal Digital System, apps, eBooks, and related technologies. Throughout GPO's 153-year history, the information needs of Congress, Federal agencies, and the public have evolved beyond only print and GPO has transformed itself to meet its customers' needs.
Click here to view S. 1947, the Government Publishing Act of 2014
Click here to view the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration press release
"The Government Printing Office has stayed true to its core mission of "Keeping America Informed" since it started operations in 1861," said Senator Charles E. Schumer, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, in a Committee press release. "Over the years the GPO has grown and evolved based on the needs of the government, the American people and the continuous changes in technology. Updating the name of the Government Printing Office to the Government Publishing Office is the next logical step in this agency's long and proud service to our country."
Public Printer Davita Vance-Cooks also noted that "GPO's services have evolved overtime and are continuing to trend to digital. We need to update our name to accurately reflect our broad range of services. I deeply appreciate the support of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. The advancement of the legislation validates GPO's efforts to provide Congress, Federal agencies, and the public with Government information in the forms and formats they want and need in this digital age."
About the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO)
GPO is the Federal Government's official, digital, secure resource for producing, procuring, cataloging, indexing, authenticating, disseminating, and preserving the official information products of the U.S. Government. The GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products and services for all three branches of the Federal Government, including U.S. passports for the Department of State as well as the official publications of Congress, the White House, and other Federal agencies in digital and print formats. GPO provides for permanent public access to Federal Government information at no charge through our Federal Digital System, partnerships with approximately 1,200 libraries nationwide participating in the Federal Depository Library Program, and our secure online bookstore.
Source: GPO.
