Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress Sunset Act of 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9489) to sunset the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 9489

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress Sunset Act of 2024''. SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF THE RECORDS OF CONGRESS.

(a) Definitions.--In this section--

(1) the term ``Archivist'' means the Archivist of the United States;

(2) the term ``Clerk'' means the Clerk of the House of Representatives;

(3) the term ``Director'' means the Director of the Center for Legislative Archives of the National Archives, or any successor thereto;

(4) the term ``Member of Congress'' means a Member of the Senate or the House of Representatives, a Delegate to the House of Representatives, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico; and

(5) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Senate.

(b) Reporting.--Not later than February 1 of the second calendar year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, and every calendar year thereafter, the Director shall submit to the Archivist, the Secretary, and the Clerk a report on the management and preservation of the records of Congress during the previous year.

(c) Review.--The Archivist, the Secretary, and the Clerk shall meet to review the management and preservation of the records of Congress and Members of Congress--

(1) not later than 60 days after the date on which the Director submits a report under subsection (b); and

(2) not later than 180 days after the date on which an individual is appointed to the position of Archivist, Secretary, or Clerk.

(d) Sunset of Advisory Committee.--Effective on the date that is 60 days after enactment, title 44 of the United States Code is amended--

(1) by striking chapter 27;

(2) by striking the table of sections relating to chapter 27; and

(3) in the table of chapters, by striking the item relating to chapter 27.

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Mr. STEIL. 9489.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9489, the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress Sunset Act. This measure will sunset an outdated advisory committee and replace it with meaningful reporting requirements.

The Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress was created in 1990 to assist with management and preservation. Since then, the advisory committee has released six detailed reports and continues to meet semiannually. This advisory committee has successfully met its purpose of advising Congress on records management and preservation.

Today, the House Clerk, Secretary of the Senate, and National Archives representatives regularly connect on records management. This close working relationship renders the regular convening of the advisory committee as a check-the-box exercise.

Based on feedback we received from House officers and advisory committee members, this legislation sunsets the advisory committee and replaces it with reporting requirements of the House, Senate, and Center of the Legislative Archives. This will ensure records management and preservation while saving taxpayer dollars on repetitive convenings.

I would like to take a moment to thank the House Clerk and their team for their work on this advisory committee.

I also would like to recognize the service of Danna Bell, the House Clerk's appointee to the advisory committee, who passed away earlier this year. Ms. Bell was a librarian, archivist, former president of the Society of American Archivists, and a helpful resource for our team as we learned more about this advisory committee. She was a dedicated public servant committed to service. I offer my condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R.

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Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Morelle, for his work on this. As we all know, in the United States House of Representatives, actually sunsetting almost anything is one of the most challenging projects you can do, and I am proud to say that we have accomplished that with this piece of legislation.

The process involved a lot of work from the Clerk and others to make sure this was done. A little bit of efficiency in the House can go a long way. Take the wins where you get them.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of sunsetting this advisory committee, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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