Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress Sunset Act of 2024
Floor Speech
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9489. I also echo the words by my colleague and friend, Mr. Steil, regarding the life of Danna Bell, who worked here in the House. She had a long record of many contributions to not only this institution but our country.
I rise in support of H.R. 9489, the bipartisan legislation that would sunset the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress, allowing us to allocate our limited resources more efficiently. The advisory committee, as my friend has indicated, was established in 1990 and was tasked with reviewing and advising Congress and the National Archives on the management and preservation of congressional records.
The House Clerk, one of the committee's leaders, has suggested it sunset, as it has fulfilled its primary objectives and is no longer necessary for addressing the evolving challenges of preserving congressional records.
Over the past 34 years, advancements in technology and the increasing volume of materials to be preserved have dramatically changed, and the landscape of record preservation has changed with it.
By disbanding this advisory committee, we can redirect valuable resources toward enhancing modern archiving practices while saving taxpayer dollars. As we all know, congressional resources are finite--I think we know that all too well--and need to be used efficiently to ensure the continued success of this institution and its service on behalf of the American people.
I extend my thanks to the House Clerk, the Honorable Kevin McCumber, and his entire team for their leadership on this initiative.
Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank my colleagues and the staff for doing this and for the leadership of the Clerk's Office to find a way for us to end practices that are no longer useful and allow us to be able to focus more on the challenges we face moving forward.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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