Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act

This bill would transfer the authority to appoint and remove the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office from the President to a bipartisan congressional commission. It proposes making the Copyright Office independent from the Library of Congress and would require the Register of Copyrights to be a presidential appointee serving a 10-year term. Additionally, the measure would mandate that the Government Publishing Office establish a formal human capital management system.

This bill directly affects the leadership and administrative structures of the Library of Congress, the Government Publishing Office (GPO), and the U.S. Copyright Office. It impacts the Librarian of Congress, the Director of the GPO, and the Register of Copyrights by altering their appointment processes, removal procedures, and terms of office. Additionally, the GPO is required to establish a new human capital management system, affecting its internal personnel operations.

• Changes to appointment process for the Librarian of Congress and GPO Director. Requires the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office to be appointed by a bipartisan congressional commission based on professional qualifications rather than political affiliation.
• New removal procedures for legislative branch leadership. Establishes that the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office may only be removed by a majority vote of the House and Senate majority and minority leaders.
• Restructuring of the Copyright Office and Register of Copyrights. Removes the Library of Congress's supervisory authority over the Copyright Office and changes the Register of Copyrights to a Presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed position with a 10-year term limit.
• Mandatory appointment of deputy officials. Directs the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office to appoint deputy officials within a specific timeframe and according to established procedures.
• Establishment of a GPO human capital management system. Requires the Government Publishing Office to create and maintain a formal system for managing its human resources and personnel requirements.

The bill modifies the appointment and removal processes for the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office, shifting authority from the President to a bipartisan congressional commission. It also alters the administrative structure of the Copyright Office by removing the Library of Congress's supervisory authority and changing the Register of Copyrights from a Librarian-appointed position to a presidential appointment.

This bill aims to reorganize the leadership and oversight of specific legislative branch agencies by transferring appointment authority for the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office to a bipartisan congressional commission. It also seeks to establish the Copyright Office as an independent entity from the Library of Congress and modernize human capital management within the Government Publishing Office.