House Administration Reviews Report Highlighting Operational Changes Necessary to Fulfilling GPO’s Mission in a Post-Print World

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Committee on House Administration Chairman Candice Miller, R-Mich., issued the following statement regarding today’s hearing on the Government Printing Office’s (GPO) future plans on producing, disseminating and preserving government information for public access:

“For the past 150 years, GPO has served as the official record keeper for all three branches of government – collecting, distributing and preserving government information for public access. It is a tremendous responsibility essential to government accountability and transparency. However, the increasing demand for digital access to publications versus print will require GPO to modify, not just its name, but its entire business model.

“While GPO has made some advancement in the digital front, including the expansion of online documents and the creation of apps for congressional information, there is still much to be done. That is why I plan to work with the Chair of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, Chairman Cole, to help the agency through its transition by continuing to explore ways to rightsize its workforce and overhead through the utilization of technology.

“Keeping up with the digital demands of the 21st Century will undoubtedly be a challenge for GPO, but it is a worthy undertaking necessary to maintaining its core mission of ‘keeping America informed.’”

Background

According to a report issued by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), the Government Printing Office (GPO) must transform its entire operational structure to align with the future government information landscape as it transitions from print to electronic formats. According to NAPA, GPO will run out of funds in 2020 if significant changes in human capital, product services and facility management are not made. In its report, NAPA highlights 27 findings and 15 recommendations designed to, “position the federal government for the digital age, strengthen GPO’s business model, and build the GPO of the future.”

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