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Chairman Steil's full opening statement as prepared for delivery:
Today, the Committee on House Administration is continuing its oversight of the United States Library of Congress.
The purpose of today’s hearing is to examine the operations and top management challenges of the Library of Congress.
The Library is the main research arm of the United States Congress and it is also the world’s largest storehouse of information and data.
As such, it is important that the Library functions at the most effective level possible.
The Library’s vast collection contains over 175 million items, including books, audio materials, manuscripts, photographs, and more.
The Library has an appropriation of over $850 million in fiscal year 2025, and has a fiscal year 2026 budget request of $901 million.
This is an increase of $49 million from fiscal years 2024 and 2025. I think we'll be discussing that increase later today.
Since 2019, the Library of Congress Inspector General has identified several key priorities.
This list includes strategic planning and performance management, digital strategic planning and execution, financial management, and the Visitor Experience Master Plan.
Additionally, the Library of Congress is home to two important entities: the Congressional Research Service and the U.S. Copyright Office.
The Library of Congress has been effective at improving its operations and processes in recent years, but I think we all believe there is more work to be done.
The Library’s Visitor Experience Master Plan, or VEMP, is one of those priorities.
This project was intended to cost $62 million, but is now expected to cost nearly $94 million, a $31.5 million budget increase.
This increase is partially a result of inflated costs of construction materials and personnel.
Additionally, there are unique challenges associated with modifications to the Library’s historic Thomas Jefferson Building, which was completed in 1897.
However, poor project management and coordination between the Library of Congress and Architect of the Capitol are factors as well in the cost increase.
Congress directed this project to be completed before the U.S. Semiquinncentennial in July 2026. Now, this project is not expected to be completed until March 2027.
This year, the Library of Congress Inspector General issued an audit report on VEMP that details the numerous failings and challenges.
I look forward to discussing these and other projects today.
Separately, the Library of Congress houses the Copyright Royalty Board, which was established in 2005.
This board is composed of three administrative law judges and sets statutory license rates for certain music services, aiming to create an efficient online marketplace.
Due to court challenges to rate setting procedures, over $1 billion in royalties remain undistributed as of November 2024.
Meanwhile, content creators go unpaid for their work, sometimes for a decade or more.
This Committee hopes to hold the first-ever hearing with the Copyright Royalty Board judges soon to discuss the Board’s work.
In closing, it is worth noting that the Library of Congress recently celebrated its 225th anniversary on April 24th.
I look forward to our discussion today to ensure that the Library operates as effectively as possible for the next 225 years, while maintaining its greatest priority of serving the congressional community in a non-partisan fashion.
Thank you for being here today, and I look forward to hearing from you, Dr. Carla Hayden, during our conversation and in your remarks.
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