[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 139 (Thursday, September 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             LEGISLATION ADDRESSING FEDERAL PRINTING POLICY

                                 ______


                           HON. CHARLIE ROSE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 1994

  Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to note that we have reached an 
agreement with the administration to collaborate during fiscal year 
1995 on legislation addressing Federal printing policy. This agreement 
also maintains the status quo regarding present printing and 
duplicating arrangements between the Government Printing Office and the 
executive branch.
  I particularly wish to express my thanks to Acting Director Alice 
Rivlin for issuing a memorandum to executive agencies setting forth the 
goals we seek to achieve. Specifically, we recognize that legislative 
reform must achieve several goals. First, it should improve the 
efficiency and cost effectiveness of Government printing and 
duplicating by maximizing the use of private-sector printing and 
duplicating capability through open competitive procedures. Second, it 
should limit Government-owned printing and duplicating resources to 
only those necessary to maintain a minimum core capacity. By crafting 
legislation to meet these goals, we hope to be able to improve the 
efficiency of Government printing and save the taxpayers money.
  Finally, it should enhance public access to Government information by 
improving the information dissemination practices of the Federal 
Government. In this regard, I particularly note the fundamental 
contributions of the Depository Library Program toward meeting this 
goal, and want to ensure that the Depository Library Program's role 
continues in the future.
         Executive Office of the President, Office of Management 
           and Budget,
                               Washington, DC, September 19, 1994.
     Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
     From: Alice M. Rivlin, Acting Director.
     Subject: Procurement of Printing and Duplicating through the 
         Government Printing Office.


                               Background

       Information technology is changing the way words and images 
     are put on paper, blurring traditional notions of printing 
     and duplicating. As a result, the framework of laws governing 
     these aspects of government publishing has become outdated.
       In his July 22, 1994, statement accompanying the Fiscal 
     Year 1995 Legislative Appropriations Act, the President 
     expressed his eagerness and resolve to accomplish a 
     comprehensive reform of Federal printing. The leadership of 
     the Congressional committees of jurisdiction has agreed to 
     work with the Administration to produce a legislative 
     approach to solving this problem next year. Accordingly, we 
     have agreed to maintain the status quo regarding present 
     printing and duplicating arrangements during Fiscal Year 1995 
     to allow this initiative to go forward.
       We have agreed that legislative reform of government 
     printing must strive to achieve three goals. First, it should 
     improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of government 
     printing and duplicating by maximizing the use of private 
     sector printing and duplicating capability through open 
     competitive procedures. Second, it should limit Government-
     owned printing and duplicating resources to only those 
     necessary to maintain a minimum core capacity. Finally, it 
     should enhance public access to government information by 
     improving the information dissemination practices of the 
     Federal government. I am certain you share these goals. We 
     look forward to consulting with you as this legislative 
     program is formulated.


                                 Policy

       Accordingly, as a matter of Administration policy, 
     Executive departments and agencies are to carry out 
     their printing and duplicating activities during Fiscal 
     Year 1995 in accordance with the following:
       The procurement of printing and duplicating services from 
     private sector sources shall continue to be the preferred 
     method of fulfilling agency printing and duplicating 
     requirements.
       All procurement of printing and duplicating from private 
     sector sources shall be through the Government Printing 
     Office, except for individual printing or duplicating orders 
     costing not more than $1,000, if such orders are not of a 
     continuing or repetitive nature and cannot be provided more 
     economically through the Government Printing Office.
       Existing agency in-house printing and duplicating 
     operations and agency cross-servicing arrangement (e.g., 
     GSA's provision of duplicating services to other agencies in 
     field locations) may continue to operate normally.
       Agency printing and high speed duplicating capacity shall 
     not be expanded. This is not intended to affect the ordinary 
     maintenance and replacement of existing equipment capacity.
       Existing agency plans to downsize internal printing and 
     duplicating capacity shall continue to be carried out.
       Agencies should ensure that all government publications, as 
     defined in 44 U.S.C. Part 19, are made available to the 
     depository library program through the Superintendent of 
     Documents.
       I must emphasize that agency compliance with these 
     policies, and cooperation with Congressional oversight, is 
     essential to the ultimate success of a comprehensive 
     legislative initiative to reform government printing.

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