[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 1, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H3828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   COMMUNICATION FROM LAW REVISION COUNSEL, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following 
communication from Peter G. LeFevre, Law Revision Counsel:

         Office of the Law Revision Counsel, House of 
           Representatives,
                                     Washington, DC, May 23, 2011.
     Hon. John A. Boehner,
     Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker: After 30 years of service in the Office 
     of the Law Revision Counsel and over 34 years with the 
     Federal Government, I have decided it is time to retire. With 
     your approval, my last day as Law Revision Counsel will be 
     June 1, 2011.
       I started with the Office just seven years after it was 
     established as part of the Bolling Committee reforms in 1974. 
     The Office was given the functions of classifying new laws to 
     the United States Code, preparing and publishing the Code, 
     and drafting legislation to enact titles of the Code into 
     positive law. Over the years, I have had the privilege of 
     working on each of these functions, and my career has given 
     me a unique perspective on the content and codification of 
     Federal law.
       I have had at least a technical familiarity with 
     practically every law enacted during the past 25 years and 
     have worked my way through thousands of laws, including 
     countless appropriations, defense authorizations, tax and 
     health reforms, and omnibus reconciliations. We, in the 
     Office of the Law Revision Counsel, regard the text of these 
     laws with a certain reverence. As we incorporate new laws 
     into the Code, every effort is made to ensure that each word, 
     each punctuation mark, and each directive they contain is 
     given the effect intended by Congress. With the systems and 
     excellent staff we have in place in the Office, I feel 
     confident that the Code is being maintained with the high 
     degree of accuracy and reliability that is required for the 
     official Code.
       While accuracy has always been our highest priority, we 
     have also been working on improving the timeliness and 
     usability of the Code. Since 2005, the time it takes to do an 
     annual update of the Code has been reduced by more than 18 
     months, and last year we introduced the USCprelim on the U.S. 
     Code website to allow even quicker, albeit preliminary, 
     updates of selected Code titles. As to usability, the Code is 
     about to get a lot better. In a matter of days, we will 
     release a new U.S. Code website featuring a new sophisticated 
     search engine, improved interface, and materials to help the 
     public understand and use the Code. The release will soon be 
     followed by further improvements, including hyperlinks to 
     referenced Code and statute provisions and integration of the 
     USCprelim and prior versions of the Code into the new 
     website. Conversion of the Code data into XML is another 
     ongoing project which should bear fruit in the near future.
       The overall organization of the Code remains a concern for 
     me, but significant progress was made during the last several 
     years. The codification of title 46, Shipping, was completed 
     with the enactment of Public Law 109-304, and in just the 
     past six months, Law Revision Counsel bills to enact title 
     41, Public Contracts, and title 51, National and Commercial 
     Space Programs, became law. Each new positive law title is a 
     major accomplishment, but the time and effort it took to get 
     these three titles enacted indicates the huge task that 
     remains before the goal of an entirely enacted Code is 
     realized.
       It has been a pleasure to work for the House of 
     Representatives throughout my career. I have especially 
     enjoyed my association with the other staff members in my 
     office and have a deep appreciation of their expertise and 
     dedication and the fine work they do every day. I am also 
     grateful for the support and cooperation of your office, the 
     Committees on the Judiciary and Appropriations, the 
     Government Printing Office, and the other officers of the 
     House.
           Respectfully Yours,
                                                 Peter G. LeFevre,
                                             Law Revision Counsel.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, statements by the Speaker 
and the Minority Leader are inserted into the Record at this point.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and thank Peter 
G. LeFevre, Law Revision Counsel of the House of Representatives, who 
will retire on June 1, 2011, after 30 years of distinguished service to 
the House and 34 years with the Federal government.
  Throughout his years with the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, 
Peter has worked tirelessly to ensure the accuracy and reliability of 
the United States Code. Peter has technical familiarity with 
practically every law enacted by Congress over the past quarter 
century. His expertise, hard work, integrity, and commitment to quality 
have benefitted the House and earned him the deep regard of his 
colleagues.
  As Law Revision Counsel, Peter has significantly improved the 
procedures for preparing and publishing the Code. He has been 
instrumental in upgrading the technology used to produce and access the 
Code. During his tenure, the Office website has been revitalized and 
the Code has become much more current in its annual supplement updates. 
The recent introduction of USCprelim, an advance posting of selected 
Code titles, has further improved public access to codified Federal 
legislation. Peter has also been responsible for overseeing the 
enactment of several non-positive law titles into positive law, a 
significant accomplishment enhancing the quality and organization of 
the Code.
  On behalf of the House, I would like to commend Peter for his years 
of dedication and his many contributions to the Federal government, and 
in particular to the House of Representatives. Peter's diligent service 
day after day will be an example to those who serve after him. Peter 
has been a valuable asset to this institution and to his country. We 
will miss him.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our Law Revision 
Counsel, Peter G. LeFevre, for his contributions to our Nation's laws, 
for his commitment to the House of Representatives, and for his service 
to the American people.
  Peter's actions and achievements rarely receive the recognition he 
and his colleagues deserve; too few know the significance of his 
accomplishments behind the scenes. But legislators, litigators, 
lawyers, and anyone interested in the laws of our land rely on his work 
each and every day.
  Since joining the office of the Law Revision Counsel 30 years ago, 
Peter has been a key member of the dedicated team of non-partisan 
professionals and experts who revise, prepare, and publish the U.S. 
Code. He has served under seven successive Speakers of the House of 
both parties, maintaining the Code, updating it, and drafting 
legislation to improve the codification of federal law.
  Over the past seven years, Peter has led the office, appointed as the 
Law Revision Counsel by Speaker Dennis Hastert. During his tenure, he 
oversaw all aspects of the preparation and publication of the Code, 
ensuring its accuracy and reliability. He has worked on thousands of 
public laws, including appropriations, defense authorizations, tax and 
health reforms, and omnibus reconciliations, and guided the Office of 
the Law Revision Counsel through the many challenges brought on by 
changes in personnel and technological innovations.
  Those of us who are fortunate enough to have known and worked with 
Peter are grateful for his leadership.
  Peter G. LeFevre has left his mark on our laws, on the Congress, on 
our country's history. For today's lawmakers, his contributions have 
been invaluable; for generations yet to come, his work will provide an 
unbroken link to the debates and legislation of the last 30 years.
  Peter's many years of dedication to the federal government and to the 
House of Representatives should be a source of pride to him and his 
family. We thank and commend Peter for his service, and wish him well 
in his retirement.

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