[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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