[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 26 (Thursday, February 16, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING BILL BOARMAN

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the service of the 
26th Public Printer of the United States. Bill Boarman led the 
Government Printing Office, GPO, with distinction over the past year. 
He has been a tremendous asset to the organization, and we will miss 
his service.
  President Obama nominated Bill to serve as the Public Printer in 
April 2010, and his nomination was reported favorably by the Senate 
Rules Committee in July of that year. Because the Senate was unable to 
confirm Bill in the 111th Congress, President Obama used a recess 
appointment to install Bill as the Public Printer in December 2010.
  Once in office Bill found that the GPO faced serious financial 
problems. Bill immediately took steps to put GPO on solid financial 
footing by cutting spending overhead and other nonessential costs. He 
successfully implemented a buyout to adjust the size of GPO's 
workforce. Perhaps most important, Bill set up a special task force to 
collect millions in outstanding payments owed to the GPO by other 
Federal agencies. These actions saved the GPO and the taxpayers 
millions of dollars.
  Bill did more than just cut costs. To help Congress reduce its use of 
printed documents, Bill ordered the first-ever survey of all Senate and 
House offices that allowed them to opt out of receiving printed copies 
of the Congressional Record and other publications. He put the GPO on 
Facebook, oversaw the release of the GPO's first mobile Web app, and 
drafted a strategic investment plan to modernize the GPO's technology. 
He also presided over the observance of the GPO's 150th anniversary and 
made history himself by appointing as his deputy a seasoned GPO 
official who is the first woman ever to hold that position.
  Unfortunately, the Senate did not confirm Bill before the 112th 
Congress adjourned, and Bill's recess appointment expired. He leaves 
the agency in sound condition and in the good hands of Acting Public 
Printer Davita Vance-Cooks. During his brief tenure, Bill compiled a 
remarkable record of accomplishments. I know I speak for the Senate 
family when we thank Bill for his service as our Nation's Public 
Printer.

                          ____________________