[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 3, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   H.R. 1695, REGISTER OF COPYRIGHTS SELECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

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                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2017

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in opposition to the 
Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act (H.R. 1695).
  The Library of Congress has long been a repository for books, music, 
movies, photographs and other original works of art. In 1897, Congress 
recognized the need to protect these original works and the creators 
behind them, establishing the United States Copyright Office. The 
Copyright Office is housed within the Library and operates 
independently. It is led by the Register of Copyrights, a position that 
is appointed by the Librarian.
  H.R. 1695 takes the appointment of the Register of Copyrights away 
from the Librarian of Congress, and instead makes it a political 
appointment by the President and confirmed by the Senate. This change 
would politicize the Library of Congress, the Librarian of Congress and 
the Register of Copyrights, and that is something I do not support.
  Copyright industries are crucial to our economy, responsible for more 
than $1 trillion in GDP and employing more than 5 million people. If 
Congress wants to make meaningful improvements to the Copyright Office, 
we should address its technological limitations and need for 
modernization, and ensure it has the funding and resources needed to do 
that.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing the Register 
of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act (H.R. 1695).

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