[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 17, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL

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                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 17, 2019

  Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Office of 
the Legislative Counsel of the House of Representatives on the occasion 
of its 100th anniversary. The Office's legal and drafting expertise is 
crucial to the House's core constitutional function of making law.
  The Office was established by section 1303 of the Revenue Act of 1918 
(P. L. 65-254, 40 Stat. 1057) as the Legislative Drafting Service with 
the charge of aiding ``in drafting public bills and resolutions or 
amendments thereto on the request of any committee[.]'' While the early 
work of the Office was focused on projects for the Committee on Ways 
and Means, other committees, recognizing the value of expert drafting, 
soon began requesting assistance. The Office now works with all of the 
committees and Members of the House in every area of Federal law, 
working with policy makers to produce legally effective legislative 
drafts.
  Throughout the Office's history, it has provided exceptional drafting 
services on a nonpartisan, impartial, and confidential basis. Speaking 
during the floor debate on the establishment of the Office, the 
Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means described the services of 
Middleton Beaman, who was the first head of the Office, as 
``essential'' and the Committee as being ``indebted'' to him for 
clarifying and simplifying the complex legislative provisions on which 
he worked. The Chairman emphasized that Beaman had always been 
``absolutely neutral'' on policy matters.
  The Office continues to uphold the high standard established by 
Beaman. A 1975 report by the House Commission on Information and 
Facilities concluded that there was ``an unmistakable consensus among 
those who utilize the services of the Office of Legislative Counsel, 
Members and committee staff alike, that its overall operation is indeed 
a credit to the House.'' Over a quarter of a century later, in H. Res. 
635 of the 111th Congress, the House recognized ``the professional, 
nonpartisan service to which the Office of the Legislative Counsel is 
dedicated.''
  While carrying outthe purpose described in the Legislative 
Reorganization Act of 1970 of achieving ``a clear, faithful, and 
coherent expression of legislative policies,'' the Office has also 
become an increasingly important source of institutional memory. Most 
of its attorneys, paralegals, Ramseyer staff, IT staff, front desk 
staff, and GPO detailees spend a career in service of the House with 
many staying for decades.
  Such long tenures allow the Office to serve as a source of education 
and expertise on Congress' role in making law, including the process 
for introducing, amending, and passing legislation. The staff of the 
Office of Legislative Counsel do more than provide drafts and legal 
advice; they teach. As committee and Member staff transition into more 
senior positions on and off the Hill, they take the lessons learned 
from working with the Office and apply them for the rest of their 
careers.
  It is my honor and privilege to recognize the Office of the 
Legislative Counsel of the House of Representatives. For 100 years, the 
Office has proved essential to the House in the achievement of a clear, 
faithful, and coherent expression of legislative policies.

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