ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE RECORDS OF CONGRESS SUNSET ACT

On 2026-09-14, Representative Mary E. Miller (R-IL-15) delivered a floor speech titled "ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE RECORDS OF CONGRESS SUNSET ACT" in the House.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE RECORDS OF CONGRESS SUNSET ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026)] [House] [Pages H5545-H5546] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1500 ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE RECORDS OF CONGRESS SUNSET ACT Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9360) to sunset the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 9360 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress Sunset Act''. SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF THE RECORDS OF CONGRESS. (a) Sunset of Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress.--Effective on the date that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, title 44, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking chapter 27; and (2) in the table of chapters, by striking the item relating to chapter 27. (b) Report.--Not later than February 1 of the year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director shall submit a report on the management and preservation of the records of Congress during the previous year to-- (1) the Archivist; (2) the Secretary; (3) the Clerk; (4) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate; and (5) the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives. (c) Review.--The Archivist, the Secretary, and the Clerk shall meet to review the management and preservation of the records of Congress-- (1) not later than 60 days after the date on which the Director submits a report under subsection (b); and (2) not later than 180 days after the date on which an individual begins to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Archivist, Secretary, or Clerk. (d) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Archivist.--The term ``Archivist'' means the Archivist of the United States, or any successor thereto. (2) Clerk.--The term ``Clerk'' means the Clerk of the House of Representatives. (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Center for Legislative Archives of the National Archives, or any successor thereto. (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Senate. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Griffith) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Morelle) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia. General Leave Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Virginia? [[Page H5546]] There was no objection. Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 9360, the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress Sunset Act, led by Representative Mary Miller of Illinois, is an important measure that will modernize how Congress manages its records. H.R. 9360 sunsets the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress, an outdated committee, and replaces it with a more efficient process for reviewing congressional records. The bill instructs the Director of the Center for Legislative Archives of the National Archives to submit an annual report to the Archivist of the United States, the Clerk of the House, the Secretary of the Senate, and requisite congressional committees on the management and preservation of the records of Congress. By eliminating this obsolete committee, H.R. 9360 provides a more efficient process for the management and preservation of congressional records through annual reports and cuts burdensome administrative hurdles. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress was created in 1990 to review and advise Congress and the National Archives on the management and preservation of congressional records. The House Clerk, who is one of the leaders of the advisory committee, approached us with this proposal because the committee accomplished its key goals and is no longer useful in addressing current challenges. This makes sense because the ways we manage and preserve records have changed significantly over the last three-and-a-half decades. Sunsetting this committee will save taxpayer dollars and allow those resources to be used to improve contemporary archiving practices. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller). Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 9360, which will sunset the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress. This committee was created in 1990 to advise Congress and the National Archives on the management and retention of congressional records. My bill, however, would eliminate this outdated committee. Due to advancements in technology over the last several decades and changes in the way Congress operates, sunsetting this committee is necessary and will streamline the archival process. This bill will also maintain oversight of the Center for Legislative Archives by requiring the center to publish an annual report on the management and preservation of records. Sunsetting this advisory committee will furthermore save taxpayers approximately $38,000 annually in operating costs without sacrificing the transparency of congressional records. As this advisory committee hits its 36th year, we can agree that the committee has accomplished its original goals and has met its intended purpose, thereby outliving its usefulness. Mr. Speaker, as we continue to improve the efficiency of our government, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to have the bill before the House, and I urge all my colleagues to vote in support of it. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I, too, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9360, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Griffith) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 9360, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR9360, HR9360