1. Mission CHAPTER 92 JOINT COMMITTEE ON PRINTING This committee is empowered "to adopt and employ such measures as, in its discretion, may be deemed necessary to remedy any neglect, delay, duplication, or waste in the public printing and binding and the distribution of government publications." 1 2. History The Joint Committee on Printing was created in 1846. Its principal duties are outlined in the Printing Act of January 12, 1895,3 which duties were extended in 1920.1 3. Activities By the act of 1895,3 the committee was given "control of the arrangement and style of the Congressional Record"; it was authorized to take "needed action" for the reduction of the bulk of the Record, without depriving it of being "substantially a verbatim report of proceedings." It must also provide for the publication of an Index to the Record. The Congressional Directory, addresses on deceased Senators and Members, statute proceedings, and similar publications are prepared under the direction of the committee. The Superintendent of Documents publishes the index of public documents upon a plan approved by the committee, and indexes such single volumes as it shall direct. The committee is required to establish rules and regulations for printing documents and reports in two or more editions; to direct whether extra copies shall be bound in paper or cloth; to prescribe the arrangement and binding of documents for depository libraries; and, in regard to the purchase of paper for public printing and binding, to fix upon standards of quality, receive proposals, and award contracts therefor; to appoint a member of the board of paper inspection; to determine differences of opinion as to quality; to act upon defaults; to authorize open market purchases; and to prescribe regulations and conditions for the printing for the Patent Office. Under direction of the committee, the Public Printer is authorized to procure and furnish on requisition paper and envelopes (not including envelopes printed in the course of manufacture) in common use by two or more departments, establishments, or services of the government in the District of Columbia; under such direction the Public Printer is also required to advertise for bids for material, other than paper, and to make return to it on all such contracts awarded 1 Appropriation Act of March 1, 1919, § 11 (40 Stat. 1270 [Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1919, § 6955]). 2 Res. Aug. 3, 1846 (9 Stat. 114). See, also, Act Aug. 26, 1852 (10 Stat. 34, 35). 3 28 Stat. 601. 4 Act Jan. 12, 1895 (38 Stat. 601); Appropriation Act for 1925, Act June 7, 1924 (43 Stat. 592). by him. The committee may authorize him to make certain open market purchases of material. Orders for subsequent editions of documents and reports, after two years from the date of the original order, must receive the committee's approval. It may order printed additional copies of government publications within a limit of $200 cost in any one instance. By order of the committee, the cost of printing any document or report which cannot properly be charged to any other appropriation may be charged to the congressional appropriation. If the probable cost of maps and illustrative plates for government publications exceeds $1,220, their purchase must be under direction of the committee; and it may authorize immediate contracts for lithographing and engraving whenever the exigencies of the public service do not justify advertisement. All printing, binding, and blank book work for the government must be done at the Government Printing Office, except when the committee deems an urgency requires the work to be done elsewhere than in the District of Columbia for the exclusive use of any field service outside of said District.1 4. Organization The committee consists of three members of the Senate and three members of the House of Representatives, a clerk, assistant clerk, and inspector of paper and material. 5. Depository Libraries All publications printed by the government for public distribution may be consulted by any one during library business hours at the following named libraries, which have been designated by Congress to receive prints as issued: 1 Appropriation Act of March 1, 1919, § 11 (40 Stat. 1270 [Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1919, § 6955]). |