Full Committee Hearing: “Oversight of the Operations of the Library of Congress”
Committee on House Administration
2025-05-06
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Source: Congress.gov
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Transcript
The Committee on House Administration will come to order. The title of today's hearing is Oversight of the Operations of the Library of Congress. I note that a quorum is present. Without objection, the chair may declare recess at any time. Also, without objection, the hearing record will remain open for five legislative days, so members may submit any materials they wish to be included therein. I thank the ranking member, Mr. Morelle, members of the committee, and our witness, Dr. Carla Hayden, for participating in today's hearing. Today, the Committee on House Administrations continuing our oversight of the United States Library of Congress. The purpose of the hearing is to examine the operations and top management challenges of the Library of Congress. The Library is the main research arm of the United States Congress, and it's also the world's largest storehouse information and data. As such, it's important that the library functions at the most effective level possible. The library's vast collection contains over 175 million items, including books, audio materials, manuscripts, photographs, and more. The library has an appropriation of over $850 million in fiscal year 2025, and is a fiscal 2026 budget request of $901 million. There's an increase of $49 million from fiscal year 2024 and 2025, and I think we'll be discussing that increase later today. Since 2019, the Library of Congress Inspector Generals identified several key priorities. The list includes strategic planning and performance management, digital strategic planning and execution, financial management, and the visitor experience master plan. Additionally, the Library of Congress is home to two important entities, the Congressional Research Service and the U.S. Copyright Office. The Library of Congress has been effective at improving its operation operations and processes in recent years, but I think we all believe there's more work to be done. The library's Visitor Experience Master Plan, or VEMP, is one of those priorities.
The project was intended to cost $62 million, but is now expected to cost nearly $94 million, a $31.5 million budget increase. This increase is partially the result of inflated costs of construction materials and personnel. Additionally, there's some unique challenges associated with modification of the library's historic Thomas Jefferson building, which was completed in 1897. However, poor project management and coordination between the Library of Congress and Architect of the Capitol are factors as well in the cost increase. Congress directed the project to be completed before the U.S. semi-quincentennial in July of 2026. Now the project is not expected to be completed until March of 27. This year the Library of Congress Inspector General issued an audit report on VEMP that details the numerous failings and challenges. I look forward to discussing these and other projects today. Separately, the Library of Congress houses the Copyright Royalty Board, which was established in 2005. The board is composed of three administrative law judges and sets statutory license rates for certain music services, aiming to create an efficient online marketplace. Due to court challenges to rate setting procedures, over $1 billion in royalties remain undistributed as of November of 2024. Meanwhile, content creators go unpaid for their work, sometimes for a decade or more. This committee hopes to hold the first ever hearing with the Copyright Royalty Board judges soon to discuss the board's work. In closing, it's worth noting that the Library of Congress recently celebrated its 225th anniversary on April 24. I look forward to our discussion today to ensure the Library operates as effectively as possible for the next 225 years while maintaining its greatest priority of serving the Congressional community in a nonpartisan fashion. Thank you for being here today.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for giving me the opportunity and also for gathering us all together. And good afternoon, Dr. Hayden. Thank you for being here. It's hard to believe that you're already nearing your 10th year as the Librarian of the Library of Congress. And to say the past decade has been Turbulent politically would be an understatement, but you've consistently risen Above the fray and it performed your duties in my view with incredible professionalism and in a wholly nonpartisan manner So I want to thank you for your continued service to the to library and to the country, you know nearly a decade ago Dr. Hayden appeared before the Senate Committee on rules and and administration for her confirmation hearing. There she outlined a bold set of goals for her term as Librarian of Congress, goals that she and her team have successfully met. And I want to just highlight some.
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