WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) and Congressman Gerry Connolly’s (D-VA) bipartisan legislation H.R. 9592, the Federal Register Modernization Act, was signed into law on January 4, 2025. The bill eliminates the requirement to print thousands of copies of the Federal Register and replaces the outdated practice with an electronic publication supplemented by sufficient quantities of physical publications.
Congressman Higgins’ bill will save taxpayer dollars, reduce agency burdens, and ensure the American people can have access to government information while mandating appropriate production of physical copies for the historical record.
Since July 1935, the Government Publishing Office (GPO) has worked with the Office of Federal Register (OFR) to print the federal government’s newspaper every business day. The publication includes presidential documents, rules, proposed rules, and notices. The practice forces government agencies to produce and store hard copies, wasting taxpayer money and government resources.
“The federal government has continued to use the archaic process of printing thousands of physical copies of the federal register daily, wasting resources and taxpayer dollars,” said Congressman Higgins. “Passage of the bipartisan Federal Register Modernization Act preserves the requirement to maintain physical copies for the historical record while modernizing the extensive delivery process.”
“This bipartisan legislation is a win for all of us who want a federal government that functions efficiently and effectively in the 21st century,” said Congressman Connolly. “I am thrilled to see this bill signed into law as an important part of our efforts to modernize the federal government for the American people it serves.”
Read the full legislation here.
Watch Congressman Higgins’ Floor speech here.
Watch Congressman Higgins introduce the legislation here.
