H.R. 3196

Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act of 2023

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Union Calendar No. 766

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 3196

[Report No. 118–741, Part I]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 10, 2023

Mr. Steil (for himself and Mr. Morelle) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

November 18, 2024

Reported from the Committee on House Administration

November 18, 2024

Referral to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure extended for a period ending not later than December 19, 2024

December 19, 2024

Additional sponsors: Mr. Loudermilk and Mrs. Bice

December 19, 2024

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

A BILL

To provide for the appointment of the Architect of the Capitol, and for other purposes.

1.

Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act of 2023.

2.

Appointment and term of service of Architect of the Capitol

(a)

Appointment

The Architect of the Capitol shall be appointed, without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the office, upon a majority vote of a congressional commission (referred to in this section as the commission) consisting of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate, the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, and the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.

(b)

Term of Service

The Architect of the Capitol shall be appointed for a term of 10 years and, upon a majority vote of the members of the commission, may be reappointed for additional 10-year terms.

(c)

Removal

The Architect of the Capitol may be removed from office at any time upon a majority vote of the members of the commission.

(d)

Conforming amendments

(1)

Section 319 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1990 (2 U.S.C. 1801) is repealed.

(2)

The matter under the heading For the Capitol: under the heading DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. of the Act of February 14, 1902 (32 Stat. 19, chapter 17; incorporated in 2 U.S.C. 1811) is amended by striking , and he shall be appointed by the President.

(e)

Effective Date

This section, and the amendments made by this section, shall apply with respect to appointments made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

3.

Appointment of Deputy Architect of the Capitol; vacancy in Architect or Deputy Architect

Section 1203 of title I of division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 (2 U.S.C. 1805) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

by inserting (in this section referred to as the Architect) after The Architect of the Capitol; and

(B)

by inserting (in this section referred to as the Deputy Architect) after Deputy Architect of the Capitol;

(2)

by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);

(3)

by inserting after subsection (a) the following:

(b)

Deadline

The Architect shall appoint a Deputy Architect under subsection (a) not later than 120 days after—

(1)

the date on which the Architect is appointed under section 2 of the Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act of 2023, if there is no Deputy Architect on the date of the appointment; or

(2)

the date on which a vacancy arises in the office of the Deputy Architect.

;

(4)

in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by striking of the Capitol each place it appears; and

(5)

by adding at the end the following:

(d)

Failure To appoint

If the Architect does not appoint a Deputy Architect on or before the applicable date specified in subsection (b), the congressional commission described in section 2(a) of the Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act of 2023 shall appoint the Deputy Architect by a majority vote of the members of the commission.

(e)

Notification

If the position of Deputy Architect becomes vacant, the Architect shall immediately notify the members of the congressional commission described in section 2(a) of the Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act of 2023.

.

4.

Deputy Architect of the Capitol to serve as acting in case of absence, disability, or vacancy

(a)

In general

The Deputy Architect of the Capitol (in this section referred to as the Deputy Architect) shall act as Architect of the Capitol (in this section referred to as the Architect) if the Architect is absent or disabled or there is no Architect.

(b)

Absence, disability, or vacancy in office of Deputy Architect

For purposes of subsection (a), if the Deputy Architect is also absent or disabled or there is no Deputy Architect, the congressional commission described in section 2(a) shall designate, by a majority vote of the members of the commission, an individual to serve as acting Architect until—

(1)

the end of the absence or disability of the Architect or the Deputy Architect; or

(2)

in the case of vacancies in both positions, an Architect has been appointed under section 2(a) of this Act.

(c)

Authority

An officer serving as acting Architect under subsection (a) or (b) shall perform all the duties and exercise all the authorities of the Architect, including the authority to delegate the duties and authorities of the Architect in accordance with the matter under the heading Office of the Architect of the Capitol under the heading Architect of the Capitol of the Legislative Appropriation Act, 1956 (2 U.S.C. 1803).

(d)

Conforming amendment

The matter under the heading Salaries under the heading Office of the Architect of the Capitol under the heading Architect of the Capitol of the Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, 1971 (2 U.S.C. 1804) is amended by striking : Provided, and all that follows through no Architect.

December 19, 2024

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed