H. Griffith

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Charles King, former president of Southwest Virginia Community College (SVCC), who passed away on October 10, 2026, at the age of 92. Dr. King was born on March 22, 1934, in Fort Pierce, Florida. From an early age, Dr. King and his family faced hardship and adversity. But despite personal challenges, Dr. King worked hard in school. Not only did he succeed as a student, but also as a student-athlete. These experiences helped shape Mr. King's professional interests in pursuing education as a career and, more specifically, supporting community colleges. Following his graduation from the University of Florida, he became a dean at Southeastern Community College. However, in 1967, Dr. King was selected as the first-ever president for a new community college. Located in Cedar Bluff, Virginia, SVCC was created to serve educational opportunities for students in Southwest Virginia. Dr. King believed in the school's mission to ensure ``no student was left behind.'' Over the course of four decades under Dr. King's leadership, SVCC expanded its academic programs, improved facilities, established community partnerships, and made lasting impacts in the region. Starting with roughly more than 700 students in 1968, SVCC has helped nearly 100,000 students. This growth and the school's continued operations highlight the success Dr. King helped foster during his tenure as president. In 2007, Dr. King retired from his post, making him the longest- serving president in the Virginia Community College System. The current SVCC president credits Dr. King for his vision that changed countless lives across Southwest Virginia, Of the numerous honors he has received, Dr. King is a recipient of the Virginia Community College System Chancellor's Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. Dr. King is survived by his four children, Charles R. King, Jr. (Dee) of Belfast, Virginia, Cheryl Lynn King (Doug Minner) of Fort Pierce, Florida, William Chandler King, and Lloyd Chadwick King; grandchildren, Jessica Nicole Bailey, Derek Joel King, Andrew James Minner, Corbin Ryan King, Victoria Lynn Minner, Mary Mattlyn King, Ella Kate King, and Laura King; his brother, Dr. Maxwell C. King; five great, grandchildren; and several cousins, nieces, nephews, and so many dear friends. Thanks to Dr. King's service, thousands of local students in Southwest Virginia obtained access to fruitful educational programs, received accreditations in professional fields, and supported local communities in the region. His legacy will continue to live on in school programs, regional education initiatives, and Southwest Virginia communities.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary athletic career of Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Fame pitcher and Southwest Virginia's very own, Mr. Billy Wagner. Mr. Wagner was born on July 25, 1971, in Marion, Virginia. He spent most of his upbringing in neighboring Tazewell County, where he would attend high school. At Tazewell High School, Mr. Wagner's athletic career took off. As a dual-sport competitor in baseball and football, he was part of the school football championship in 1986. But for Mr. Wagner, his heart was in baseball. Following his high school graduation, Mr. Wagner stayed in the region and pursued collegiate baseball at Ferrum College in Franklin County, Virginia. While there, Mr. Wagner set a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III record by averaging 19.1 strikeouts per nine innings and secured All-American honors. After a dominant collegiate career, MLB scouts took notice. The Houston Astros selected Mr. Wagner with the 12th overall pick in the 1993 MLB Draft. He would make his MLB debut on September 13, 1995. Over the course of 16 MLB seasons, Mr. Wagner pitched for five MLB franchises. He compiled 1,196 strikeouts, a 2.31 ERA, 422 saves and seven all-star selections. The successful reliever boasted 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings, which remains the highest rate for any MLB pitcher with at least 900 innings since 1900. These accolades distinguished Mr. Wagner, also known as ``Billy the Kid,'' from most relief pitchers in MLB history. Accordingly, in 2025, Mr. Wagner was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He is the first NCAA Division III baseball player to make the Baseball Hall of Fame. Those in his inductee class are MLB legends Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia. Although these accomplishments warrant praise, Mr. Wagner is also recognized as a devoted husband, a father of four, a mentor and a charity leader. Through the Wagner Family Foundation, Mr. Wagner has supported literacy initiatives, homeless outreach programs and organizations serving at-risk youth. Additionally, Mr. Wagner never lost his identity nor forgot his roots. In 2005, he founded the Second Chance Learning Center in Bluefield, Virginia, to help provide tutoring and counseling services for local underserved children. A 2008 New York Post story detailed that despite his career taking him far from home, Mr. Wagner was still the same country boy throwing heat against the side of the dairy. As part of his Hall of Fame induction remarks, Mr. Wagner thanked his coaches from Tazewell and Ferrum for their positive impact on his career and life. He also wore a Ferrum College pin and Tazewell County pin on his suit lapel during the ceremony. Most recently, Mr. Wagner joined Ferrum baseball's coaching staff. Anyone from Southwest Virginia who visits Cooperstown, New York, will now get to see one of their own in legendary company. Mr. Wagner defied the odds during a hard-fought journey to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He continues to inspire scores of young athletes and athletic programs in our region. Southwest Virginia is incredibly proud of Mr. Billy Wagner.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to clarify a point from my September 14, 2026, remarks on the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act, H.R. 10204. With regard to the relationship between the Library of Congress and the United States Copyright Office, ``it is important that both of these institutions remain preeminent in their fields and that they work together, hand in glove, even though one is performing legislative functions and one is performing legislative and executive functions.''

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 10204. This is an important bill. It probably won't get headlines or be the lead story on CNN or FOX tonight. But making sure, as the gentleman from New York said, that we have the Librarian of Congress actually answering to Congress, I think that is important. I think this is a good housekeeping bill in many ways. It does some reform, but it also lets us move forward into the future. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the great work, as I said before, that Mr. Morelle and his team did on getting this bill into a good position. It was a thoughtful exchange. We were just trying to get the bill as good as we could. I would also be remiss if I didn't recognize my constituent, former Congressman Bob Goodlatte, for his work on trying to make sure that we got the communication lines between the Register of Copyrights and the Librarian of Congress in a good position, as well. As Mr. Morelle pointed out to the body, Mr. Speaker, it is important that both of these institutions remain preeminent in their fields and that they work together, hand in glove, even though one is legislative and one is executive. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, my bill, H.R. 10204, the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act, makes important reforms for several vital institutions that serve Congress and the American people, including the Library of Congress, the Government Publishing Office, and the United States Copyright Office. The bill is not to be confused with H.R. 6028, although they are substantially similar, which passed the House by a voice vote in June with widespread bipartisan support and contains the same provisions as H.R. 10204. The underlying text contains two small technical corrections that committee staff and I added to ensure the smooth implementation of the legislation's key provisions, and I think we have agreement on that. At its core, the bill is about ensuring that agencies of the legislative branch are governed in a manner consistent with our constitutional system, improving continuity in leadership, and strengthening congressional oversight. Though the Librarian of Congress and Director of the Government Publishing Office belong to the legislative branch, their leadership is currently appointed by the President. This legislation removes structural inconsistencies by establishing a congressional appointment framework for the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office. Under the bill, bipartisan recommendations will be provided by the leadership of the House Administration Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, with final selections made by congressional leadership. These changes are not unprecedented, and they closely mirror the bipartisan appointment process Congress adopted for the Architect of the Capitol, which granted congressional control over a key legislative branch institution. Additionally, because of the executive nature of the U.S. Copyright Office, this bill provides that the Register of Copyrights will be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, while keeping a close relationship between the Register of Copyrights and the Librarian of Congress. The Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act modernizes leadership structure and clarifies lines of authority so that we can strengthen the institutions that support Congress and ensure they are positioned to serve this body effectively for years to come. Mr. Speaker, this bill is very much like 6028. As I said, there are two minor technical changes in there. We wouldn't have gotten the base done without bipartisan support. I thank Mr. Morelle for his hard work on helping us improve this bill through the process. We have actually worked on this for well over a year now, trying to get it correct. In all fairness, Mr. Speaker, to satisfy some of our friends on the other side of the building, we made two little technical changes that I think will make them happy. We were already happy. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 10204) to modify the appointment and removal process for certain legislative branch officers, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9342, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice).

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 9342, the GPO Modernization Act of 2026, led by Representative Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, provides several much-needed reforms for the Government Publishing Office. Founded in 1861, the Government Publishing Office has long functioned as an important resource not only for Congress but for the Federal Government as a whole by printing, preserving, and distributing official government documents. Despite the important nature of its work, many of the operations of the GPO are still mired in slow and expensive physical printing processes. This bipartisan legislation transports the GPO into the modern era by digitizing important government documents through programs like the National Collection of U.S. Public Information. This serves as a centralized digital library that will greatly expand access for Americans to easily view government resources and stay informed with current events. H.R. 9342 will also increase fiscal responsibility and efficiency within the GPO by transferring costly, time-consuming print products, such as the Congressional Directory, into a digital format. Additionally, H.R. 9342 cuts bureaucratic red tape by simplifying the acquisition process for key operational equipment and updates GPO employee salaries to ensure that they are on par with other legislative branch agencies. Taken together, the GPO Modernization Act will help ensure that the Government Publishing Office will have the tools and staff it needs to successfully transfer its inventory and operations to a digital-first format and continue to support the Federal Government for years to come. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9342) to revise certain authorities of the Government Publishing Office, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I, too, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9360, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller).

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. 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.

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.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary public service and life of Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper, who passed away on August 29th, at the age of 73. Sheriff Draper was born on March 26, 1953, in Martinsville, Virginia. From an early age, Mr. Draper felt a natural calling to serve his native home. His interests inspired him to volunteer for the Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department and the Martinsville Henry County Rescue. Mr. Draper held roles of firefighter, EMS provider and President of the Fire Company. These roles helped him build relations with his community and address the safety needs of the local area. More notably, Mr. Draper pursued a career in law enforcement. Mr. Draper's first stint in law enforcement is where he exercised duties as deputy sheriff in the Martinsville City Jail. As a symbol of trust and appreciation, Sheriff Draper won the support of his community in elected office. After Martinsville elected Mr. Draper to serve the Martinsville City Council, he then won election to the Martinsville Sheriff's position in 1993. Starting in 1994, Sheriff Draper would lead his Office with dedication, honor and strength. For over 30 years, Sheriff Draper made strides to foster working relationships, support law enforcement officers and keep his community safe. At the time of his passing, Sheriff Draper was the longest-serving sheriff in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Virginia Sheriff's Association, of which Sheriff Draper at one time served as President, noted Sheriff Draper was a mentor to many and a friend to law enforcement professionals throughout Virginia. A career that lasts for so long requires hard sacrifices. We are grateful to Sheriff Draper's family for supporting him throughout his career, even when job demands pulled away his attention. Sheriff Draper is survived by his wife, Donna Draper; children, Courtney Bennett (Jose Padilla) and Christopher Bennett; grandchild, Antonio Lee Bennett Padilla; and special niece, Skylar Sink. His brother, Bobby L. Draper, Jr. (Sammy); niece, Kelly Draper; cousins, Kenneth Draper (Pam Wright), Cody Draper (Natalie), Sarah Dru Draper, Laura Beth Gruettner (Todd), Katherine Eanes Amato (James), Stacy Eanes Clark (Daniel), Bill Draper (Debra), Robin Humlan (Mark), Nancy Draper Oaks (Joey), Bettie Draper Bowles (Gene), Susan Draper Thompson (Matt), Jerry Draper (Jeannie), Karen Berryman, Ann Powers, Drew Conrad, Jim Call, Susan Call, Charles Harris, Barry Harris, Rick Elkins, Ted Elkins, Chuck Alexandar and Jeffrey Alexandar. Virginia's 9th Congressional District is proud to be the home of one of Virginia's most storied law enforcement careers. Sheriff Draper's lifelong commitment to the Martinsville Henry County area will help define his legacy. Sheriff Draper exhibited some of the finest qualities, not just of a public servant or law enforcement official, but as a friend, neighbor and family man.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Tammie Bebout, my Director of Constituent Services since I began in Congress in 2011. This month, Tammie is retiring from public service as a Congressional staffer after serving Members of Congress for more than 24 years. Tammie's career in Congress first started in Virginia's 4th Congressional District. For years, she worked for Representative Randy Forbes of Virginia. Tammie made great strides, first as a Constituent Services Representative and then as a Senior Constituent Services Representative. Thanks to Tammie's efforts, she developed a precise understanding of casework and district office operations and issues that impacted her local community. She served as an excellent representative for Congressman Forbes' office. The people of Virginia's 4th Congressional District and the office of Representative Forbes appreciated her dedication and service. Tammie and her husband, Jim, then decided to move across the Commonwealth to Washington County, Virginia. Tammie so loved her work in Congressman Forbes' office that for some period of time she commuted across the State to continue her work for the 4th District. They had settled in the Town of Damascus, a small rural town in Southwest Virginia of less than 1,000 people. Such towns make up a large portion of Virginia's 9th Congressional District, which spans over more than 9.000 square miles. Given the District's sparsely populated communities, there are unique challenges that people in our region face. After being elected to serve these constituencies in Virginia's 9th Congressional District, I assembled a team in my district offices to tend to these challenges and our rural communities. Given her experience, my team considered it a godsend to be able to hire Tammie. We knew she would help to deliver an exceptional constituent services operation. And she did so. With Tammie's background and leadership, my office's casework operations hit the ground running in 2011. We were ahead of many freshman offices thanks to her institutional knowledge of constituent services. Tammie's leadership in my Abingdon office helped navigate various challenges for constituents. Such issues included federal natural disaster relief, federal agency help, veterans' assistance, and legislative correspondence, among other matters. In 2025 alone, Tammie helped with my office casework operations by contacting 40 federal agencies, completing more than 1,100 cases, and securing more than $1.685 million from federal agencies. Whether out in the field or in the office, Tammie always acted in her role with the utmost professionalism, integrity, and respect. My office mission statement highlights the importance of responsible leadership, principled representation, and exceptional constituent services for the people of Virginia's 9th District. I am proud to say that Tammie will be remembered for carrying out these principles with true class, heart, and skill. Tammie exceeded well beyond all expectations as a constituent services leader. Moreover, her warmth, kindness and faith always resonated with those we helped. I am honored that Tammie could call herself a representative of my office. I congratulate Tammie on an extraordinary career. On behalf of Virginia's 9th Congressional District and my staff, I offer her well wishes.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the remarkable patriotism and service of John Knox Burton, a decorated Vietnam War veteran who resides in Virginia's 9th District. In 1968, Mr. Burton made the honorable decision to answer his country's call and enlist in the military. He entered the military's ranks as a private, but following his stint at Officer Training School, he was a First Lieutenant for his deployment to Vietnam. In Vietnam, First Lieutenant Burton served as Assistant District Senior Advisor with a Republic of Vietnam Unit. It was during this time that First Lieutenant Burton trained local personnel and helped advise district government officials. His help and coordination of joint U.S. and Republic of Vietnam military efforts advanced U.S. military objectives. As a result of his service, First Lieutenant Burton earned high marks from military brass. His evaluating officers considered him to be one of the finest officers and commended his performance in combat in Vietnam. Among the awards of his decorated service, First Lieutenant Burton received the National Defense Service Medal, the Sharpshooter Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with a Bronze Star. The Cross of Gallantry orders highlight Lieutenant Burton's brave service ``side by side with his Vietnamese counterparts.'' Virginia's 9th District is proud to be the home of this Vietnam War hero. After joining the Virginia Tech community in 1977, Mr. Bulton grew as a talented educator. He led numerous courses and initiatives, including his work for the Center for Instructional Technology Solutions in Industry and Education. In recognition of his successful career in education, Virginia Tech awarded Mr. Burton the Alumni Award for Excellence in International Outreach and later conferred upon him the title of ``Professor Emeritus.'' I join 9th District communities in honoring and celebrating the military service of Mr. Burton. His sacrifice to protect American life and liberty is to be fiercely commended. I hope that American military personnel continue to embody the same courage, values and service that Mr. Burton demonstrated to his country.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6028, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments of my colleague Mr. Morelle. I agree with everything that he added and said, some of which we overlapped and some of which we didn't. This was truly a work where we are trying to do the right thing for the right purposes, and both sides worked together to reach what I think is actually a better bill. I know there were compromises, but it is a better bill than what we originally had, and I appreciate that. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 6028, the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act, as amended. I thank Chairman Steil and Ranking Member Morelle for their support and commitment to getting this important Article I bill to the floor. A lot has been done on this bill. We have been working on it for probably a year or a little bit more, and it would not be in the position it is in today or be as good a bill without the work that was done by committee staff on both sides of the aisle and by Mr. Morelle's input and others who have helped to perfect this bill. I think we have a darned good bill here. This legislation makes important and long overdue reforms to key institutions that serve Congress and the American people, including the Library of Congress, the Government Publishing Office, and the United States Copyright Office. At its core, this bill is about ensuring that agencies of the legislative branch are governed in a manner consistent with our constitutional system, improving continuity in leadership and strengthening congressional oversight. I have long been concerned by the fact that certain functions and agencies that exist to support Congress remain subject to appointment structures rooted in the executive branch. For many years I have worked to address similar constitutional inconsistencies. I think I am the only one that loves this bill. In fact, since 2016, at various times I have introduced legislation to transfer the Office of the United States Trade Representative from the executive branch back to Congress where I believe it belongs properly under our constitutional framework. That is not this bill. H.R. 6028 is our bill, and it is guided by that same principle. The bill seeks to promote institutional balance amongst our coequal branches of government and ensure congressional support agencies remain accountable to the branch they serve. The Library of Congress and the Government Publishing Office play indispensable roles in helping Congress carry out its legislative responsibilities. Yet, the heads of these legislative branch agencies are currently appointed by the executive branch, by the President, and then confirmed by the Senate. This is an arrangement that came about in the latter part of the 19th century. It is a 19th century construct. I don't know for sure, Mr. Speaker, but I suspect that it had to do with time and distance and the fact that a lot of times Congress was not able to get here to do the oversight that it needed. Those constraints that existed in the latter part of the 19th century, due to electronic communication and easier travel, no longer make that necessary. I think that is why they did this flip, where they gave up legislative power to the executive branch, and so we have created a new structure. The old structure created an inconsistency in governance, and the new structure helps us with certainty and accountability. The legislation updates the process by establishing a congressional appointment framework for the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office. Under the bill, bipartisan recommendations would be provided by the leadership of the House Administration Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, with final selections being made by congressional leadership. This model is not unprecedented. It closely follows the appointment process Congress previously adopted for the Architect of the Capitol, a reform enacted on a bipartisan basis and the one that has helped strengthen congressional control over a key legislative branch institution. My bill also addresses the governance of the United States Copyright Office. Because the Copyright Office carries out executive-type functions, H.R. 6028 provides that the Register of Copyrights will be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. Some of the improvements that were made just within the last couple of months made sure we had smooth working there because the Copyright Office, while it is in the executive branch, has to work closely with the Librarian of Congress. I believe the language that was ironed out between the parties makes a lot of sense and works well for the American people. My bill better aligns government responsibilities with the appropriate constitutional framework. Ultimately, the bill is about clarity, accountability, and good governance. By modernizing leadership structures and clarifying lines of authority, we can strengthen the institutions that support Congress and serve the Nation as a whole, and we can ensure that these institutions are positioned to serve both Congress and the American people more effectively for years to come. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6028, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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 additional extraneous material.