Sw Louisiana News

The Federal Register Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Congressman Clay Higgins and Congressman Gerry Connolly, was signed into law on January 4, 2025. The legislation aims to modernize the publication of the Federal Register by replacing the requirement to print thousands of copies with an electronic version, while still ensuring that enough physical copies are produced for historical records.

According to Congressman Higgins, this change will save taxpayer dollars and reduce burdens on government agencies. "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," he stated. He emphasized that the new law will maintain necessary physical records but update the delivery process.

Since its inception in July 1935, the Government Publishing Office has collaborated with the Office of Federal Register to produce hard copies of governmental documents daily. These include presidential documents, rules, proposed rules, and notices. The previous practice required significant resource allocation for production and storage.

Congressman Connolly expressed his satisfaction with the bill's passage: "This bipartisan legislation is a win for all of us who want a federal government that functions efficiently and effectively in the 21st century." He added that signing this bill into law marks a significant step towards modernizing federal operations for better service to Americans.

The full text of the legislation is available online for those interested in further details about its provisions.