The Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act has passed the House, bringing greater accountability to the oversight of legislative branch entities. House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil praised the passage of the bill, emphasizing the importance of Congress having the sole responsibility in selecting new leadership and holding bad actors accountable.
Chairman Steil stated, "This bill is a win. Passing the AOC Appointment Act will bring greater accountability to our oversight of legislative branch entities. This bill gives Congress the sole responsibility in selecting new leadership and, when necessary, the authority to hold bad actors accountable."
The bipartisan and bicameral legislation was included in the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and was introduced by Chairman Bryan Steil, Ranking Member Joe Morelle, Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar, and Ranking Member Deb Fischer earlier this year.
The Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act establishes a congressional commission for the appointment of the Architect, consisting of key leaders and members from both the Senate and the House. This commission will have the authority to appoint, re-appoint, or remove an Architect by majority vote, shifting the responsibility from the President. Additionally, the legislation requires the Architect to appoint a Deputy Architect within 120 days of a vacancy, with the commission authorized to do so by majority vote if the Architect fails to act. In cases where both the Architect and Deputy Architect positions are vacant, the commission can designate an Acting Architect through majority vote.
The full text of the legislation can be found [here](link to the legislation).
The need for the Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act became evident earlier this year when allegations of misuse of official resources by the then-Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, came to light. In a hearing held by the Committee on House Administration, Blanton faced scrutiny, and shortly after, he was fired by President Joe Biden. Following this incident, House and Senate leaders of the Committee on House Administration and Senate Rules Committee introduced the Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act.
The passage of this act marks an important step in ensuring accountability and transparency within the legislative branch. With Congress having the authority to appoint and remove the Architect of the Capitol, there is a stronger system in place to hold individuals accountable for their actions.
As the bill now moves forward, it is expected to receive support from both chambers of Congress before being signed into law. The Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act is a significant milestone in improving the oversight and governance of legislative branch entities.
For additional details, please follow this link: https://cha.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7466CE8D-0FD3-467B-9BFA-26EAA573AF6D
