House Panel OKs Bill to Let President Pick Copyright Chief (1)

Legislation that would largely divorce the Copyright Office from the Library of Congress advanced 11-0 out of the House Administration Committee Thursday, setting up the measure for a floor vote on whether the president should be able to appoint and fire the register of copyrights.

The Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act (H.R. 6028) would let the president rather than the librarian of Congress choose the register of copyrights and change how appointments are made for multiple legislative agencies. A bipartisan congressional commission, meanwhile, would appoint the librarian of Congress and director of the Government Publishing Office—positions currently appointed ...