H.R. 3196: Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act of 2023

The bill titled the Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act of 2023 proposes changes to the appointment process for the Architect of the Capitol, an official responsible for overseeing the construction and maintenance of buildings and grounds for the U.S. Congress and other related governmental areas. Below are the key provisions of the bill:

Appointment of the Architect

The bill establishes that the Architect of the Capitol will be appointed by a commission that includes:

• The Speaker of the House of Representatives
• The majority leader of the Senate
• The minority leaders of both the House and Senate
• The chair and ranking minority member of the Appropriations Committees from both the House and Senate
• The chair and ranking minority member of the House Administration Committee
• The chair and ranking minority member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee

This appointment will be based solely on the qualifications of the candidate rather than political affiliation. The bill allows for the Architect to be appointed for a term of 10 years, with the possibility of reappointment for additional 10-year terms subject to majority approval from the commission.

Removal of the Architect

The bill allows for the removal of the Architect at any time with a majority vote from the same commission responsible for the appointment.

Appointment of the Deputy Architect

The bill also addresses the appointment of a Deputy Architect of the Capitol. The Architect must appoint a Deputy Architect within 120 days of their own appointment or the occurrence of a vacancy. If the Architect fails to appoint a Deputy within this timeframe, the commission will appoint one by majority vote.

Acting Architect Provisions

If the Architect is absent, disabled, or if there is a vacancy, the Deputy Architect will serve as the acting Architect. Should there also be a vacancy in the Deputy Architect position, the commission will designate an individual to serve as acting Architect until the appropriate appointments are made.

Conforming Amendments

The bill includes repealing previous provisions regarding the appointment of the Architect of the Capitol which stated that the Architect was to be appointed by the President. It also makes necessary adjustments to existing laws to reflect the new appointment process outlined in this bill.

Effective Date

These changes will take effect for appointments made after the enactment of this Act.

Relevant Companies

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