Zoe Lofgren: “This is a bill that should be opposed, and I agree with Mr. Polis that it is unfortunate it is being rushed because this…”

“This is a bill that should be opposed, and I agree with Mr. Polis that it is unfortunate it is being rushed because this may be one of the more significant votes we will take about our economy in this Congress. I have heard a lot of rhetoric that this isn't about the Librarian. I am sorry, it is about the Librarian. Dr. Carla Hayden is probably the most qualified Librarian of Congress who has ever served. She has done more in the last 6 months to advance modernization in the Library and the Copyright Office than her predecessor did in the prior 2 decades. If we prevent her from appointing a new Register, that effort will be stalled, and I think that would be tragic. It has been mentioned that somehow, by making this a political position, it would be more accountable. I beg to differ. Mr. Polis has mentioned the view of the Electronic Frontier Foundation that this would enhance special interests. What they have actually said, and I think it is very pertinent, is that the bill would allow powerful incumbent interests to use their lobbying power to control this increasingly politicized Office. No President is going to select an appointee who will be shot down by the special interests. That is quite different than the Librarian who removed the prior Register because of, I believe, the inspector general's scathing report about the failure to computerize that office, essentially wasting $12 million, while misrepresenting that fact to the Librarian and to Congress.…”