IB 
Union Calendar No. 51 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1695 
[Report No. 115–91] 
To amend title 17, United States Code, to provide additional responsibilities 
for the Register of Copyrights, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 23, 2017 
Mr. GOODLATTE (for himself, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. BASS, Mr. BIGGS, Mrs. 
BLACKBURN, Mr. BUCK, Mr. CHABOT, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mr. 
CICILLINE, Mr. COLLINS of Georgia, Mr. DESANTIS, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. 
FARENTHOLD, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. GAETZ, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. 
GOWDY, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. JOHNSON of 
Louisiana, Mr. JORDAN, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. LABRADOR, Mr. TED 
LIEU of California, Mr. MARINO, Mr. NADLER, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. 
RATCLIFFE, Mrs. ROBY, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, and Mr. SMITH of 
Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary 
APRIL 20, 2017 
Additional sponsors: Mr. SCHNEIDER, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. CRAWFORD, and Mr. 
COHEN 
Deleted sponsor: Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia (added March 23, 2017; deleted 
March 27, 2017) 
APRIL 20, 2017 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 23, 2017] 
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(D) in the last sentence, by striking ‘‘shall 
be appointed’’ and all that follows through ‘‘and 
shall act’’ and inserting ‘‘shall act’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by redesignating para-
graphs (1) through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through 
(E), respectively, and adjusting the margins accord-
ingly; 
(3) by redesignating subsection (b) as paragraph 
(2), and adjusting the margins accordingly; 
(4) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by in-
serting ‘‘DUTIES.—’’ before ‘‘In addition’’; 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) OATH.—The Register of Copyrights shall, 
before taking office, take an oath to discharge faith-
fully the duties of the Copyright Office described in 
paragraph (2). 
‘‘(4) REMOVAL.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Register of Copy-
rights may be removed from office by the Presi-
dent. 
‘‘(B) NOTIFICATION.—The President shall 
provide notification to both Houses of Congress 
of a removal under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(5) TERM OF OFFICE.— 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the Register of Copyrights— 
‘‘(i) shall be appointed for a term of 10 
years; and 
‘‘(ii) may serve until a successor is ap-
pointed, confirmed, and taken the oath of 
office. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—The Register of Copy-
rights may not continue to serve after the date 
on which Congress adjourns sine die after the 
date on which the 10-year period described in 
subparagraph (A)(i) ends. 
‘‘(C) REAPPOINTMENT.—An individual ap-
pointed to the position of Register of Copyrights, 
by and with the advice and consent of the Sen-
ate, may be reappointed to that position in ac-
cordance with the requirements of this section. 
‘‘(6) PANEL FOR REGISTER OF COPYRIGHTS REC-
OMMENDATIONS.—There is established a panel to rec-
ommend a list of at least 3 individuals to the Presi-
dent for appointment as the Register of Copyrights. 
The panel shall be composed of the following: 
‘‘(A) The Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
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‘‘(B) The President pro tempore of the Sen-
ate. 
‘‘(C) The majority and minority leaders of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate. 
‘‘(D) The Librarian of Congress.’’; 
(6) by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) 
as subsections (b) through (e), respectively; 
(7) in subsection (b), as so redesignated, by in-
serting ‘‘SEAL.—’’ before ‘‘The Register’’; 
(8) in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by in-
serting ‘‘ANNUAL REPORT.—’’ before ‘‘The Register’’; 
(9) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by in-
serting ‘‘APPLICABILITY OF TITLE 5.—’’ before ‘‘Ex-
cept as provided’’; and 
(10) in subsection (e), as so redesignated, by in-
serting ‘‘COMPENSATION.—’’ before ‘‘The Register’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to any vacancy for the 
Register of Copyrights after January 1, 2017. If a Register 
of Copyrights is appointed during the period beginning on 
January 1, 2017 and ending on the day before the date 
of the enactment of this Act, that Register shall meet the 
requirements of the amendments made by this Act or shall 
be replaced in accordance with such amendments. 
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Union Calendar No. 51 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1695 
[Report No. 115–91] 
A BILL 
To amend title 17, United States Code, to provide 
additional responsibilities for the Register of 
Copyrights, and for other purposes. 
APRIL 20, 2017 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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