United States Congressional Joint Committee on the Library

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The Joint Committee on the Library is a Joint Committee of the United States Congress devoted to the affairs and administration of the Library of Congress, which is the library of the federal legislature. There are five members of each house on the committee. It has no subcommittees.

The committee was originally established in 1806 (House Journal. 1806. 9th Cong., 1st sess., 27 February.) to support the expansion of a congressional library. In 1811, the committee was officially made permanent. It is Congress's oldest continuing joint committee.

The Committee currently has oversight of the operations of the Library of Congress, as well as management of the congressional art collection, the National Statuary Hall Collection, and the United States Botanic Garden, but does not have legislative authority.

The committee is authorized to accept any work of the fine arts on behalf of Congress and designate a location in the United States Capitol for the work of art (pursuant to the Revised Statutes). This authority was expanded in 1875 to require that artwork that was not the property of the United States could not be displayed in the Capitol and that rooms in the Capitol cannot be used as private studios for works of art without written permission of the Committee. The Architect of the Capitol has the authority to enforce this provision.

On February 24, 1933, with the passage of House Concurrent Resolution No. 47, the Architect of the Capitol was authorized and directed to relocate within the Capitol any of the statues already received and placed in Statuary Hall, upon the approval of the Joint Committee on the Library, and to provide for the reception and location of statues received from the states. This provision was permanently enacted into law in 2000 in the legislative branch appropriations.

Membership consists of the chair and four Members of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, chair and three Members of the Committee on House Administration and chair (or his designee) of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch. The chair of the Committee alternates between the House and Senate every two years, at the start of a new Congress.

Committee leadership

A list of former chairs/vice chairs and ranking members/vice ranking member since 1947 are below.

Chairs

Name Party State Start End Chamber
Wayland Brooks Republican IL 1947 1949 Senate
Mary Norton Democratic NJ 1949 1951 House
Theodore Green Democratic RI 1951 1953 Senate
Karl LeCompte Republican IL 1953 1955 House
Omar Burleson Democratic TX 1955 1956 House
Theodore Green Democratic RI 1956 1957 Senate
Omar Burleson Democratic TX 1957 1958 House
Theodore Green Democratic RI 1958 1960 Senate
Omar Burleson Democratic TX 1960 1964 House
Everett Jordan Democratic NC 1964 1965 Senate
Omar Burleson Democratic TX 1965 1966 House
Everett Jordan Democratic NC 1966 1967 Senate
Omar Burleson Democratic TX 1967 1968 House
Everett Jordan Democratic NC 1968 1969 Senate
Samuel Friedel Democratic MD 1969 1970 House
Everett Jordan Democratic NC 1970 1971 Senate
Wayne Hays Democratic OH 1971 1972 House
Everett Jordan Democratic NC 1972 1973 Senate
Lucien Nedzi Democratic MI 1973 1974 House
Howard Cannon Democratic NV 1974 1975 Senate
Lucien Nedzi Democratic MI 1975 1976 House
Howard Cannon Democratic NV 1976 1977 Senate
Lucien Nedzi Democratic MI 1977 1979 House
Clay Pell Democratic RI 1979 1981 Senate
Augustus Hawkins Democratic CA 1981 1983 House
Mac Mathias Republican MD 1983 1985 Senate
Frank Annunzio Democratic IL 1985 1987 House
Clay Pell Democratic RI 1987 1989 Senate
Frank Annunzio Democratic IL 1989 1991 House
Clay Pell Democratic RI 1991 1993 Senate
Charlie Rose Democratic NC 1993 1995 House
Mark Hatfield Republican OR 1995 1997 Senate
Bill Thomas Republican CA 1997 1999 House
Ted Stevens Republican AK 1999 2001 Senate
Vern Ehlers Republican MI 2001 2003 House
Ted Stevens Republican AK 2003 2005 Senate
Vern Ehlers Republican MI 2005 2007 House
Dianne Feinstein Democratic CA 2007 2009 Senate
Bob Brady Democratic PA 2009 2011 House
Chuck Schumer Democratic NY 2011 2013 Senate
Gregg Harper Republican MS 2013 2015 House
Roy Blunt Republican MO 2015 2017 Senate
Gregg Harper Republican MS 2017 2019 House
Roy Blunt Republican MO 2019 2021 Senate
Zoe Lofgren Democratic CA 2021 2023 House
Amy Klobuchar Democratic MN 2023 2025 Senate
Bryan Steil Republican WI 2025 present House

Vice Chairs

Name Party State Start End Chamber
Karl LeCompte Republican IL 1947 1949 House
Theodore Green Democratic RI 1949 1951 Senate
Thomas Stanley Democratic VA 1951 1953 House
William Purtell Republican CT 1953 1954 Senate
William Jenner Republican IN 1954 1955 Senate
Theodore Green Democratic RI 1955 1956 Senate
Omar Burleson Democratic TX 1956 1957 Senate
Theodore Green Democratic RI 1957 1958 Senate
Omar Burleson Democratic TX 1958 1960 House
Theodore Green Democratic RI 1960 1961 Senate
Mike Mansfield Democratic MT 1961 1963 Senate
Everett Jordan Democratic NC 1963 1964 Senate
Omar Burleson Democratic TX 1964 1965 House
Everett Jordan Democratic NC 1965 1966 Senate
Omar Burleson Democratic TX 1966 1967 House
Everett Jordan Democratic NC 1967 1968 Senate
Omar Burleson Democratic TX 1968 House
Paul Jones Democratic MO 1968 1969 House
Everett Jordan Democratic NC 1969 1970 Senate
Samuel Friedel Democratic MD 1970 1971 House
Everett Jordan Democratic NC 1971 1972 Senate
Wayne Hays Democratic OH 1972 1973 House
Howard Cannon Democratic NV 1973 1974 Senate
Lucien Nedzi Democratic MI 1974 1975 House
Howard Cannon Democratic NV 1975 1976 Senate
Lucien Nedzi Democratic MI 1976 1977 House
Howard Cannon Democratic NV 1977 1979 Senate
Lucien Nedzi Democratic MI 1979 1981 House
Mac Mathias Republican MD 1981 1983 Senate
Augustus Hawkins Democratic CA 1983 1984 House
Al Swift Democratic WA 1984 1985 House
Mac Mathias Republican MD 1985 1987 Senate
Frank Annunzio Democratic IL 1987 1989 House
Clay Pell Democratic RI 1989 1991 Senate
Charlie Rose Democratic NC 1991 1993 House
Clay Pell Democratic RI 1993 1995 Senate
Bill Thomas Republican CA 1995 1997 House
Ted Stevens Republican AK 1997 1999 Senate
Bill Thomas Republican CA 1999 2001 House
Ted Stevens Republican AK 2001 Senate
Chris Dodd Democratic CT 2001 2003 Senate
Vern Ehlers Republican MI 2003 2005 House
Ted Stevens Republican AK 2005 2007 Senate
Juanita Millender-McDonald Democratic CA 2007 House
Bob Brady Democratic PA 2007 2009 House
Chuck Schumer Democratic NY 2009 2011 Senate
Gregg Harper Republican MS 2011 2013 House
Chuck Schumer Democratic NY 2013 2015 Senate
Gregg Harper Republican MS 2015 2017 House
Dick Shelby Republican AL 2017 2018 Senate
Roy Blunt Republican MO 2018 2019 Senate
Zoe Lofgren Democratic CA 2019 2021 House
Amy Klobuchar Democratic MN 2021 2023 Senate
Bryan Steil Republican WI 2023 2025 House
Mitch McConnell Republican KY 2025 present Senate

Ranking Members

Name Party State Start End Chamber
Mary Norton Democratic NJ 1947 1949 House
Irving Ives Republican NY 1949 1950 Senate
Henry Lodge Republican MA 1950 1951 Senate
Karl LeCompte Republican IL 1951 1953 House
Theodore Green Democratic RI 1953 1955 Senate
Frank Barrett Republican WY 1955 1956 Senate
Karl LeCompte Republican IL 1956 1957 House
Carl Curtis Republican NE 1957 1958 Senate
Karl LeCompte Republican IL 1958 1959 House
Paul Schenck Republican OH 1959 1960 House
Thruston Morton Republican KY 1960 Senate
Kenneth Keating Republican NY 1960 1962 Senate
Everett Dirksen Republican IL 1962 1963 Senate
John Cooper Republican KY 1963 1964 Senate
Paul Schenck Republican OH 1964 1965 House
John Cooper Republican KY 1965 1966 Senate
Glenard Lipscomb Republican CA 1966 1967 House
John Cooper Republican KY 1967 1968 Senate
Glenard Lipscomb Republican CA 1968 1969 House
John Cooper Republican KY 1969 1970 Senate
Fred Schwengel Republican IA 1970 1971 House
John Cooper Republican KY 1971 1972 Senate
Fred Schwengel Republican IA 1972 1973 House
Marlow Cook Republican KY 1973 1974 Senate
Samuel Devine Republican OH 1974 1975 House
Mark Hatfield Republican OR 1975 1976 Senate
Samuel Devine Republican OH 1976 1977 House
Robert Griffin Republican MI 1977 1979 Senate
Samuel Devine Republican OH 1979 House
David Stockman Republican MI 1979 1981 House
Clay Pell Democratic RI 1981 1983 Senate
Newt Gingrich Republican GA 1983 1985 House
Dan Inouye Democratic HI 1985 1987 Senate
Newt Gingrich Republican GA 1987 1989 House
Mark Hatfield Republican OR 1989 1991 Senate
Bill Barrett Republican NE 1991 1993 House
??? Republican 1993 1995 Senate
??? Democratic 1995 1997 House
Dan Moynihan Democratic NY 1997 1999 Senate
Steny Hoyer Democratic MD 1999 2001 House
Chris Dodd Democratic CT 2001 Senate
Ted Stevens Republican AK 2001 2003 Senate
John Larson Democratic CT 2003 2005 House
Chris Dodd Democratic CT 2005 2007 Senate
Vern Ehlers Republican MI 2007 2009 House
Bob Bennett Republican UT 2009 2011 Senate
Zoe Lofgren Democratic CA 2011 2013 House
Pat Roberts Republican KS 2013 2015 Senate
Bob Brady Democratic PA 2015 2017 House
Amy Klobuchar Democratic MN 2017 2019 Senate
Rodney Davis Republican IL 2019 2021 House
Roy Blunt Republican MO 2021 2023 Senate
Joe Morelle Democratic NY 2023 2025 House
Alex Padilla Democratic CA 2025 present Senate

Vice Ranking Members

Name Party State Start End Chamber
Theodore Green Democratic RI 1947 1949 Senate
Karl LeCompte Republican IL 1949 1951 House
Henry Lodge Republican MA 1951 1953 Senate
Kenneth Regan Democratic TX 1953 1955 House
Karl LeCompte Republican IL 1955 1956 House
Frank Barrett Republican WY 1956 1957 Senate
Karl LeCompte Republican IL 1957 1958 House
Carl Curtis Republican NE 1958 1959 Senate
Thruston Morton Republican KY 1959 1960 Senate
Paul Schenck Republican OH 1960 1964 House
John Cooper Republican KY 1964 1965 Senate
Glenard Lipscomb Republican CA 1965 1966 House
John Cooper Republican KY 1966 1967 Senate
Glenard Lipscomb Republican CA 1967 1968 House
John Cooper Republican KY 1968 1969 Senate
Robert Corbett Republican PA 1969 House
Fred Schwengel Republican IA 1969 1970 House
John Cooper Republican KY 1970 1971 Senate
Fred Schwengel Republican IA 1971 1972 House
John Cooper Republican KY 1972 1973 Senate
James Harvey Republican MI 1973 House
Samuel Devine Republican OH 1973 1974 House
Marlow Cook Republican KY 1974 Senate
Samuel Devine Republican OH 1975 1976 House
Mark Hatfield Republican OR 1976 1977 Senate
Samuel Devine Republican OH 1977 1979 House
Howard Baker Republican TN 1979 1981 Senate
Newt Gingrich Republican GA 1981 1983 House
Dan Inouye Democratic HI 1983 1985 Senate
Newt Gingrich Republican GA 1985 1987 House
Mark Hatfield Republican OR 1987 1989 Senate
Paul Gillmor Republican OH 1989 1991 House
Mark Hatfield Republican OR 1991 1993 Senate
??? Republican 1993 1995 House
??? Democratic 1995 1997 Senate
Carolyn Kilpatrick Democratic MI 1997 1999 House
Chris Dodd Democratic CT 1999 2001 Senate
Steny Hoyer Democratic MD 2001 2003 House
Chris Dodd Democratic CT 2003 2005 Senate
Juanita Millender-McDonald Democratic CA 2005 2007 House
Bob Bennett Republican UT 2007 2009 Senate
Gregg Harper Republican MS 2009 2011 House
Lamar Alexander Republican TN 2011 2013 Senate
Bob Brady Democratic PA 2013 2015 House
Chuck Schumer Democratic NY 2015 2017 Senate
Bob Brady Democratic PA 2017 2019 House
Amy Klobuchar Democratic MN 2019 2021 Senate
Rodney Davis Republican IL 2021 2023 House
Deb Fischer Republican NE 2023 2025 Senate
Joe Morelle Democratic NY 2025 present House

118th Congress

The following members currently serve on the Joint Committee on the Library for the 118th United States Congress.

Members

Members, 118th Congress
Majority Minority
Senate
members
  • Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota, Vice Chair
  • Mark Warner, Virginia
  • Jon Ossoff, Georgia
  • Deb Fischer, Nebraska
  • Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
House
members
  • Bryan Steil, Wisconsin, Chair
  • Mike Carey, Ohio
  • Mark Amodei, Nevada
  • Joe Morelle, New York
  • Terri Sewell, Alabama

117th Congress

The 117th United States Congress served from January 3, 2021, to January 3, 2023.

Members

Members, 117th Congress
Majority Minority
Senate
members
  • Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota, Vice Chair
  • Patrick Leahy, Vermont
  • Mark Warner, Virginia
  • Roy Blunt, Missouri, Ranking Member
  • Richard Shelby, Alabama
House
members
  • Zoe Lofgren, California, Chair
  • Tim Ryan, Ohio
  • G. K. Butterfield, North Carolina
  • Rodney Davis, Illinois, Vice Ranking Member
  • Barry Loudermilk, Georgia

116th Congress

The 116th United States Congress served from January 3, 2019, to January 3, 2021.

Members

The following members served on the Joint Committee on the Library for the 116th United States Congress.

Members, 116th Congress
Majority Minority
Senate
members
  • Roy Blunt, Missouri, Chair
  • Pat Roberts, Kansas
  • Richard Shelby, Alabama
  • Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota, Vice Ranking Member
  • Patrick Leahy, Vermont
House
members
  • Zoe Lofgren, California, Vice Chair
  • Tim Ryan, Ohio
  • G. K. Butterfield, North Carolina
  • Rodney Davis, Illinois, Ranking Member
  • Barry Loudermilk, Georgia

115th Congress

The 115th United States Congress served from January 3, 2017, to January 3, 2019.

Members

The following members served on the Joint Committee on the Library for the 115th United States Congress.

Members, 115th Congress
Majority Minority
Senate
members
  • Richard Shelby (R-AL), Vice Chair
  • Pat Roberts (R-KS)
  • Roy Blunt (R-MO)
  • Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
  • Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
House
members
  • Gregg Harper (R-MS), Chair
  • Kevin Yoder (R-KS)
  • Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)
  • Bob Brady (D-PA)
  • Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

Fine arts introduced

The following resolutions were introduced for displaying fine arts in the United States Capitol during the 115th United States Congress.

  • Lads of Pest statue provided by Hungary to commemorate the heroes of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 on the occasion of the Revolution's 60th anniversary (introduced in the House on 01/05/2017)
  • Statue depicting Harriet Tubman provided by the Harriet Tubman Statue Commission of the State of Maryland (introduced in the Senate on 02/15/2017)
  • Statue or bust depicting Elie Wiesel (introduced in the House on 04/28/2017)
  • Statue depicting Pierre Charles L'Enfant provided by the District of Columbia (introduced in the House on 07/12/2017)

114th Congress

The 114th United States Congress served from January 3, 2015, to January 3, 2017.

Members

The following members served on the Joint Committee on the Library for the 114th United States Congress.

Members, 114th Congress
Majority Minority
Senate
members
  • Roy Blunt (R-MO), Chair
  • Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
  • Pat Roberts (R-KS)
  • Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
  • Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
House
members
  • Gregg Harper (R-MS), Vice Chair
  • Candice Miller (R-MI)
  • Tom Graves (R-GA)
  • Bob Brady (D-PA)
  • Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

Fine arts introduced

The following resolutions were introduced for displaying fine arts in the United States Capitol during the 114th United States Congress.

  • Statue depicting Pierre Charles L'Enfant provided by the District of Columbia (introduced in the House on 06/18/2015 – no further action taken)
  • Statue depicting Harriet Tubman provided by the Harriet Tubman Statue Commission of the State of Maryland (introduced in the House on 03/17/2016 – no further action taken)
  • Statue or bust depicting Elie Wiesel (introduced in the House on 07/08/2016 – no further action taken)
  • Lads of Pest statue provided by Hungary to commemorate the heroes of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 on the occasion of the Revolution's 60th anniversary (introduced in the House on 09/15/2016 – no further action taken)

113th Congress

The 113th United States Congress served from January 3, 2013, to January 3, 2015.

Members

The following members served on the Joint Committee on the Library for the 113th United States Congress.

Members, 113th Congress
Majority Minority
Senate
members
  • Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Vice Chair
  • Dick Durbin (D-IL)
  • Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
  • Pat Roberts (R-KS)
  • Roy Blunt (R-MO)
House
members
  • Gregg Harper (R-MS), Chair
  • Candice Miller (R-MI)
  • Tom Cole (R-OK)
  • Bob Brady (D-PA)
  • Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

Fine arts introduced

The following resolutions were introduced for displaying fine arts in the United States Capitol during the 113th United States Congress.

  • Statue depicting Pierre Charles L'Enfant provided by the District of Columbia (introduced in the House on 03/27/2014 – no further action taken)

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