Washington, D.C.-After a year of successful restructuring at the Government Printing Office (GPO), Public Printer of the United States Bruce James told the Committee on House Administration and the House Legislative Appropriations Subcommittee today the GPO now has the groundwork in place to move the agency's transformation to the next level. "From this point forward we will complete a strategic plan for the future of the GPO as the Government's primary resource for gathering, cataloging, producing, providing, and preserving its published information in all forms," James said.  "The GPO is at the very epicenter of technological change that is upending virtually every aspect of Federal information policy.  There is no time for us to rest on our laurels from successes achieved long ago.  The 19th century is not coming back." GPO is seeking investment funds for essential technology improvements to modernize document-handling systems that will reduce future costs.  To that end, the GPO is requesting $25 million to support the acquisition of digital equipment and systems to manage the life cycle of Government information.  "This will allow us to implement the strategic plan we are preparing and move the GPO firmly into a digital future," James said. For FY 2005, the GPO is also requesting $88. 8 million for the Congressional Printing and Binding Appropriation, a reduction of $1.8 million or 2% from FY 2004.  Also requested is a $33 million for the Salaries and Expenses Appropriation of the Superintendent of Documents, a reduction of $1.2 million or 3.6% from last year. In addition, the GPO is requesting $4.2 million in separate funding for its Office of the Inspector General to provide greater independence, similar to the funding of IG offices in many executive branch agencies. "We are getting sound, positive feedback from our stakeholders as we present our strategic vision to embrace GPO's historic mission using the technology of the 21st century.  They are excited by the prospects this vision represents, and they want to work with us to carry it out.  We look forward to this collaborative process.  After fully consulting with them, we will make the necessary adjustments in our plan and move forward.  We expect to have our plan in place later this year."