The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) has provided support to the Library of Congress (LOC) in the creation of a new iPad application (app) that provides users with mobile access to the daily Congressional Record.  The app was requested by the House of Representatives Committee on House Administration.  The Congressional Record is the official compilation of the proceedings and debates of Congress.  GPO makes this publication available everyday that Congress is in session in print form and in digital form on the agency's Federal Digital System (FDsys).

GPO provided LOC with Congressional Record files in both text and PDF formats along with associated metadata.  The LOC used these formats to develop the app. GPO will play an ongoing role in enabling LOC to determine when updates to Congressional Record content are available through access to site maps on GPO's system.  The link for the new app ishttp://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-congressional-record/id492077075 or you can search in the App Store for "The Congressional Record."

GPO and LOC have worked together to digitize and make available through FDsys the official Statutes at Large going back to 1951 and currently are collaborating on digitizing the official debates of Congress from the permanent volumes of the Congressional Record, which began publication in 1873.

"The Congressional Record - the official record of our Nation's legislative endeavors - is vital to legislators doing their job and to the public holding them accountable. That is why I commend the Library of Congress and the Government Printing Office for their dedication to creating this app and improving access to legislative data," said Committee on House Administration Chairman Dan Lungren.

"The GPO appreciates the opportunity to participate in this project, and is pleased that our partnership with the Library of Congress continues to evolve in the digital age," said Acting Public Printer Davita Vance-Cooks. "GPO is here to meet the information dissemination needs of Congress, and this new Congressional Record app is one more way that GPO is supporting Congress and its daily legislative functions."

"The Library of Congress is pleased to develop a new way to receive authoritative and convenient access to the debates, proceedings and activities of the Nation's legislature.  Access to the Record on tablet devices will provide portability for Members of Congress as well as the public, and allow for searching, saving and sharing content from the Record," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington.

With 1,900 employees, GPO is the Federal Government's primary resource for producing, procuring, cataloging, indexing, authenticating, disseminating, and preserving the official information products of the U.S. Government in both digital and tangible formats.  GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products and services for all three branches of the Federal Government, including U.S. passports for the Department of State as well as the official publications of Congress, the White House, and other Federal agencies. In addition to publication sales, GPO provides for permanent public access to Federal Government information at no charge through GPO's Federal Digital System (www.fdsys.gov) and through partnerships with approximately 1,220 libraries nationwide participating in the Federal Depository Library Program. For more information, please visitwww.gpo.gov.  Follow GPO on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/USGPO Twitter http://twitter.com/USGPO and on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/gpoprinter.