Reading Clerk of the United States House of Representatives

The reading clerk of the United States House of Representatives reads bills, motions, and other papers before the House and keeps track of changes to legislation made on the floor. During the vote for Speaker at the beginning of each Congress, or when the electronic voting system fails, the clerk calls the roll of members for a recorded vote.Traditionally, the reading clerks are appointed by the leaders of the majority and minority parties. For instance, Paul Hays was appointed by the then-Minority Leader Robert H. Michel, for the Republican party.

Reading clerks work for the Office of Legislative Operations, one of nine offices that fall under the jurisdiction of the clerk of the United States House of Representatives.

List of reading clerks Democratic Reading Clerk Term Edward W. Barber 1863–1869 Charles N. Clisbee 1869–18751881–1883 T. O. Walker 1883–1885 Thomas S. Pettit 1875–18811885–18891893–1895 John A. Reeve 1889–1893 Elbert L. Lampson 1895–1911 Patrick Joseph Haltigan 1911–1937 Roger M. Calloway 1937–1943 George J. Maurer 1943–1965 1965–1982 Meg Goetz 1982–1998 Mary Kevin Niland 1998–2008 Jaime Zapata 2008–2009 Joe Novotny 2010–2021 Tylease Alli 2021–present Republican Reading Clerk Term William K. Mehaffey 1867–1875 Neill S. Brown Jr. 1875–18891893–1895 John Snyders Kenyon 1881–1883 Azro J. Maxham 1889–1891 James C. Broadwell 1891–1893 R. S. Hatcher 1895–1897 Dennis E. Alward 1897–1913 H. Martin Williams 1913–1919 Alney E. Chaffee 1919–1957 Joe Bartlett 1953–1978 Bob Berry 1978–1987 Paul Hays 1988–2007 Susan Cole 2007–present

References

External links Brief snippet about the role on the House's official site Brief biography from Edward W. Barber. Use at later date to add information. Gives clarification about length of his tenure.