Senate Confirms Vance-Cooks as Public Printer
After serving as Acting Public Printer for the past 19 months, Davita Vance-Cooks can finally drop "Acting" from her title. The U.S. Senate has unanimously confirmed her as the 27th U.S. Public Printer, the first African-American and the first woman ever to lead the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO).
With more than 30 years of private sector and Government experience, Vance-Cooks has served as the Acting Public Printer since January 3, 2012, the day previous Public Printer Bill Boarman was forced to step down when the Senate failed to confirm his recess appointment. The previous month he had appointed Vance-Cooks to the role of Deputy Public Printer.
President Barack Obama nominated Vance-Cooks as Public Printer on May 9, 2013. Her confirmation hearing was held June 12 before the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. The Committee reported her nomination favorably to the full Senate on July 24. Her confirmation marks the swiftest Senate action on a Public Printer nominee in nearly 20 years.
"It is a great honor to have been nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate to lead the GPO," said Vance-Cooks. "I look forward to working with everyone who shares a stake in our historic mission of Keeping America Informed as we continue transitioning our products and services to meet the needs of Congress, Federal agencies, and the public in this digital age."