October 6, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media & Public Relations Manager
Government Printing Office
202-512-1957 office |
202-355-3997 cell |
202-512-1998 fax | gsomerset@gpo.gov
Cal Poly Graduate Helps Green the National Record
WASHINGTON - Under the direction of a Cal Poly alum, the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) and Congress have achieved a major milestone in their joint effort to reduce the Federal Government's carbon footprint.
GPO is now printing the Congressional Record on 100 percent recycled paper, which will reduce the nation's paper landfill waste across the country. The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of Congress, and it is printed by GPO every day that Congress is in session.
To mark the transition, U.S. Public Printer and Cal Poly alum Bob Tapella (B.S., Graphic Communication, 1991) presented House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with copies of the Congressional Record printed on 100 percent recycled paper. Tapella first announced the initiative of using 100 percent recycled paper at Cal Poly's International Printing Week in January 2008. Pelosi congratulated Tapella and all GPO employees for their efforts to green the Capitol complex and help reduce the overall environmental impact of the U.S. Congress.
"It puts the official proceedings of Congress on recycled paper and that is good for our environment and good for our future," said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. "This is one more step in the 'Green the Capitol' program - making sustainability a priority, placing conservation and energy efficiency at the top of our agenda, and putting America's leaders at the forefront of an issue that affects all Americans."
GPO has been testing 100 percent recycled paper during the past year. Those tests showed no difference in printability or run-ability as compared to the 40 percent post-consumer waste recycled paper GPO has been using for years.
"Sustainable Environmental Stewardship is both good business and good government. As Public Printer of the United States and head of the Government Printing Office, we are here to serve Congress," said Public Printer Bob Tapella. "The Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate are both very much in favor of environmental initiatives, and printing the Congressional Record on 100% recycled newsprint is one step further in advancing their agendas."
The GPO is the Federal Government's primary centralized resource for gathering, cataloging, producing, providing, authenticating, and preserving published U.S. Government information in all its forms. GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products and services for all three Branches of the Federal Government. In addition to publication sales, GPO makes Government information available at no cost to the public through GPO Access (www.gpoaccess.gov), and through partnerships with approximately 1,250 libraries nationwide participating in the Federal Depository Library Program. For more information, please visit www.gpo.gov.
Link to photos: http://www.gpo.gov/newsroom-media/image.htm
Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib754Rp4i8k&feature=channel_page
###