Schumer Urges Confirmation of Davita Vance-Cooks to Lead Government Printing Office
Vance-Cooks Would be First Woman and First
African-American Confirmed as Public Printer of the United States
Schumer: Ground-breaking Nominee is “Uniquely Qualified”
and
Ready to Serve
WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, announced today that he will urge his colleagues to move expeditiously to confirm Davita Vance-Cooks as Public Printer of the United States, the executive who leads the Government Printing Office. If confirmed, Vance-Cooks, who has served as Acting Public Printer since January 4, 2012, would be the first woman and the first African-American confirmed to the position. Schumer recommended Vance-Cooks to the White House, which nominated her for the post.
“Ms. Vance-Cooks is uniquely qualified to continue in this position as the confirmed Public Printer,” said Schumer. “She has more than 25 years of private sector experience and nine years in management roles at GPO. That’s just what the agency needs as it continues to transform itself from an ink-on-paper operation to a full-service publisher of digital and print products that range from the Congressional Record to secure passports for the State Department, to high-tech, tamper-proof inaugural tickets and credentials.”
Schumer added that Vance-Cooks had already navigated severe budget cuts, revolutions in technology, and the challenge of developing new product lines in her positions at GPO, especially in the last year and a half as Acting Public Printer.
“As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and Chairman of the Joint Committee on Printing, I believe Ms. Vance-Cooks has demonstrated that she will be the right person at the helm of GPO to continue its transformation,” said Schumer. “I urge my colleagues to join me in considering her nomination promptly and reporting it to the full Senate favorably.”
A hearing of the Senate Rules Committee to consider the nomination was held today and chaired by Senator Angus King of Maine. The Rules Committee used the new “smart form, ” developed in consultation with Senate by the White House working group established by the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-166). Schumer worked with Senator Alexander, who strongly advocated and worked tirelessly for such a form. It will help streamline the confirmation process and reduce inadvertent errors in reporting information. The Senate Rules Committee is one of the first Senate Committees to agree to use the form for its nominations.
Ms. Vance-Cooks earned a Bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and an MBA from Columbia University. She served as the Senior Vice-President of Operations for NYLCare MidAtlantic Health Plan and in several management roles at Blue Cross/Blue Shield Plans. She came to GPO in 2004, and has held several senior management positions, including Deputy Managing Director of Customer Services and Managing Director of GPO’s Publications and Information Sales business unit. She became Chief of Staff to the Public Printer in January 2011, and in December 2011 the Public Printer appointed Vance-Cooks Deputy Public Printer. She has been Acting Public Printer since January 2012.
