Meg Goetz

Meg Goetz was the first woman to be appointed as a Reading clerk of the United States House of Representatives, a face familiar to viewers of C-SPAN, the network which covers House proceedings.^[1]

A graduate of Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, she has degrees in political science and economics. She was appointed Democratic reading clerk by Speaker Thomas P. 'Tip' O'Neill in 1982^[1] and served until 1998 when she retired from the House. The reading clerks prepare the official version of all House-passed legislation and maintain all official papers on behalf of the House of Representatives relative to legislation. They report to the House membership all bills, motions, amendments, and all official communications. They also serve as House liaisons to the U.S. Senate, formally transmit all official actions taken by the House, and prepare the official records of all 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 reading clerk calls the roll of House membership. Ms. Goetz is currently the Vice President for Advocacy for the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, an advocacy group in Washington, D.C..^[2] She was replaced as House reading clerk for the Democrats by Mary Kevin Niland who was appointed by then Minority Leader Richard Gephardt.

References

1. Wednesday Journal - U.S. House, Washington Journal (1995 interview with Ms. Goetz, starting at 1:40 of program, says she was appointed to position in 1982, and works two hour shifts on the floor at a time, trading off with her GOP counterpart, and directly reports to the Clerk of the House)
2. AIHEC Staff Listing, aihec.org, Retrieved May 20, 2011