Connect GovInfo to Copilot Studio
Query GovInfo directly from Copilot Studio. Arlet links the two through one MCP connection and takes care of API keys.
This server connects your AI client to the GovInfo API, operated by the US Government Publishing Office. GovInfo is the authenticated repository for official federal publications - if a document was formally published by the US government, it is likely here, in full text.
Key features:
- search_documents: keyword search across the whole repository or one collection. The query supports Lucene-style field syntax (collection:BILLS, title:appropriations), so precise legislative research queries are possible.
- get_package_summary: full metadata for one document package, including congressional metadata (congress, bill number, version, chamber) where applicable, and direct download links for the text, XML and PDF renditions.
- list_collections: the full list of collections with document counts - Congressional Bills (BILLS), Public Laws (PLAW), US Code (USCODE), Federal Register (FR), CFR, Congressional Record (CREC), reports (CRPT), hearings (CHRG), GAO reports, court opinions (USCOURTS) and more.
Compared with the Congress.gov server (bill status and legislative actions), GovInfo is the place to read the published document text itself, and it also covers non-legislative material such as budgets, court opinions and GAO reports.
Using the API requires a free key issued at govinfo.gov/api-signup. Set it as GOVINFO_API_KEY in your Arlet environment variables.
How to connect GovInfo to Copilot Studio
- 1
In the Arlet dashboard, open Data tools, find GovInfo, set the API key issued by GovInfo and switch it on.
- 2
Sign in to Copilot Studio with your work account, create a new agent (or open an existing one), and in the Build tab choose Tools → + → Add → Model Context Protocol (MCP) in the right panel.
- 3
In the Add MCP server form, enter "Arlet" as the Server name, https://mcp.arlet.dev/mcp/ as the Server URL, choose OAuth 2.0 for Authentication and "Dynamic (detected)" for Configuration type, then click Add. No Client ID / Secret is needed.
- 4
On the Select a connection screen, choose Create new connection → Create, then sign in with Google on the Arlet authorization screen and click Allow. Click Add to attach the tool to the agent, then Publish to use it from Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Requires a Microsoft work account and a Copilot Studio license (or trial). MCP is available only for agents using generative orchestration and not in Copilot Studio in Teams.