[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H7964-H7968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1854, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  1996

  Mr. PACKARD submitted the following conference report and statement 
on the bill (H.R. 1854) making appropriations for the legislative 
branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, and for other 
purposes:
                  Conference Report (H. Rept. 104-212)

       The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 
     two Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 
     1854) ``making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, and for other 
     purposes,'' having met, after full and free conference, have 
     agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective 
     Houses as follows:
       That the Senate recede from its amendments numbered 4, 5, 
     6, 7, 15, 28, 29, 31, 37, 39, 42, 43, 44, 50, 51, 52, 53, and 
     54.
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendments of the Senate numbered 3, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 
     24, 26, 30, 33, 36, 38, 45, 46, and 47, and agree to the 
     same.
       Amendment numbered 1:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 1, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       Retain the matter proposed, amended as follows:

[[Page H 7965]]

       Delete the sentence beginning ``$31,889,000.'' on line 15 
     and ending on line 18 of page 3 of the engrossed amendments 
     of the Senate to the bill H.R. 1854; and the Senate agree to 
     the same.
       Amendment numbered 2:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 2, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the matter stricken and the matter inserted by 
     said amendment, insert: For salaries and expenses of the 
     Joint Committee on Printing, $750,000, to be disbursed by the 
     Secretary of the Senate; and the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment Numbered 8:
       Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to 
     read as follows:
                        administrative provision

       Sec. 112. Section 310 of the Legislative Branch 
     Appropriations Act, 1990, (2 U.S.C. 130e) is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``Clerk'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``Sergeant at Arms''; and
       (2) by striking out ``Librarian of Congress'' and inserting 
     in lieu thereof ``Architect of the Capitol''.
       And the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 9:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 9, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
                          Office of Compliance

       For salaries and expenses of the Office of Compliance, as 
     authorized by section 305 of Public Law 104-1, the 
     Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1385), 
     $2,500,000, of which $500,000 shall be transferred from the 
     amount provided for salaries and expenses of the Office of 
     Compliance under the headings ``HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES'', 
     ``Salaries and Expenses'', and ``Salaries, Officers, and 
     Employees''.
       And the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 10:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 10, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
                    Office of Technology Assessment


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For salaries and expenses necessary to carry out the 
     orderly closure of the Office of Technology Assessment, 
     $3,615,000, of which $150,000 shall remain available until 
     September 30, 1997. Upon enactment of this Act, $2,500,000 of 
     the funds appropriated under this heading in Public Law 103-
     283 shall remain available until September 30, 1996: 
     Provided, That none of the funds made available in this Act 
     shall be available for salaries or expenses of any employee 
     of the Office of Technology Assessment in excess of 17 
     employees except for severance pay purposes.


                       Administrative Provisions

       Sec. 113. Upon enactment of this Act all employees of the 
     Office of Technology Assessment for 183 days preceding 
     termination of employment who are terminated as a result of 
     the elimination of the Office and who are not otherwise 
     gainfully employed may continue to be paid by the Office of 
     Technology Assessment at their respective salaries for a 
     period not to exceed 60 calendar days following the 
     employee's date of termination or until the employee becomes 
     otherwise gainfully employed whichever is earlier. Any day 
     for which a former employee receives a payment under this 
     section shall be counted as federal service for purposes of 
     determining entitlement to benefits, including retirement, 
     annual and sick leave earnings, and health and life 
     insurance. A statement in writing to the Director of the 
     Office of Technology Assessment or his designee by any such 
     employee that he was not gainfully employed during such 
     period or the portion thereof for which payment is claimed 
     shall be accepted as prima facie evidence that he was not so 
     employed.
       Sec. 114. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Federal 
     Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, 
     or any other provision of law, upon the abolition of the 
     Office of Technology Assessment, all records and property of 
     the Office, (including the Unix system, all computer hardware 
     and software, all library collections and research materials, 
     and all photocopying equipment) shall be under the 
     administrative control of the Architect of the Capitol. Not 
     later than December 31, 1995, the Architect shall submit a 
     proposal on how to transfer such records and property to 
     appropriate support agencies of the Legislative Branch which 
     request such transfer, and shall carry out such transfer 
     subject to the approval of the Committees on Appropriations 
     of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
       And the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 11:
       That the house recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 11, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
     $24,288,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 12:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 12, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 232; 
     and the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 14:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 14, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the number proposed by said amendment, insert: 
     115; and the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 16:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 16, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
     $22,882,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 18:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 18, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert: 
     Provided, That hereafter expenses, based on full cost 
     recovery, for flying American flags and providing 
     certification services therefor shall be advanced or 
     reimbursed upon request of the Architect of the Capitol, and 
     amounts so received shall be deposited into the Treasury; and 
     the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 22:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 22, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
     $83,770,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 25:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 25, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said 
     amendment, insert: $211,664,000; and the Senate agree to the 
     same.
       Amendment numbered 27:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 27, and agree to the same 
     amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
     $6,812,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 32:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 32, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
       Sec. 209.(a) The purpose of this section is to reduce the 
     cost of information support for the Congress by eliminating 
     duplication among systems which provide electronic access by 
     Congress to legislative information.
       (b) As used in this section, the term ``legislative 
     information'' means information, prepared within the 
     legislative branch, consisting of the text of publicly 
     available bills, amendments, committee hearings, and 
     committee reports, the text of the Congressional Record, data 
     relating to bill status, data relating to legislative 
     activity, and other similar public information that is 
     directly related to the legislative process.
       (c) Pursuant to the plan approved under subsection (d) and 
     consistent with the provisions of any other law, the Library 
     of Congress or the entity designated by that plan shall 
     develop and maintain, in coordination with other appropriate 
     entities of the legislative branch, a single legislative 
     information retrieval system to serve the entire Congress.
       (d) The Library shall develop a plan for creation of this 
     system, taking into consideration the findings and 
     recommendations of the study directed by House Report No. 
     103-517 to identify and eliminate redundancies in 
     congressional information systems. This plan must be approved 
     by the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, 
     the Committee on House Oversight of the House of 
     Representatives, and the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     Senate and the House of Representatives. The Library shall 
     provide these committees with regular status reports on the 
     development of the plan.
       (e) In formulating its plan, the Library shall examine 
     issues regarding efficient ways to make this information 
     available to the public. This analysis shall be submitted to 
     the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives as well as the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration of the Senate, and the Committee on House 
     Oversight of the House of Representatives for their 
     consideration and possible action.
       And the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 34:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 34, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to 
     read as follows:
                        administrative provision

       Sec. 210. The fiscal year 1997 budget submission of the 
     Public Printer to the Congress for the Government Printing 
     Office shall include appropriations requests and 
     recommendations to the Congress that--
       (1) are consistent with the strategic plan included in the 
     technological study performed by the Public Printer pursuant 
     to Senate Report 104-114;
       (2) assure substantial progress toward maximum use of 
     electronic information dissemination technologies by all 
     departments, agencies, and other entities of the Government 
     with respect to the Depository Library Program and 
     information dissemination generally; and
       (3) are formulated so as to require that any department, 
     agency, or other entity of the Government that does not make 
     such progress shall 

[[Page H 7966]]

     bear from its own resources the cost of its information 
     dissemination by other than electronic means.
       And the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 35:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 35, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said 
     amendment, insert: 3,800 workyears by the end of fiscal year 
     1996; and the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 40:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 40, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the first section number proposed in said 
     amendment, insert: 212; and the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 41:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 41, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the first section number proposed in said 
     amendment, insert: 213; and the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 48:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 48, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the section number proposed by said amendment, 
     insert: 310; and the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 49:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 49, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the first section number proposed in said 
     amendment, insert: 311; and the Senate agree to the same.
       Amendment numbered 55:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate numbered 55, and agree to the same 
     with an amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
       Sec. 312. Such sums as may be necessary are appropriated to 
     the account described in subsection (a) of section 415 of 
     Public Law 104-1 to pay awards and settlements as authorized 
     under such subsection.
       Sec. 313. (a) The Sergeant at Arms of the House of 
     Representatives shall have the same law enforcement 
     authority, including the authority to carry firearms, as a 
     member of the Capitol Police. The law enforcement authority 
     under the preceding sentence shall be subject to the 
     requirement that the Sergeant at Arms have the qualifications 
     specified in subsection (b).
       (b) The qualifications referred to in subsection (a) are 
     the following:
       (1) A minimum of five years of experience as a law 
     enforcement officer before beginning service as the Sergeant 
     at Arms.
       (2) Current certification in the use of firearms by the 
     appropriate Federal law enforcement entity or an equivalent 
     non-Federal entity.
       (3) Any other firearms qualification required for members 
     of the Capitol Police.
       (c) The Committee on House Oversight of the House of 
     Representatives shall have authority to prescribe regulations 
     to carry out this section.
       Sec. 314. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     effective September 1, 1995, the Committee on House Oversight 
     of the House of Representatives shall have authority--
       (1) to combine the House of Representatives Clerk Hire 
     Allowance, Official Expenses Allowance, and Official Mail 
     Allowance into a single allowance, to be known as the 
     ``Members' Representational Allowance''; and
       (2) to prescribe regulations relating to allocations, 
     expenditures, and other matters with respect to the Members' 
     Representational Allowance.
       And the Senate agree to the same.

     Ron Packard,
     Bill Young,
     Charles H. Taylor,
     Dan Miller,
     Roger F. Wicker,
     Bob Livingston,
     Vic Fazio,
     Ray Thornton,
     Julian C. Dixon,
     David R. Obey,
                                Managers on the Part of the House.

     Connie Mack,
     R.F. Bennett,
     Mark O. Hatfield,
     Patty Murray,
     Barbara A. Mikulski,
                               Managers on the Part of the Senate.
       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CONFERENCE

       The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at the 
     conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the 
     amendments of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 1854) making 
     appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes, submit the 
     following joint statement to the House and Senate in 
     explanation of the effect of the action agreed upon by the 
     managers and recommended in the accompanying conference 
     report.

                   TITLE I--CONGRESSIONAL OPERATIONS

                                 Senate

       Amendment No. 1: Appropriates $426,919,000 for the 
     operations of the Senate, rescinds $63,544,724.12 of 
     previously appropriated Senate funds, and contains several 
     administrative provisions. At the request of the managers on 
     the part of the Senate, the conferees agreed to amend the 
     Senate amendment. Inasmuch as the amendment relates solely to 
     the Senate and in accord with long practice under which each 
     body concurs without intervention, the managers on the part 
     of the House, at the request of the managers on the part of 
     the Senate, have receded to the Senate amendment, as amended.

                              Joint Items


                      joint committee on printing

       Amendment No. 2: Appropriates $750,000 for the Joint 
     Committee on Printing instead of $750,000 equally divided 
     between the House and Senate authorizing committees as 
     proposed by the House and $1,164,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.


                      joint committee on taxation

       Amendment No. 3: Appropriates $5,116,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate instead of $6,019,000 as proposed by the House.

                          Capitol Police Board


                             capitol police

                                salaries

       Amendment No. 4: Appropriates $70,132,000 for the salaries 
     and related personnel expenses of the Capitol Police as 
     proposed by the House instead of $69,825,000 as proposed by 
     the Senate.
       Amendment No. 5: Provides $34,213,000 to the Sergeant at 
     Arms of the House of Representatives, to be disbursed by the 
     Clerk of the House, as proposed by the House instead of 
     $33,906,000 as proposed by the Senate.


                            general expenses

       Amendment No. 6: Appropriates $2,560,000 for general 
     expenses of the Capitol Police as proposed by the House 
     instead of $2,190,000 as proposed by the Senate.
           Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office

       Amendment No. 7: Appropriates $1,991,000 for the combined 
     activities of the Capitol Guide Service and the Special 
     Services Office as proposed by the House instead of 
     $1,628,000 for the Capitol Guide Service and $363,000 for the 
     Special Services Office as proposed by the Senate. The 
     conferees direct that future year budget requests of the 
     combined operation maintain a distinction between these 
     separate services. The conferees also acknowledge the 
     importance of the services provided to Members, staff, and 
     public visitors by the Special Services Office and the 
     dedication of the small, but highly proficient and motivated 
     staff. This will continue the independent status of the 
     Office.
       Amendment No. 8: Restores language proposed by the House 
     and stricken by the Senate amended to reconstitute the 
     membership of the Special Services Board with the same 
     membership as the Capitol Guide Board.


                          office of compliance

       Amendment No. 9: Appropriates $2,500,000, of which $500,000 
     shall be transferred from funds in the Act appropriated for 
     an Office of Compliance within the House of Representatives, 
     for the Office of Compliance, a joint House-Senate activity 
     authorized by the Congressional Accountability Act, instead 
     of $2,500,000 as proposed by the Senate. The funds remaining 
     in the House bill may be redirected for salaries and expenses 
     of the Office of Fair Employment Practices.

                    Office of Technology Assessment


                         salaries and expenses

       Amendment No. 10: Appropriates $3,615,000, a 
     reappropriation of $2,500,000, and 60 days of severance pay 
     for the close-out costs of the Office of Technology 
     Assessment as proposed by the Senate. The conferees agreed to 
     a clarifying amendment to the severance pay provision 
     inserted by the Senate. This section provides a severance 
     package for employees whose federal service is terminated as 
     a result of the elimination of the OTA. Although the 
     employee's service with the federal government will have been 
     terminated, the period for which an employee receives payment 
     under this section will be considered as creditable service 
     for all purposes, including determining retirement benefits, 
     accrual of annual and sick leave, entitlement to health 
     benefits, etc. The conferees also have amended the Senate 
     provision regarding records and property disposal to provide 
     that such items shall be under the administrative control of 
     the Architect of the Capitol. Not later than December 31, 
     1995, the Architect of the Capitol shall propose a transfer 
     of these items. Such transfer shall be made to legislative 
     branch support agencies, subject to the approval of House and 
     Senate Appropriations Committees.
                       Congressional Budget Office


                         salaries and expenses

       Amendment No. 11: Appropriates $24,288,000 for salaries and 
     expenses of the Congressional Budget Office instead of 
     $23,188,000 as proposed by the House and $25,788,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate. The conferees direct that the CBO 
     comply with the requirements of the unfunded mandates 
     workload out of the funds provided. If necessary, program 
     analysis priorities should be adjusted to accommodate this 
     directive.
       Amendment No. 12: Limits full-time equivalent positions to 
     232 instead of 219 as proposed by the House and 244 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       Amendment No. 13: Deletes $1,100,000 appropriated in the 
     House bill for the unfunded mandates workload as proposed by 
     the Senate. Funds are provided for this workload in amendment 
     11.
       Amendment No. 14: Changes a section number.

[[Page H 7967]]


                        Architect of the Capitol


                 office of the architect of the capitol

                                salaries

       Amendment No. 15: Appropriates $8,569,000 for the salaries 
     of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol as proposed by 
     the House instead of $8,876,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                     Capitol Buildings and Grounds


                           capitol buildings

       Amendment No. 16: Appropriates $22,882,000 for Capitol 
     buildings instead of $22,832,000 as proposed by the House and 
     $23,132,000 as proposed by the Senate. These funds include 
     the items in the Senate bill less $250,000 for security 
     related functions which are not provided.
       Amendment No. 17: Makes $2,950,000 available until expended 
     for Capitol buildings as proposed by the Senate instead of 
     $3,000,000 as proposed by the House.
       Amendment No. 18: Provides that expenses, based on full 
     cost recovery, of the flag office shall be advanced or 
     reimbursed and amounts so received shall be deposited into 
     the Treasury instead of crediting these amounts to this 
     appropriation as proposed by the Senate. The conferees direct 
     that the Architect of the Capitol propose a reprogramming 
     that will provide the funds necessary to operate the flag 
     office. The conferees also direct that the Architect make a 
     proposal in the fiscal year 1997 budget request that would 
     transfer these activities in whole or in part to a private 
     entity, while retaining the practice of a Congressional 
     officer who will `certify' the special status of the flag.


                        senate office buildings

       Amendment No. 19: Appropriates $41,757,000 for Senate 
     office buildings, of which $4,850,000 shall remain available 
     until expended, as proposed by the Senate. Inasmuch as the 
     amendment relates solely to the Senate and in accord with 
     long practice under which each body concurs without 
     intervention, the managers on the part of the House, at the 
     request of the managers on the part of the Senate, have 
     receded to the Senate amendment.


                          capitol power plant

       Amendment No. 20: Appropriates $31,518,000 for the Capitol 
     Power Plant as proposed by the Senate instead of $32,578,000 
     as proposed by the House.

                          Library of Congress


                     congressional research service

                         salaries and expenses

       Amendment No. 21: Appropriates $60,084,000 for salaries and 
     expenses of the Congressional Research Service as proposed by 
     the Senate instead of $75,083,000 as proposed by the House.
                       Government Printing Office


                   congressional printing and binding

       Amendment No. 22: Appropriates $83,770,000 for 
     Congressional printing and binding instead of $88,281,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $85,500,00 as proposed by the 
     Senate. The conferees have agreed to a partial restoration 
     above the House allowance of $1,706,000 in funds for the 
     printing of documents for Congressional use, $1,415,000 for 
     GPO detailees, and $1,050,000 for paper copies of the serial 
     set, as well as the base cut of $2,882,000 made in the Senate 
     allowance. The conferees have deleted $5,800,000 provided by 
     the House to reimburse the Superintendent of Documents for 
     Congressional documents printed for distribution to 
     depository libraries. Instead, these funds have been provided 
     in the Superintendent of Documents appropriation, conforming 
     with current practice. The conferees direct the Public 
     Printer, in consultation with the Joint Committee on 
     Printing, to administer these funds and find further 
     opportunities to reduce unnecessary Congressional printing.
       Amendment No. 23: Deletes language proposed by the House 
     and stricken by the Senate that would have included Senators 
     in the funding limitation on paper copies of the permanent 
     edition of the Congressional Record.

                        TITLE II--OTHER AGENCIES

                             Botanic Garden


                        conservatory renovation

       Amendment No. 24: Deletes $7,000,000 provided without 
     fiscal year limitation together with a limitation of cost 
     provided by the House and stricken by the Senate for the 
     renovation of the Botanic Garden Conservatory.

                          Library of Congress


                         salaries and expenses

       Amendment No. 25: Appropriates $211,664,000 for salaries 
     and expenses, Library of Congress, instead of $193,911,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $213,164,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. The conferees have restored $17,753,000 above the 
     House allowance, including funding for the American Folklife 
     Center. These funds include $3,000,000 for the National 
     Digital Library project.


                       administrative provisions

       Amendment No. 26: Provides an obligational authority 
     ceiling for reimbursable and revolving fund activities at the 
     Library of Congress $99,412,000 as proposed by the Senate 
     instead of $86,912,000 as proposed by the House.
       Amendment No. 27: Provides $6,812,000 for non-expenditure 
     transfer activities in support of parliamentary development 
     instead of $5,667,000 as proposed by the House and $7,295,000 
     as proposed by the Senate. The additional funds are provided 
     for activities in support of parliamentary development in 
     Albania and Slovakia.
       Amendment No. 28: Deletes language inserted by the Senate 
     limiting funding for parliamentary development to activities 
     funded by the Agency for International Development.
       Amendment No. 29: Deletes language inserted by the Senate 
     which adds Egypt to the country list included in the program 
     in support parliamentary development.
       Amendment No. 30: Deletes a provision inserted by the House 
     and stricken by the Senate that amends section 206 of the 
     Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1994, that limits 
     obligations for gift and trust funds in excess of $100,000 to 
     the amounts provided in annual or supplemental appropriations 
     Acts beginning with fiscal year 1997. The conferees believe 
     that Congress must retain oversight over gift and trust fund 
     obligations and their impact on Library of Congress programs. 
     These funds are becoming significant supplements to core 
     programs of the Library of Congress and are being used to 
     fund, along with appropriated funds, projects such as the 
     National Digital Library.
       To ensure Congressional oversight of gift and trust fund 
     activities, the Committee directs the Library to include a 
     new informational section in their budget submission 
     documents which represents a combined justification for those 
     appropriation-funded projects which are augmented by major 
     gift and trust fund activities. These justifications should 
     be similar to those of the Cataloging Distribution Service 
     and the Copyright Office which are funded by appropriation 
     and revenue receipts and should include an estimate of 
     resources and full-time-equivalents necessary to accomplish 
     the project. Furthermore, the Library is directed to notify 
     the Appropriations Committees of any major new gift and trust 
     fund activities not included in the annual budget 
     justification or major changes to existing gift and trust 
     fund programs. A major gift or trust fund activity is defined 
     as any single account of $100,000 or more. A threshold of 
     $100,000 for any single activity will exempt certain funds 
     established for special purposes such as the purchase of a 
     rare manuscript, sponsorship of an exhibit, or other 
     instances where the traditional gift and trust fund 
     accountability is suitable. The conferees believe that full 
     disclosure of project plans, resource commitments, and long 
     term cost implications, regardless of funding source, will 
     mitigate the need for a legislative limitation in 
     appropriations acts. If this method proves unwieldy or 
     otherwise insufficient, an appropriations limitation will 
     still be available to the Congress. In any case, the intent 
     is not to redirect the use of donated funds to other 
     purposes, but to ensure that core Library of Congress project 
     activities are consistent with public policy and that the 
     Congress retains the means to carry out its responsibility to 
     oversee the activities of this most important program.
       Amendment No. 31: Deletes a Senate provision authorizing 
     the Library to offer retirement incentives to employees 
     throughout fiscal year 1996.
       Amendment No. 32: Changes a section number and authorizes 
     the Library of Congress to develop a plan, subject to 
     approval, for the creation of a single legislative 
     information retrieval system to serve the entire Congress, to 
     examine issues regarding efficient ways to make this 
     information available to the public, and to develop such a 
     system, subject to play approval. The conference agreement 
     amends the Senate provision to condition the development of 
     the system based on appropriate approvals, and to include the 
     Committees on Appropriations in the plan approval procedure. 
     The conferees wish to point out that there are commercial 
     sources of comparable systems and data bases, as well as 
     several data bases and data creation, processing, and 
     distribution systems extant in the legislative branch that 
     should be evaluated in the issue analysis and plan 
     development phases.

                       Government Printing Office


                 office of superintendent of documents

                         salaries and expenses

       Amendment No. 33: Appropriates $30,307,000 for salaries and 
     expenses, Superintendent of Documents, as proposed by the 
     Senate instead of $16,312,000 as proposed by the House.
       Amendment No. 34: Deletes a House provision stricken by the 
     Senate which would have amended section 1903 of Title 44, and 
     inserts a provision directing the Public Printer to include 
     in the fiscal year 1997 budget submission a proposal for the 
     depository library program that will result in conversion of 
     this program to electronic format. The Public Printer is 
     directed to propose a means to create cost incentives for 
     publishing agencies, including the Congress, to migrate from 
     print-on paper products to electronic format. The conferees 
     direct that the Public Printer and Superintendent of 
     Documents consult with the Joint Committee on Printing, House 
     and Senate document publishing managers, and appropriate 
     executive branch officials in the development of the fiscal 
     year 1997 budget program. The conferees also do not intend 
     that the study directed in the Senate report or the plan 
     regarding electronic format should interfere with the 
     activities of the authorizing committees to consider 
     legislation amending title 44, U.S. Code, or any legislative 
     initiative which will improve the Federal printing program.

[[Page H 7968]]



               government printing office revolving fund

       Amendment No. 35: Limits the full-time equivalent 
     employment at the Government Printing Office to 3,800 by the 
     end of the fiscal year instead of 3,550 as proposed by the 
     House and 3,900 by the end of the fiscal year as proposed by 
     the Senate.

                       General Accounting Office


                         salaries and expenses

       Amendment No. 36: Appropriates $374,406,000 for salaries 
     and expenses, General Accounting Office as proposed by the 
     Senate instead of $392,864,000 as proposed by the House. The 
     conferees direct that the General Accounting Office 
     downsizing plan made necessary by the level of funding 
     provided incorporate privatization of administrative 
     activities to the maximum extent and utilize the services of 
     private accounting firms, and other private sector experts in 
     carrying out audit, financial analysis, and program 
     evaluation activities. The conferees direct that the fiscal 
     year 1997 budget proposal contain a separate section which 
     documents this policy, together with comparisons to current 
     practices.
       Amendment No. 37: Deletes a provision inserted by the 
     Senate providing an advance appropriation for fiscal year 
     1997 of $338,425,400, and $6,100,000 of reimbursement 
     received. The conferees agree that the intent is to achieve a 
     25% reduction over the two year period of fiscal years 1996 
     and 1997.


                       administrative provisions

       Amendment No. 38: Changes a heading as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       Amendment No. 39: Restores a provision proposed by the 
     House and stricken by the Senate which transfers claims and 
     judgments activities to the executive branch effective June 
     30, 1996.
       Amendment No. 40: Changes a section number and amends 
     section 732 of Title 31, giving authority to the Comptroller 
     General to establish reduction in force regulations for GAO 
     as proposed by the Senate.
       Amendment No. 41: Changes a section number and amends 
     section 753 of Title 31, removing from the GAO Personnel 
     Appeals Board their authority to stay a reduction in force as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       Amendment No. 42: Deletes a provision inserted by the 
     Senate giving the General Accounting Office authority to 
     offer incentives to employees who retire or resign on or 
     before September 30, 1995. The authority is contained in H.R. 
     1944, the fiscal year 1995 emergency supplemental and 
     rescissions Act.

                     TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

       Amendment No. 43: Restores a provision proposed by the 
     House and stricken by the Senate which transfers personnel 
     and unexpended balances for security equipment design and 
     installation from the Architect of the Capitol to the Capitol 
     Police.
       Amendment No. 44: restores a section number.
       Amendment No. 45: Adds a subsection inserted by the Senate 
     regarding the Administrative Conference of the United States. 
     The conference agreement complies with the intent of the 
     Congressional Accountability Act to study the application of 
     certain laws to the General Accounting Office, Library of 
     Congress, and the Government Printing Office. In the event 
     the Administrative Conference is not funded, the conference 
     agreement provides that the study will be undertaken by the 
     Office of Compliance.
       Amendment No. 46: Deletes a provision proposed by the House 
     and stricken by the Senate that would have authorized the 
     Provost Marshall at Ft. Meade to police the 100 acre parcel 
     assigned to the Legislative Branch.
       Amendment No. 47: Deletes a provision proposed by the House 
     and stricken by the Senate that would have transferred the 
     Botanic Garden to the Secretary of Agriculture.
       Amendment No. 48: Changes a section number.
       Amendment No. 49: Changes a section number and inserts a 
     Senate provision amending Public Law 101-302 regarding Senate 
     artwork.
       Amendment No. 50: Deletes a sense of the Senate provision 
     relating to members of the Senate press galleries.
       Amendment No. 51: Deletes a Senate legislative provision 
     regarding the selection of Federal Government contractors.
       Amendment No. 52: Deletes a sense of the Senate provision 
     regarding the Senate legislative schedule.
       Amendment No. 53: Deletes a provision stating findings and 
     sense of the Senate provision regarding the war in Bosnia.
       Amendment No. 54: Deletes a Senate legislative provision 
     repealing section 3303 and amending section 2302(b)(2) of 
     Title 5, regarding prohibitions against political 
     recommendations relating to Federal employment.
       Amendment No. 55: Deletes a legislative provision inserted 
     by the Senate regarding reductions in facility energy costs 
     and inserts three provisions: 1. to specify the law 
     enforcement authority of the House Sergeant at Arms; 2. to 
     clarify the existing authority of the Committee on House 
     Oversight to consolidate or combine representational 
     allowances of Members of the House of Representatives and to 
     prescribe regulations with regard to allocation and 
     expenditure of such allowances; and 3. to establish an 
     account to pay awards and settlements as authorized under 
     section 415 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995. 
     The conferees direct that the Architect of the Capitol, the 
     Librarian of Congress, the Public Printer, and the 
     Comptroller General include in their fiscal year 1997 budget 
     submissions proposals to achieve reductions in facility 
     energy costs. The conferees are aware that the Architect of 
     the Capitol has an extensive energy retrofit program in 
     effect, which has been fully coordinated with the Congress 
     and the Committees on Appropriations. Those savings may be 
     included within the required proposal.
                   Conference Total--With Comparisons

       The total new budget (obligational) authority for the 
     fiscal year 1996 recommended by the Committee of Conference, 
     with comparisons to the fiscal year 1995 amount, the 1996 
     budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 1996 
     follow:

New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1995....$2,390,554,700
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal y2,617,614,000
House bill, fiscal year 1996..............................1,725,698,000
Senate bill, fiscal year 1996.............................2,190,370,000
Conference agreement, fiscal year 1996....................2,184,856,000
Conference agreement compared with:
  New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1995....-205,698,700
  Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal -432,758,000
  House bill, fiscal year 1996.............................+459,158,000
  Senate bill, fiscal year 1996..............................-5,514,000

     Ron Packard,
     Bill Young,
     Charles H. Taylor,
     Dan Miller,
     Roger F. Wicker,
     Bob Livingston,
     Vic Fazio,
     Ray Thornton,
     Julian C. Dixon,
     David R. Obey,
                                Managers on the Part of the House.

     Connie Mack,
     R.F. Bennett,
     Mark O. Hatfield,
     Patty Murray,
     Barbara A. Mikulski,
                               Managers on the Part of the Senate.
     

                          ____________________