[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 179 (Monday, November 13, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17001-S17002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NONESSENTIAL SENATE OPERATIONS

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I wish to address the Senate in my 
capacity as chairman of the Rules Committee.
  Earlier today the Sergeant at Arms, the Secretary of the Senate, 
together with the acting staff director of the Rules Committee, 
addressed the various staff leaders of the Senators. But I wish to 
place in the Record a memorandum prepared by Secretary of the 

[[Page S 17002]]
Senate and the Sergeant at Arms, and once again remind all Senators, 
their staffs, and others that if this impasse is not resolved tonight, 
it will be a lapse in appropriations, and therefore it will be 
necessary to shut down nonessential Senate operations effective at 
midnight tonight.
  In brief, the Secretary of the Senate, at the direction of the Rules 
Committee, has advised all Members that they will be required to 
determine which of each Senator's staff are necessary in that Senator's 
judgment to support the Senate's legislative and other constitutional 
activities.
  Further, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in 
the Record the memorandum of the Secretary of the Senate detailing 
which departments of the Secretary's office will remain open and those 
that will be closed. Specifically, I would like to point out that the 
Office of Public Records will by necessity be closed; also, to include 
a memorandum of the Sergeant at Arms detailing departments and offices 
under his jurisdiction, and kindly note that the Capitol and Senate 
office buildings will be open but there will be no Capitol guide 
service to facilitate our visitors. Members and staff should be advised 
that all food and beverage services in the U.S. Capitol under the 
jurisdiction of the Senate and in the Russell, Hart and Dirksen 
buildings will be suspended until further notice.
  Lastly, I wish to emphasize that although many functions will be 
suspended, the U.S. Senate security will be at its full operational 
level.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                      U.S. Senate,


                               Office of the Sergeant at Arms,

                                Washington, DC, November 13, 1995.
     To: All Senate Offices.
     From: Howard O. Greene, Jr., Sergeant at Arms
     Re Sergeant at Arms services during anticipated furlough
       In the likely event of a lapse in appropriations to the 
     Legislative Branch of the Federal Government, furloughs will 
     be implemented in certain areas of the Office of Sergeant at 
     Arms (SAA). Those service areas which directly support the 
     legislative and other Constitutional activities of the Senate 
     will be fully staffed.
       Most SAA departments will be open during this period, 
     however, some departments will operate at reduced staffing 
     levels.
       Listed below are SAA offices that will be closed during the 
     furlough period: Capitol Guide Service; Cabinet Shop; SAA 
     Procurement Office; SAA Counsel Office; Congressional Special 
     Services, (Exception: Interpreter will be on duty); Placement 
     Office; All Drivers; Beauty and Barber Shop; Elevator 
     Operators; Employee Assistance Program.
       Partial Staff: Appointment Desk: Half staff. Garage: Half 
     staff. Computer Center: Half staff. Human Resources: Half 
     staff. ID Section: Half staff. Post Office: Half staff. 
     Photographic: Half staff. Service Dept.: Half staff. 
     Telecommunications Dept.: Half staff.
                                                                    ____

                                                      U.S. Senate,


                                      Office of the Secretary,

                                Washington, DC, November 13, 1995.
     To: All Members.
     From: Kelly D. Johnston.
     Re potential lapse in appropriations.

       At the direction of the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration, I am writing to share with you some guidance 
     on the furlough that will be required in the event of a lapse 
     in appropriations to the Legislative Branch of the Federal 
     Government. Each Member and each committee chairman will be 
     required to determine which of his or her staff members are 
     essential in the event of a lapse in appropriations.
       If there is a lapse in appropriations, it will be necessary 
     to shut down non-essential Senate operations, effective at 12 
     a.m. November 14, 1995. In that event, all non-essential 
     staff will be placed in a furlough status until 
     appropriations are made available.
       Essential staff includes only those employees whose primary 
     job responsibilities are directly related to or in support of 
     legislative and other Constitutional activities. Any 
     disruption in the employment of essential employees would 
     render the Senate unable to exercise its powers as specified 
     in Article I of the Constitution of the United States.
       For your information, attached is a list of the essential 
     personnel under the Secretary of the Senate, as prepared in 
     consultation with the Senate Chief Counsel for Employment and 
     the Senate Legal Counsel. This list may assist you in 
     identifying which of your staff members are essential.
       Please contact me if I can be of any assistance in this 
     matter.
       Attachment.

    Office of the Secretary of the Senate--Essential Personnel List

       Executive Office: Should be staffed to the extent necessary 
     to administer other offices under the jurisdiction of the 
     Secretary that remain open during the furlough. Also should 
     be staffed to the extend necessary to ensure the continuation 
     of computer services essential to allow the Senate to 
     legislate during the furlough period.
       Clerks: These offices should be staffed only to the extent 
     the clerks are required to be on the Senate floor to allow 
     the Senate to legislate during the furlough period.
       Parliamentarian: Should be staffed only to the extent 
     required to allow the Senate to legislate during the furlough 
     period. Therefore, it should not be necessary to fully staff 
     the office.
       Captioning Services: All staff will be furloughed.
       Historian: All staff will be furloughed.
       Library: Should be staffed only to the extent required to 
     allow the Senate to legislate during the furlough period. 
     Therefore, it should not be necessary to fully staff the 
     office.
       Office Services: All staff will be furloughed.
       Public Records: All staff will be furloughed.
       Interparliamentary Services: All staff will be furloughed.
       Daily Digest and Printing Services: Should be staffed only 
     to the extent required to print the Congressional Record and 
     to perform other legislative responsibilities in a timely 
     manner.
       Senate Gift Shop: All staff will be furloughed.
       Stationery Room: All staff will be furloughed.
       Senate Page School: Classes will be held.
       Senate Security: Should be staffed only to the extent 
     required to allow the Senate to legislate during the furlough 
     period. Therefore, it should not be necessary to fully staff 
     the office.
       Conservation and Preservation: All staff will be 
     furloughed.
       Curator: All staff will be furloughed.
       Document Room: Should be staffed necessary to ensure the 
     delivery of documents needed on the Senate floor during the 
     furlough period.
       Official Reporters: All staff are essential.
       Human Resources: Should be staffed to the extent necessary, 
     if at all, to effectuate the furlough.
       Senate Chief Counsel for Employment: Should be staffed to 
     the extent necessary, if at all, to effectuate the furlough.
       Disbursing: Should be staffed to the extent necessary to 
     continue financial operations directly related to the 
     functions of the Senate floor and to resolve financial issues 
     relating to the furlough.

                          ____________________