[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H9710-H9715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3754, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  1997

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order 
at any time to consider the conference report to accompany the bill 
(H.R. 3754) making appropriations for the legislative branch for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes, that all 
points of order against the conference report and against its 
consideration be waived, and that the conference report be considered 
as read when called up.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of 
today, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 3754) making 
appropriations for the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 1997, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.


                             general leave

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the conference report to accompany H.R. 3754 and that they may 
include tabular and extraneous material.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, 
the conference report is considered as having been read.
  (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of the House of 
Wednesday, July 31, 1996, at page H9450).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, 
the gentleman from California [Mr. Packard] and the gentleman from 
Arkansas [Mr. Thornton] each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Packard].
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This is the conference report on the legislative branch 
appropriations bill. It will cut from the 1996 program level over $22 
million and will keep us on the glidepath to a balanced budget.

                Highlights--H.R. 3754 Conference Report


                 Continuing program of overall savings

       $22.3 million below 1996 program level (budget authority); 
     $48.6 million below in outlays.
       Two-year reduction of $226 million in BA and $236 million 
     in outlays.
       Cut funding for 616 jobs in this bill; two year total of 
     1643 FTE'S=6.4 percent of legislative workforce.
       House budget down by $45 million and House staff down by 
     854 FTE's over 96-97 period.
       If entire Federal budget were reduced proportionately, 
     Federal budget would show a $100 billion surplus (based on 
     closed model extrapolation).


                          Franked mail reform

       Make permanent law the 90-day before election ban on 
     unsolicited mass mailings.


                      Moving toward CyberCongress

       $211 million provided for operations and investments in 
     computers and telecommunications--12.5 percent of entire 
     legislative budget (Senate excluded).
       Expanding public access through Internet to public laws, 
     Congressional debate, Congressional schedule, and other 
     legislative matter via THOMAS and GPO ACCESS.
       Established a legislative branch-wide information system 
     working group--under guidance of House Oversight Committee 
     and Senate Rules Committee.
       Directed a study of audio broadcasts of House proceedings.


                              Streamlining

       Completing two-year program to downsize General Accounting 
     Office by 25 percent.
       Eliminated funding for jobs not being utilized by several 
     agencies.
       Converting permanent edition of bound Congressional Record, 
     a 26 volume document, to CD-ROM: will expedite availability 
     by at least 2 years, enhance the research capabilities of the 
     document, and save over $1 million annually.
       Converting Congressional Serial Set, a 60 volume document 
     to CD-ROM: will expedite availability by several years, 
     enhance its use as a research tool, and save over $1 million 
     annually.
       Clerk of the House will expand capability of House to use 
     electronic formats for legislative documents to reduce 
     printing and distribution costs.
       Have deferred to authorizing Committees the Public 
     Printer's plan to convert Federal Depository Program to 
     electronic format.


                    Increasing use of private sector

       Outsourcing custodial work at Ford House Office Building; 
     directed Architect to transfer affected staff to comparable 
     jobs at comparable pay.
       Conducting studies of other outsourcing possibilities at 
     Power Plant, care and maintenance of other Congressional 
     buildings.
       Continue public-private sector collaboration on National 
     Digital Library.
       Public Printer to determine potential for privatizing GPO 
     plant workload.
       Looking for alternatives for operating the Botanic Garden.


                Conference report compared to House bill

       Added $1.1 million for the Capitol Police.
       Added $244,000 for CBO.
       Added $1 million for the Library of Congress to pay for a 
     Management study.
       Added $750,000 for a new backup power supply for the 
     Library's computers.
       $250,000 reduction for the Joint Economic Committee; 
     conferees believe the need for this joint committee should be 
     reviewed with the idea that it will be phased out in the 
     future. In the meantime, funding continues at a reduced 
     level.
       General Provisions; the bill contains a provision that will 
     bring greater standardization to legislative information 
     processes.
       The Capitol Police will be able to elect to use comp time 
     in lieu of paid overtime.
       There is a provision that will remove copyright 
     prohibitions from reproduction and distribution of braille 
     and other special materials for the blind and other readers 
     with disabilities.


                          Compared to 602(b)'s

       $15 million below Budget Authority target.
       $17 million below Outlay target.


     Conference agreement compared to items in original House bill

       The House bill sent to the Senate was $37.4 million below 
     1996 in BA and $52.5 million below in outlays.
       The conference agreement is $34.4 million below in BA and 
     $48.5 below in outlays.

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  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THORNTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise to express my appreciation to the conference for following the 
instructions of this House and instructing action on the conference 
report and to commend the chairman, the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Packard], for his efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is 
ordered on the conference report.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the conference report.
  Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XV, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I, further proceedings on the conference 
report will be postponed.

                          ____________________