[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 102 (Thursday, July 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7737-S7738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

        FISCAL YEAR 1998 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL

 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, overall, this is a good bill. It 
shows that the Congress is concerned about finding savings in its own 
operations to contribute to deficit reduction.
  The bill does reduce slightly the total number of employees in the 
Senate offices from last year's levels. It contains numerous reductions 
in unnecessary spending requested by various offices and affiliated 
organizations. Some of the more interesting examples of items requested 
by offices but which were very wisely not included in this bill are:
  A seismic study of the Capitol Building for $75,000; $30,000 for 
maintenance of outdoor sculpture in the Peace and Garfield parks; and a 
study of electromagnetic fields in the Russell Building which would 
have cost $50,000.
  The report also directs the General Accounting Office to place higher 
priority on Members' requests for audits. This has been a particular 
matter of concern to me, since the time the GAO sent auditors to middle 
of the gulf war to inspect Apache helicopters. I appreciate the 
committee's understanding and assistance in refocusing the efforts of 
the GAO on the work required by Congress, rather than self-initiated 
agendas.
  Unfortunately, though, the bill increases funding for the Senate and 
joint Congressional operations by $51.6 million over last year's 
levels, for a total of $1.538 billion. For the Congress to approve an 
increase in spending for its own operations seems to me ill-advised, 
particularly as we continue to struggle to reach agreement on 
legislation to provide tax relief and reduce Federal spending.
  In addition, there are several provisions in the bill language that I 
would ask the managers to clarify further.
  For example, $100,000 is earmarked from the Library of Congress 
budget for an International Copyright Institute. Another $2,250 from 
the Library of Congress budget is set aside for official 
representational and reception expenses of the International Copyright 
Institute. My question is, what is this International Copyright 
Institute, and why is it singled out for an earmark of this sort?
  The bill also provides $354.2 million for the General Accounting 
Office--an increase of $15.7 million over last year's level. This 4.6 
percent increase is an unfortunate reversal of the trend to reduce the 
size and cost of the GAO.
  The report states that this $345 million will pay for 3,500 full-time 
equivalent personnel. It is curious to me that the GAO can, in effect, 
hire 3,500 staffers, while all 100 Senators make do with just slightly 
more than 3,900 staffers, including our State offices.
  The bill also earmarks an unlimited amount of GAO's funds to finance 
``an appropriate share'' of the expenses of several different programs:
  The Joint Financial Management Improvement Program, including the 
salary of the Executive Director and secretarial support; the National 
Intergovernmental Audit Forum or a Regional Intergovernmental Audit 
Forum, as determined by the respective forum, including necessary 
travel expenses of non-Federal participants; and the American 
Consortium on International Public Administration, including any 
expenses attributable to its membership in the International Institute 
of Administrative Sciences.
  Again, I wonder why these particular institutions are deserving of an 
earmark for unlimited amounts of the GAO's budget.
  In addition, the report language contains several funding and 
language provisions that cause me some concern. For example:
  A provision for $118,000 increase in travel, consultant, and 
representational funding for the Secretary of the Senate.
  A provision for $25,000 for training and travel expenses related to 
training for employees of the Senate Child Care Center. Shouldn't these 
employees already be well-trained in child care when they are hired?
  A provision for $500,000 for improved lighting in the Senate Chamber. 
I hadn't noticed a particular problem with lighting in the Chamber.
  A provision for $100,000 to design a new subway from the Russell 
Building to the Capitol Building. Mr. President, we have already spent 
huge amounts of money to install a new subway from the Dirksen and Hart 
buildings. Why do we need to spend more money on subways, and why does 
it cost a half-million dollars to design a subway when I assume it will 
be very similar to the one already built from Dirksen and Hart?
  A provision for $550,000 to modernize elevators in the Hart Building. 
This building is relatively new and I wonder why a half-million dollars 
is needed at this time to upgrade the elevators.
  Again, I congratulate the managers of the bill for their hard work 
and scrupulous attention to detail. This is, overall, a very good bill, 
but I hope that, in conference with the House, unnecessary spending can 
be dropped to bring the total back in line with current levels of 
spending.
  I ask that list of objectionable items be printed in the Record.
  The list follows:

[[Page S7738]]

                             Bill Language

       $100,000 from the Library of Congress budget for an 
     International Copyright Institute.
       $2,250 from the Library of Congress budget for official 
     representational and reception expenses for activities of the 
     International Copyright Institute.
       $354.2 million for the General Accounting Office--an 
     increase of $15.7 million over last year's level.
       This 4.6 percent increase is an unfortunate reversal of the 
     trend to reduce the size and cost of the GAO.
       The report states that this will pay for 3,500 full-time 
     equivalent personnel. It is curious to me that the GAO can, 
     in effect, hire 3,500 staffers, while all 100 Senators make 
     do with just slightly more than 3,900 staffers, including our 
     state offices.
       Earmark of unlimited amount of GAO's funds to finance ``an 
     appropriate share'' of the expenses of the Joint Financial 
     Management Improvement Program, including the salary of the 
     Executive Director and secretarial support.
       Earmark of unlimited amount of GAO's funds to finance ``an 
     appropriate share'' of the costs of the National 
     Intergovernmental Audit Forum or a Regional Intergovernmental 
     Audit Forum, as determined by the respective forum, including 
     necessary travel expenses of non-Federal participants.
       Earmark of unlimited amount of GAO's funds to finance ``an 
     appropriate share'' of the costs of the American Consortium 
     on International Public Administration, including any 
     expenses attributable to its membership in the International 
     Institute of Administrative Sciences.


                            Report Language

       $118,000 increase in travel, consultant, and 
     representational funding for the Secretary of the Senate.
       Provides $25,000 for training and travel expenses related 
     to training for employees of the Senate Child Care Center.
       $500,000 for improved lighting in the Senate Chamber.
       $100,000 to design a new subway from the Russell Building 
     to the Capitol building.
       $550,000 to modernize elevators in the Hart 
     Building.

                          ____________________