[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 125 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H7580-H7589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2209, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  1998

  Mr. PACKARD submitted the following conference report and statement 
on the bill (H.R. 2209), making appropriations for the legislative 
branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and for other 
purposes:

                  Conference Report (H. Rept. 105-254)

       The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 
     two Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 
     2209) ``making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and for other 
     purposes'', having met, after full and free conference, have 
     agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective 
     Houses as follows:
       Amendment number 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:
       In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said 
     amendment, insert:

                              JOINT ITEMS

       For Joint Committees, as follows:

                        Joint Economic Committee

       For salaries and expenses of the Joint Economic Committee, 
     $2,750,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate.

                      Joint Committee on Printing

       For salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on 
     Printing, $804,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the 
     Senate.

                      Joint Committee on Taxation

       For salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on 
     Taxation, $5,815,500, to be disbursed by the Chief 
     Administrative Officer of the House.

                   Office of the Attending Physician

       For medical supplies, equipment, and contingent expenses of 
     the emergency rooms, and for the Attending Physician and his 
     assistants, including; (1) an allowance of $1,500 per month 
     to the Attending Physician; (2) an allowance of $500 per 
     month each to two medical officers while on duty in the 
     Office of the Attending Physician; (3) an allowance of $500 
     per month to one assistant and $400 per month each to not 
     exceed nine assistants on the basis heretofore provided for 
     such assistants; and (4) $893,000 for reimbursement to the 
     Department of the Navy for expenses incurred for staff and 
     equipment assigned to the Office of the Attending Physician, 
     which shall be advanced and credited to the applicable 
     appropriation or appropriations from which such salaries, 
     allowances, and other expenses are payable and shall be 
     available for all the purposes thereof, $1,266,000, to be 
     disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House.

                          Capitol Police Board

                             Capitol Police


                                salaries

       For the Capitol Police Board for salaries of officers, 
     members, and employees of the Capitol Police, including 
     overtime, hazardous duty pay differential, clothing allowance 
     of not more than $600 each for members required to wear 
     civilian attire, and Government contributions for health, 
     retirement, Social Security, and other applicable employees 
     benefits, $70,955,000, of which $34,118,000 is provided to 
     the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, to be 
     disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House, 
     and $36,837,000 is provided to the Sergeant at Arms and 
     Doorkeeper of the Senate, to be disbursed by the Secretary of 
     the Senate: Provided, That, of the amounts appropriated under 
     this heading, such amounts as may be necessary may be 
     transferred between the Sergeant at Arms of the House of 
     Representatives and the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of 
     the Senate, upon approval of the Committee on Appropriations 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate.


                            general expenses

       For the Capitol Police Board for necessary expenses of the 
     Capitol Police, including motor vehicles, communications and 
     other equipment, security equipment and installation, 
     uniforms, weapons, supplies, materials, training, medical 
     services, forensic services, stenographic services, personal 
     and professional services, the employee assistance program, 
     not more than $2,000 for the awards program, postage, 
     telephone service, travel advances, relocation of instructor 
     and liaison personnel for the Federal Law Enforcement 
     Training Center, and $85 per month for

[[Page H7581]]

     extra services performed for the Capitol Police Board by an 
     employee of the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate or the House 
     of Representatives designated by the Chairman of the Board, 
     $3,099,000, to be disbursed by the Chief Administrative 
     Officer of the House of Representatives: Provided, That, 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law, the cost of basic 
     training for the Capitol Police at the Federal Law 
     Enforcement Training Center for fiscal year 1998 shall be 
     paid by the Secretary of the Treasury from funds available to 
     the Department of the Treasury.

                       Administrative Provisions

       Sec. 110. Amounts appropriated for fiscal year 1998 for the 
     Capitol Police Board for the Capitol Police may be 
     transferred between the headings ``salaries'' and ``general 
     expenses'' upon the approval of--
       (1) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives, in the case of amounts transferred from the 
     appropriation provided to the Sergeant at Arms of the House 
     of Representatives under the heading ``salaries'';
       (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, in the 
     case of amounts transferred from the appropriation provided 
     to the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate under 
     the heading ``salaries''; and
       (3) the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the 
     House of Representatives, in the case of other transfers.
       Sec. 111. (a)(1) The Capitol Police Board shall establish 
     and maintain unified schedules of rates of basic pay for 
     members and civilian employees of the Capitol Police which 
     shall apply to both members and employees whose appointing 
     authority is an officer of the Senate and members and 
     employees whose appointing authority is an officer of the 
     House of Representatives.
       (2) The Capital Police Board may, from time to time, adjust 
     any schedule established under paragraph (1) to the extent 
     that the Board determines appropriate to reflect changes in 
     the cost of living and to maintain pay comparability.
       (3) A schedule established or revised under paragraph (1) 
     or (2) shall take effect only upon approval by the Committee 
     on House Oversight of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.
       (4) A schedule approved under paragraph (3) shall have the 
     force and effect of law.
       (b)(1) The Capitol Police Board shall prescribe, by 
     regulation, a unified leave system for members and civilian 
     employees of the Capitol Police which shall apply to both 
     members and employees whose appointing authority is an 
     officer of the Senate and members and employees whose 
     appointing authority is an officer of the House of 
     Representatives. The leave system shall include provisions 
     for--
       (A) annual leave, based on years of service;
       (B) sick leave;
       (C) administrative leave;
       (D) leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 
     (29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.);
       (E) leave without pay and leave with reduced pay, including 
     provisions relating to contributions for benefits for any 
     period of such leave;
       (F) approval of all leave by the Chief or the designee of 
     the Chief;
       (G) the order in which categories of leave shall be used;
       (H) use, accrual, and carryover rules and limitations, 
     including rules and limitations for any period of active duty 
     in the armed forces;
       (I) advance of annual leave or sick leave after a member or 
     civilian employee have used all such accrued leave;
       (J) buy back of annual leave or sick leave used during an 
     extended recovery period in the case of an injury in the 
     performance of duty;
       (K) the use of accrued leave before termination of the 
     employment as a member or civilian employee of the Capitol 
     Police, with provision for lump sum payment for unused annual 
     leave; and
       (L) a leave sharing program.
       (2) The leave system under this section may not provide for 
     the accrual of either annual or sick leave for any period of 
     leave without pay or leave with reduced pay.
       (3) All provisions of the leave system established under 
     this subsection shall be subject to the approval of the 
     Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives 
     and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate. 
     All regulations approved under this subsection shall have the 
     force and effect of law.
       (c)(1) Upon the approval of the Capitol Police Board, a 
     member or civilian employee of the Capitol Police who is 
     separated from service may be paid a lump sum payment for the 
     accrued annual leave of the member or civilian employee.
       (2) The lump sum payment under paragraph (1)--
       (A) shall equal the pay the member or civilian employee 
     would have received had such member or employee remained in 
     the service until the expiration of the period of annual 
     leave;
       (B) shall be paid from amounts appropriated to the Capitol 
     Police;
       (C) shall be based on the rate of basic pay in effect with 
     respect to the member or civilian employee on the last day of 
     service of the member or civilian employee;
       (D) shall not be calculated on the basis of extending the 
     period of leave described under subparagraph (A) by any 
     holiday occurring after the date of separation from service;
       (E) shall be considered pay for taxation purposes only; and
       (F) shall be paid only after the Chairman of the Capitol 
     Police Board certifies the applicable period of leave to the 
     Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer 
     of the House of Representatives, as appropriate.
       (3) A member or civilian employee of the Capitol Police who 
     enters active duty in the armed forces may--
       (A) receive a lump sum payment for accrued annual leave in 
     accordance with this subsection, in addition to any pay or 
     allowance payable from the armed forces; or
       (B) elect to have the leave remain to the credit of such 
     member or civilian employee until such member or civilian 
     employee returns from active duty.
       (4) The Capitol Police Board may prescribe regulations to 
     carry out this subsection. No lump sum payment may be paid 
     under this subsection until such regulations are approved by 
     the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and 
     the Committee on House Oversight of the House of 
     Representatives. All regulations approved under this 
     subsection shall have the force and effect of law.
       (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect 
     the appointing authority of any officer of the Senate or the 
     House of Representatives.

           Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office

       For salaries and expenses of the Capitol Guide Service and 
     Special Service Office, $1,991,000, to be disbursed by the 
     Secretary of the Senate: Provided, That no part of 
     such amount may be used to employ more than forty 
     individuals: Provided further, That the Capitol Guide 
     Board is authorized, during emergencies, to employ not 
     more than two additional individuals for not more than one 
     hundred twenty days each, and not more than ten additional 
     individuals for not more than six months each, for the 
     Capitol Guide Service.

                      Statements of Appropriations

       For the preparation, under the direction of the Committees 
     on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives, of the statements for the first session of 
     the One Hundred Fifth Congress, showing appropriations made, 
     indefinite appropriations, and contracts authorized, together 
     with a chronological history of the regular appropriations 
     bills as required by law, $30,000, to be paid to the persons 
     designated by the chairmen of such committees to supervise 
     the work.

                          OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE

                         Salaries and Expenses

       For salaries and expenses of the Office of Compliance, as 
     authorized by section 305 of the Congressional Accountability 
     Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1385), $2,479,000.

                      CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE

                         Salaries and Expenses

       For salaries and expenses necessary to carry out the 
     provisions of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Public 
     Law 93-344), including not more than $2,500 to be expended on 
     the certification of the Director of the Congressional Budget 
     Office in connection with official representation and 
     reception expenses, $24,797,000: Provided, That no part of 
     such amount may be used for the purchase or hire of a 
     passenger motor vehicle.

                        ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

                     Capitol Buildings and Grounds


                           capitol buildings

                         Salaries and Expenses

       For salaries for the Architect of the Capitol, the 
     Assistant Architect of the Capitol, and other personal 
     services, at rates of pay provided by law; for surveys and 
     studies in connection with activities under the care of the 
     Architect of the Capitol; for all necessary expenses for the 
     maintenance, care and operation of the Capitol and electrical 
     substations of the Senate and House office buildings under 
     the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol, including 
     furnishings and office equipment, including not more than 
     $1,000 for official reception and representation expenses, to 
     be expended as the Architect of the Capitol may approve; for 
     purchase or exchange, maintenance and operation of a 
     passenger motor vehicle; and not to exceed $20,000 for 
     attendance, when specifically authorized by the Architect of 
     the Capitol, at meetings or conventions in connection with 
     subjects related to work under the Architect of the Capitol, 
     $36,977,000, of which $7,500,000 shall remain available until 
     expended.


                            capitol grounds

       For all necessary expenses for care and improvement of 
     grounds surrounding the Capitol, the Senate and House office 
     buildings, and the Capitol Power Plant, $5,116,000, of which 
     $745,000 shall remain available until expended.


                        senate office buildings

       For all necessary expenses for maintenance, care and 
     operation of Senate Office Buildings; and furniture and 
     furnishings to be expended under the control and supervision 
     of the Architect of the Capitol, $52,021,000, of which 
     $13,200,000 shall remain available until expended: Provided, 
     That appropriations under this heading for management 
     personnel and miscellaneous restaurant expenses hereafter 
     shall be transferred at the beginning of each fiscal year to 
     the special deposit account in the United States Treasury 
     established under Public Law 87-82, approved July 6, 1961, as 
     amended (40 U.S.C. 174j-4), and effective October 1, 1997, 
     all management personnel of the Senate Restaurant facilities 
     shall be paid from the special deposit account. Management 
     personnel transferred hereunder shall be paid at the same 
     rates of pay applicable immediately prior to the date of 
     transfer, and annual and sick leave balances shall be 
     credited to leave accounts of such personnel in the Senate 
     Restaurants.
       And after line 4, page 2, of the House engrossed bill, H.R. 
     2209, insert the following:

                                 SENATE


                           expense allowances

       For expense allowances of the Vice President, $10,000; the 
     President Pro Tempore of the Senate, $10,000; Majority Leader 
     of the Senate,

[[Page H7582]]

     $10,000; Minority Leader of the Senate, $10,000; Majority 
     Whip of the Senate, $5,000; Minority Whip of the Senate, 
     $5,000; and Chairmen of the Majority and Minority Conference 
     Committees, $3,000 for each Chairman; in all, $56,000.


    representation allowances for the majority and minority leaders

       For representation allowances of the Majority and Minority 
     Leaders of the Senate, $15,000 for each such Leader; in all, 
     $30,000.

                    Salaries, Officers and Employees

       For compensation of officers, employees, and others as 
     authorized by law, including agency contributions, 
     $77,254,000, which shall be paid from this appropriation 
     without regard to the below limitations, as follows:


                      office of the vice president

       For the Office of the Vice President, $1,612,000.


                  office of the president pro tempore

       For the Office of the President Pro Tempore, $371,000.


              offices of the majority and minority leaders

       For Offices of the Majority and Minority Leaders, 
     $2,388,000.


               Offices of the majority and minority whips

       For Offices of the Majority and Minority Whips, $1,221,000.


                         conference committees

       For the Conference of the Majority and the Conference of 
     the Minority, at rates of compensation to be fixed by the 
     Chairman of each such committee, $1,061,000 for each such 
     committee; in all, $2,122,000.


 offices of the secretaries of the conference of the majority and the 
                       conference of the minority

       For Offices of the Secretaries of the Conference of the 
     Majority and the Conference of the Minority, $409,000.


                           policy committees

       For salaries of the Majority Policy Committee and the 
     Minority Policy Committee, $1,077,500 for each such 
     committee; in all, $2,155,000.


                         office of the chaplain

       For Office of the Chaplain, $260,000.


                        office of the secretary

       For Office of the Secretary, $13,306,000.


             office of the sergeant at arms and doorkeepers

       For Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, 
     $33,037,000.


        offices of the secretaries for the majority and minority

       For Offices of the Secretary for the Majority and the 
     Secretary for the Minority, $1,165,000.


               agency contributions and related expenses

       For agency contributions for employee benefits, as 
     authorized by law, and related expenses, $19,208,000.

            office of the legislative counsel of the senate

       For salaries and expenses of the Office of the Legislative 
     Counsel of the Senate, $3,605,000.

                     office of senate legal counsel

       For salaries and expenses of the Office of Senate Legal 
     Counsel, $966,000.

Expense Allowances of the Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at Arms and 
Doorkeeper of the Senate, and Secretaries for the Majority and Minority 
                             of the Senate

       For expense allowances of the Secretary of the Senate, 
     $3,000; Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, 
     $3,000; Secretary for the Majority of the Senate, $3,000; 
     Secretary for the Minority of the Senate, $3,000; in all, 
     $12,000.

                   Contingent Expenses of the Senate


                      inquiries and investigations

       For expenses of inquiries and investigations ordered by the 
     Senate, or conducted pursuant to section 134(a) of Public Law 
     601, Seventy-ninth Congress, as amended, section 112 of 
     Public Law 96-304 and Senate Resolution 281, agreed to March 
     11, 1980, $75,600,000.


expenses of the United States senate caucus on international narcotics 
                                control

       For expenses of the United States Senate Caucus on 
     International Narcotics Control, $370,000.


                        secretary of the senate

       For expenses of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, 
     $1,511,000.


             sergeant at arms and doorkeeper of the senate

       For expenses of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and 
     Doorkeeper of the Senate, $64,833,000, of which $7,000,000 
     shall remain available until September 30, 1999.


                          miscellaneous items

       For miscellaneous items, $7,905,000.


        senators' official personnel and office expense account

       For Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense 
     Account, $228,600,000.


                      stationery (revolving fund)

       For stationery for the President of the Senate, $4,500, for 
     officers of the Senate and the Conference of the Majority and 
     Conference of the Minority of the Senate, $8,500; in all, 
     $13,000.


                          official mail costs

       For expenses necessary for official mail costs of the 
     Senate, $300,000, to remain available until September 30, 
     1999.


                       administrative provisions

       Section 1. (a) For fiscal year 1998, and each fiscal year 
     thereafter, the Secretary of the Senate is authorized to make 
     advance payments under a contract or other agreement to 
     provide a service or deliver an article for the United States 
     Government without regard to the provisions of section 3324 
     of title 31, United States Code.
       (b) An advance payment authorized by subsection (a) shall 
     be made in accordance with regulations issued by the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.
       (c) The authority granted by subsection (a) shall not take 
     effect until regulations are issued pursuant to subsection 
     (b).
       Sec. 2. (a) Upon the written request of the Majority or 
     Minority Whip of the Senate, the Secretary of the Senate 
     shall transfer during any fiscal year, from the 
     appropriations account appropriated under the heading 
     ``Salaries, Officers and Employees'' and ``Offices of the 
     Majority and Minority Whips'', such amount as either whip 
     shall specify to the appropriations account, within the 
     contingent fund of the Senate, ``Miscellaneous Items''.
       (b) The Majority and Minority Whips of the Senate are each 
     authorized to incur such expenses as may be necessary or 
     appropriate. Expenses incurred by either such whip shall be 
     paid from the amount transferred pursuant to subsection (a) 
     by such whip and upon vouchers approved by such whip.
       (c) The Secretary of the Senate is authorized to advance 
     such sums as may be necessary to defray expenses incurred in 
     carrying out subsection (a) and (b).
       Sec. 3. (a) Effective in the case of any fiscal year which 
     begins on or after October 1, 1997, clause (iii) of paragraph 
     (3)(A) of section 506(b) of the Supplemental Appropriations 
     Act, 1973 (2 U.S.C. 58(b)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(iii) subject to subparagraph (B), in case the Senator 
     represents Alabama, $182,567, Alaska, $251,901, Arizona, 
     $197,079, Arkansas, $168,282, California, $468,724, Colorado, 
     $186,350, Connecticut, $160,903, Delaware, $127,198, Florida, 
     $299,746, Georgia, $210,214, Hawaii, $279,512, Idaho, 
     $163,335, Illinois, $266,248, Indiana, $194,770, Iowa, 
     $170,565, Kansas, $168,177, Kentucky, $177,338, Louisiana, 
     $185,647, Maine, $147,746, Maryland, $173,020, Massachusetts, 
     $195,799, Michigan, $236,459, Minnesota, $187,702, 
     Mississippi, $168,103, Missouri, $197,941, Montana, $161,725, 
     Nebraska, $160,361, Nevada, $171,096, New Hampshire, 
     $142,394, New Jersey, $206,260, New Mexico, $166,140, New 
     York, $327,955, North Carolina, $210,946, North Dakota, 
     $149,824, Ohio, $259,452, Oklahoma, $181,761, Oregon, 
     $189,345, Pennsylvania, $266,148, Rhode Island, $138,582, 
     South Carolina, $170,451, South Dakota, $151,450, Tennessee, 
     $191,954, Texas, $348,681, Utah, $168,632, Vermont, $135,925, 
     Virginia, $193,467, Washington, $214,694, West Virginia, 
     $147,772, Wisconsin, $191,569, Wyoming, $152,438, plus''.
       (b) Subsection (a) of the first section of Public Law 100-
     137 (2 U.S.C. 58c) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(6) Effective on and after October 1, 1997, the Senator's 
     Account shall be available for the payment of franked mail 
     expenses of Senators.''.
       (c)(1) Section 12 of Public Law 101-520 is repealed.
       (2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall be effective 
     on and after October 1, 1997.
       (d) Nothing in this section affects the authority of the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate to 
     prescribe regulations relating to the frank by Senators and 
     officers of the Senate.
       Sec. 4. (a) The aggregate amount authorized by Senate 
     Resolution 54, agreed to February 13, 1997, is increased--
       (1) by $401,635 for the period March 1, 1997, through 
     September 30, 1998, and
       (2) by $994,150 for the period March 1, 1998, through 
     February 28, 1999.
       (b) This section is effective on and after October 1, 1997.
       Sec. 5. Effective on and after October 1, 1997, each of the 
     dollar amounts contained in the table under section 105(d)(1) 
     of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1968 (2 U.S.C. 
     61-1) shall be deemed to be the dollar amounts in that table 
     on December 31, 1995, increased by 2 percent on January 1, 
     1996, and by 2.3 percent on January 1, 1997.
       Sec. 6. (a) The aggregate amount authorized by Senate 
     Resolution 54, agreed to February 13, 1997, is increased--
       (1) by $125,000 for the period March 1, 1997, through 
     September 30, 1998; and
       (2) by $175,000 for the period March 1, 1998, through 
     February 28, 1999.
       (b) Funds in the account, within the contingent fund of the 
     Senate, available for the expenses of inquiries and 
     investigations shall be available for franked mail expenses 
     incurred by committees of the Senate the other expenses of 
     which are paid from that account.
       (c) This section is effective for fiscal years beginning on 
     and after October 1, 1997.
       Sec. 7. Section 1101 of Public Law 85-58 (2 U.S.C. 46a-1) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following: 
     ``Disbursements from the fund shall be made upon vouchers 
     approved by the Secretary of the Senate, or his designee.''.
       And on page 9, after line 15, of the House engrossed bill, 
     H.R. 2209, insert:
       ``Sec. 107. Title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``the Speaker of the House of Representatives'' each 
     place it appears in sections 5532(i)(2)(B), 5532(i)(3), 
     8344(k)(2)(B), 8344(k)(3), 8468(h)(2)(B), and 8468(h)(3) and 
     inserting ``the Committee on House Oversight of the House of 
     Representatives''.
       Sec. 108. (a) For fiscal year 1998 and each succeeding 
     fiscal year, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of 
     Representatives is authorized to make advance payments 
     under a contract or other agreement to provide a service 
     or deliver an article for the United States Government 
     without regard to the provisions of section 3324 of title 
     31, United States Code.
       (b) An advance payment authorized by subsection (a) shall 
     be made in accordance with regulations issued by the 
     Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives.
       (c) The authority granted by subsection (a) shall not take 
     effect until regulations are issued pursuant to subsection 
     (b).

[[Page H7583]]

       Sec. 109. (a) There is hereby established an account in the 
     House of Representatives for purposes of making payments of 
     the House of Representatives to the Employees' Compensation 
     Fund under section 8147 of title 5, United States Code.
       (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, payments 
     may be made from the account established under subsection (a) 
     at any time after the date of the enactment of this Act 
     without regard to the fiscal year for which the obligation to 
     make such payments is incurred.
       (c) The account established under subsection (a) shall be 
     treated as a category of allowances and expenses for purposes 
     of section 101(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations 
     Act, 1993 (2 U.S.C. 95b(a)).''
       And on page 20, line 19, of the House engrossed bill, H.R. 
     2209, strike ``$37,181,000'' and insert ``$36,610,000''; 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 inserted by said 
     amendment, insert:


                          capitol power plant

       For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and 
     operation of the Capitol Power Plant; lighting, heating, 
     power (including the purchase of electrical energy) and water 
     and sewer services for the Capitol, Senate and House office 
     buildings, Library of Congress buildings, and the grounds 
     about the same, Botanic Garden, Senate garage, and air 
     conditioning refrigeration not supplied from plants in any of 
     such buildings; heating the Government Printing Office and 
     Washington City Post Office, and heating and chilled water 
     for air conditioning for the Supreme Court Building, the 
     Union Station complex, the Thurgood Marshall Federal 
     Judiciary Building and the Folger Shakespeare Library, 
     expenses for which shall be advanced or reimbursed upon 
     request of the Architect of the Capitol and amounts so 
     received shall be deposited into the Treasury to the credit 
     of this appropriation, $33,932,000, of which $1,650,000 shall 
     remain available until expended: Provided, That not more than 
     $4,000,000 of the funds credited or to be reimbursed to this 
     appropriation as herein provided shall be available for 
     obligation during fiscal year 1998.

                          LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

                     Congressional Research Service


                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of 
     section 203 of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 
     U.S.C. 166) and to revise and extend the Annotated 
     Constitution of the United States of America, $64,603,000: 
     Provided, That no part of such amount may be used to pay any 
     salary or expense in connection with any publication, or 
     preparation of material therefor (except the Digest of Public 
     General Bills), to be issued by the Library of Congress 
     unless such publication has obtained prior approval of either 
     the Committee on House Oversight of the House of 
     Representatives or the Committee on Rules and Administration 
     of the Senate: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, the compensation of the Director of 
     the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, 
     shall be at an annual rate which is equal to the annual rate 
     of basic pay for positions at level IV of the Executive 
     Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
     Code.

                       GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

                   Congressional Printing and Binding


                     (including transfer of funds)

       For authorized printing and binding for the Congress and 
     the distribution of Congressional information in any format; 
     printing and binding for the Architect of the Capitol; 
     expenses necessary for preparing the semimonthly and session 
     index to the Congressional Record, as authorized by law (44 
     U.S.C. 902); printing and binding of Government publications 
     authorized by law to be distributed to Members of Congress; 
     and printing, binding, and distribution of Government 
     publications authorized by law to be distributed without 
     charge to the recipient, $81,669,000, of which $11,017,000 
     shall be derived by transfer from the Government Printing 
     Office revolving fund under section 309 of title 44, United 
     States Code: Provided, That this appropriation shall not be 
     available for paper copies of the permanent edition of the 
     Congressional Record for individual Representatives, Resident 
     Commissioners or Delegates authorized under 44 U.S.C. 906: 
     Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available 
     for the payment of obligations incurred under the 
     appropriations for similar purposes for preceding fiscal 
     years.
       This title may be cited as the ``Congressional Operations 
     Appropriations Act, 1998''.

                        TITLE II--OTHER AGENCIES

                             BOTANIC GARDEN

                         Salaries and Expenses

       For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and 
     operation of the Botanic Garden and the nurseries, buildings, 
     grounds, and collections; and purchase and exchange, 
     maintenance, repair, and operation of a passenger motor 
     vehicle; all under the direction of the Joint Committee on 
     the Library, $3,016,000.

                          LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

                         Salaries and Expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Library of Congress not 
     otherwise provided for, including development and maintenance 
     of the Union Catalogs; custody and custodial care of the 
     Library buildings; special clothing; cleaning, laundering and 
     repair of uniforms; preservation of motion pictures in the 
     custody of the Library; operation and maintenance of the 
     American Folklife Center in the Library; preparation and 
     distribution of catalog records and other publications of the 
     Library; hire or purchase of one passenger motor vehicle; and 
     expenses of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board not 
     properly chargeable to the income of any trust fund held by 
     the Board, $227,016,000, of which not more than $7,869,000 
     shall be derived from collections credited to this 
     appropriation during fiscal year 1998, and shall remain 
     available until expended, under the Act of June 28, 1902 
     (chapter 1301; 32 Stat. 480; 2 U.S.C. 150): Provided, That 
     the Library of Congress may not obligate or expend any funds 
     derived from collections under the Act of June 28, 1902, in 
     excess of the amount authorized for obligation or expenditure 
     in appropriations Acts: Provided further, That the total 
     amount available for obligation shall be reduced by the 
     amount by which collections are less than the $7,869,000: 
     Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, 
     $9,619,000 is to remain available until expended for 
     acquisition of books, periodicals, newspapers, and all other 
     materials including subscriptions for bibliographic services 
     for the Library, including $40,000 to be available solely for 
     the purchase, when specifically approved by the Librarian, of 
     special and unique materials for additions to the 
     collections: Provided further, That of the total amount 
     appropriated, $5,584,000 is to remain available until 
     expended for the acquisition and partial support for 
     implementation of an integrated library system (ILS).

                            Copyright Office


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Copyright Office, including 
     publication of the decisions of the United States courts 
     involving copyrights, $34,361,000, of which not more than 
     $17,340,000 shall be derived from collections credited to 
     this appropriation during fiscal year 1998 under 17 U.S.C. 
     708(d), and not more than $5,086,000 shall be derived from 
     collections during fiscal year 1998 under 17 U.S.C. 
     111(d)(2), 119(b)(2), 802(h), and 1005: Provided, That the 
     total amount available for obligation shall be reduced by the 
     amount by which collections are less than $22,426,000: 
     Provided further, That not more than $100,000 of the amount 
     appropriated is available for the maintenance of an 
     ``International Copyright Institute'' in the Copyright Office 
     of the Library of Congress for the purpose of training 
     nationals of developing countries in intellectual property 
     laws and policies: Provided further, That not more than 
     $2,250 may be expended, on the certification of the Librarian 
     of Congress, in connection with official representation and 
     reception expenses for activities of the International 
     Copyright Institute.

             Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For salaries and expenses to carry out the Act of March 3, 
     1931 (chapter 400; 46 Stat. 1487; 2 U.S.C. 135a), 
     $46,561,000, of which $12,944,000 shall remain available 
     until expended.

                       Furniture and Furnishings

       For necessary expenses for the purchase, installation, and 
     repair of furniture, furnishings, office and library 
     equipment, $4,178,000.

                       Administrative Provisions

       Sec. 201. Appropriations in this Act available to the 
     Library of Congress shall be available, in an amount of not 
     more than $194,290, of which $58,100 is for the Congressional 
     Research Service, when specifically authorized by the 
     Librarian, for attendance at meetings concerned with the 
     function or activity for which the appropriation is made.
       Sec. 202. (a) No part of the funds appropriated in this Act 
     shall be used by the Library of Congress to administer any 
     flexible or compressed work schedule which--
       (1) applies to any manager or supervisor in a position the 
     grade or level of which is equal to or higher than GS-15; and
       (2) grants such manager or supervisor the right to not be 
     at work for all or a portion of a workday because of time 
     worked by the manager or supervisor on another workday.
       (b) For purposes of this section, the term ``manager or 
     supervisor'' means any management official or supervisor, as 
     such terms are defined in section 7103(a) (10) and (11) of 
     title 5, United States Code.
       Sec. 203. Appropriated funds received by the Library of 
     Congress from other Federal agencies to cover general and 
     administrative overhead costs generated by performing 
     reimbursable work for other agencies under the authority of 
     31 U.S.C. 1535 and 1536 shall not be used to employ more than 
     65 employees and may be expended or obligated--
       (1) in the case of a reimbursement, only to such extent or 
     in such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts; or
       (2) in the case of an advance payment, only--
       (A) to pay for such general or administrative overhead 
     costs as are attributable to the work performed for such 
     agency; or
       (B) to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in 
     appropriations Acts, with respect to any purpose not 
     allowable under subparagraph (A).
       Sec. 204. Of the amounts appropriated to the Library of 
     Congress in this Act, not more than $5,000 may be expended, 
     on the certification of the Librarian of Congress, in 
     connection with official representation and reception 
     expenses for the incentive awards program.
       Sec. 205. Of the amount appropriated to the Library of 
     Congress in this Act, not more than $12,000 may be expended, 
     on th4 certification of the Librarian of Congress, in 
     connection with official representation and reception 
     expenses for the Overseas Field Offices.
       Sec. 206. (a) For fiscal year 1998, the obligational 
     authority of the Library of Congress for the activities 
     described in subsection (b) may not exceed $100,490,000.

[[Page H7584]]

       (b) The activities referred to in subsection (a) are 
     reimbursable and revolving fund activities that are funded 
     from sources other than appropriations to the Library in 
     appropriations Acts for the legislative branch.
       Sec. 207. (a) Establishment.--Effective October 1, 1997, 
     there is established in the Treasury of the United States a 
     revolving fund to be known as the Cooperative Acquisitions 
     Program Revolving Fund (in this section referred to as the 
     ``revolving fund''). Moneys in the revolving fund shall be 
     available to the Librarian of Congress, without fiscal year 
     limitation, for financing the cooperative acquisitions 
     program (in this section referred to as the ``program'') 
     under which the Library acquires foreign publications and 
     research materials on behalf of participating institutions on 
     a cost-recovery basis. Obligations under the revolving 
     fund are limited to amounts specified in the 
     appropriations Act for that purpose for any fiscal year.
       (b) Amounts Deposited.--The revolving fund shall consist 
     of--
       (1) any amounts appropriated by law for the purposes of the 
     revolving fund;
       (2) any amounts held by the Librarian as of October 1, 1997 
     or the date of enactment, whichever is later, that were 
     collected as payment for the Library's indirect cost of the 
     program; and
       (3) the difference between (A) the total value of the 
     supplies, equipment, gift fund balances, and other assets of 
     the program, and (B) the total value of the liabilities 
     (including unfunded liabilities such as the value of accrued 
     annual leave of employees) of the program.
       (c) Credits to the Revolving Fund.--The revolving fund 
     shall be credited with all advances and amounts received as 
     payment for purchases under the program and services and 
     supplies furnished to program participants, at rates 
     estimated by the Librarian to be adequate to recover the full 
     direct and indirect costs of the program to the Library over 
     a reasonable period of time.
       (d) Unobligated Balances.--Any unobligated and unexpended 
     balances in the revolving fund that the Librarian determines 
     to be in excess of amounts needed for activities financed by 
     the revolving fund, shall be deposited in the Treasury of the 
     United States as miscellaneous receipts. Amounts needed for 
     activities financed by the revolving fund means the direct 
     and indirect costs of the program, including the costs of 
     purchasing, shipping, binding of books and other library 
     materials; supplies, materials, equipment and services needed 
     in support of the program; salaries and benefits; general 
     overhead; and travel.
       (e) Annual Report.--Not later than March 31 of each year, 
     the Librarian of Congress shall prepare and submit to 
     Congress an audited financial statement for the revolving 
     fund for the preceding fiscal year. The audit shall be 
     conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards 
     for financial audits issued by the Comptroller General of the 
     United States.
       Sec. 208. Authority of the Board to Invest Gift Funds.--
     Section 4 of the Act entitled ``An Act to create a Library of 
     Congress Trust Fund Board, and for other purposes'', approved 
     March 3, 1925 (2 U.S.C. 160), is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new undesignated paragraph:
       ``Upon agreement by the Librarian of Congress and the 
     Board, a gift or bequest accepted by the Librarian under the 
     first paragraph of this section may be invested or reinvested 
     in the same manner as provided for trust funds under the 
     second paragraph of section 2.''.

                        ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

                     Library Buildings and Grounds


                     structural and mechanical care

       For all necessary expenses for the mechanical and 
     structural maintenance, care and operation of the Library 
     buildings and ground, 11,573,000, of which $3,910,000 shall 
     remain available until expended.

                       GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

                 Office of Superintendent of Documents


                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses of the Office of Superintendent of Documents 
     necessary to provide for the cataloging and indexing of 
     Government publications and their distribution to the public, 
     Members of Congress, other Government agencies, and 
     designated depository and international exchange libraries as 
     authorized by law, $29,077,000: Provided, That travel 
     expenses, including travel expenses of the Depository Library 
     Council to the Public Printer, shall not exceed $150,000: 
     Provided further, That amounts of not more than $2,000,000 
     from current year appropriations are authorized for producing 
     and disseminating Congressional serial sets and other related 
     publications for 1996 and 1997 to depository and other 
     designated libraries.

               Government Printing Office Revolving Fund

       The Government Printing Office is hereby authorized to make 
     such expenditures, within the limits of funds available and 
     in accord with the law, and to make such contracts and 
     commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as 
     provided by section 9104 of title 31, United States Code, as 
     may be necessary in carrying out the programs and purposes 
     set forth in the budget for the current fiscal year for the 
     Government Printing Office revolving fund: Provided, that not 
     more than $2,500 may be expended on the certification of the 
     Public Printer in connection with official representation and 
     reception expenses: Provided further, That the revolving fund 
     shall be available for the hire or purchase of not more than 
     twelve passenger motor vehicles: Provided further, That 
     expenditures in connection with travel expenses of the 
     advisory councils to the Public Printer shall be deemed 
     necessary to carry out the provisions of title 44, United 
     States Code: Provided further, That the revolving fund shall 
     be available for temporary or intermittent services under 
     section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates 
     for individuals not more than the daily equivalent of the 
     annual rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive 
     Schedule under section 5316 of such title: Provided further, 
     That the revolving fund and the funds provided under the 
     headings ``Office of Superintendent of Documents'' and 
     salaries and expenses'' together may not be available for the 
     full-time equivalent employment of more than 3,550 workyears: 
     Provided further, That activities financed through the 
     revolving fund may provide information in any format: 
     Provided further, that the revolving fund shall not be used 
     to administer any flexible or compressed work schedule which 
     applies to any manager or supervisor in a position the grade 
     or level of which is equal to or higher than GS-15: Provided 
     further, That expenses for attendance at meetings shall not 
     exceed $75,000: Provided further, That $1,500,000 may be 
     expended on the certification of the Public Printer, for 
     reimbursement to the General Account office, for a management 
     audit.

                       GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE

                         Salaries and Expenses

       For necessary expenses of the General Accounting Office, 
     including not more than $7,000 to be expended on the 
     certification of the Comptroller General of the United States 
     in connection with official representation and reception 
     expenses; temporary or intermittent services under section 
     3109(b) of title 5, United States code, but at rates for 
     individuals not more than the daily equivalent of the 
     annual rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive 
     Schedule under section 5315 of such title; hire of one 
     passenger motor vehicle; advance payments in foreign 
     countries in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3324; benefits 
     comparable to those payable under sections 901(5), 901(6) 
     and 908(8) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 
     4081(5), 4081(6) and 4081(8)); and under regulations 
     prescribed by the Comptroller General of the United 
     States, rental of living quarters in foreign countries; 
     $339,499,000: Provided, That not more than $1,000,000 of 
     reimbursements received incident to the operation of the 
     General Accounting Office Building shall be available for 
     use in fiscal year 1998: Provided further, That an 
     additional amount of $4,404,000 shall be available by 
     transfer from funds previously deposited in the special 
     account established pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 782: Provided 
     further, That notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 9105 hereafter 
     amounts reimbursed to the Comptroller General pursuant to 
     that section shall be deposited to the appropriation of 
     the General Accounting Office then available and remain 
     available until expended, and not more than $2,000,000 of 
     such funds shall be available for use in fiscal year 1998: 
     Provided further, That this appropriation and 
     appropriations for administrative expenses of any other 
     department or agency which is a member of the Joint 
     Financial Management Improvement Program (JFMIP) shall be 
     available to finance an appropriate share of JFMIP costs 
     as determined by the JFMIP, including the salary of the 
     Executive Director and secretarial support: Provided 
     further, That this appropriation and appropriations for 
     administrative expenses of any other department or agency 
     which is a member of the National Intergovernmental Audit 
     Forum or a Regional Intergovernmental Audit Forum shall be 
     available to finance an appropriate share of either 
     Forum's costs as determined by the respective Forum, 
     including necessary travel expenses of non-Federal 
     participants. Payments hereunder to either the Forum or 
     the JFMIP may be credited as reimbursements to any 
     appropriation from which costs involved are initially 
     financed: Provided further, That this appropriation and 
     appropriations for administrative expenses of any other 
     department or agency which is a member of the American 
     Consortium on International Public Administration (ACIPA) 
     shall be available to finance an appropriate share of 
     ACIPA costs as determined by the ACIPA, including any 
     expenses attributable to membership of ACIPA in the 
     International Institute of Administrative Sciences.

                     TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

       Sec. 301. No part of the funds appropriated in this Act 
     shall be used for the maintenance or care of private 
     vehicles, except for emergency assistance and cleaning as may 
     be provided under regulations relating to parking facilities 
     for the House of Representatives issued by the Committee on 
     House Oversight and for the Senate issued by the Committee on 
     Rules and Administration.
       Sec. 302. No part of the funds appropriated in this Act 
     shall remain available for obligation beyond fiscal year 1998 
     unless expressly so provided in this Act.
       Sec. 303. Whenever in this Act any office or position not 
     specifically established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929 
     is appropriated for or the rate of compensation or 
     designation of any office or position appropriated for is 
     different from that specifically established by such Act, the 
     rate of compensation and the designation in this Act shall be 
     the permanent law with respect thereto: Provided, That the 
     provisions in this Act for the various items of official 
     expenses of Members, officers, and committees of the Senate 
     and House of Representatives, and clerk hire for Senators and 
     Members of the House of Representatives shall be the 
     permanent law with respect thereto.
       Sec. 304. The expenditure of any appropriation under this 
     Act for any consulting service through procurement contract, 
     pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3109, shall be limited to those 
     contracts where such expenditures are a matter or public 
     record and available for public inspection, except 
     where otherwise provided under existing law, or under 
     existing Executive order issued pursuant to existing law.
       Sec. 305. (a) It is the sense of the Congress that, to the 
     greatest extent practicable, all

[[Page H7585]]

     equipment and products purchased with funds made available in 
     this Act should be American-made.
       (b) In providing financial assistance to, or entering into 
     any contract with, any entity using funds made available in 
     this Act, the head of each Federal agency, to the greatest 
     extent practicable, shall provide to such entity a notice 
     describing the statement made in subsection (a) by the 
     Congress.
       (c) If it has been finally determined by a court or Federal 
     agency that any person intentionally affixed a label bearing 
     a ``Made in America'' inscription, or any inscription with 
     the same meaning, to any product sold in or shipped to the 
     United States that is not made in the United States, such 
     person shall be ineligible to receive any contract or 
     subcontract made with funds provided pursuant to this Act, 
     pursuant to the debarment, suspension, and ineligibility 
     procedures described in section 9.400 through 9.409 of title 
     48, Code of Federal Regulations.
       Sec. 306. 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. 307. Amounts available for administrative expenses of 
     any legislative branch entity which participates in the 
     Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council (LBFMC) 
     established by charter on March 26, 1996, shall be available 
     to finance an appropriate share of LBFMC costs as determined 
     by the LBFMC, except that the total LBFMC costs to be shared 
     among all participating legislative branch entities (in such 
     allocations among the entities as the entities may determine) 
     may not exceed $1,500.
       Sec. 308. (a) Section 713(a) of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after ``Senate,'' the 
     following: ``or the seal of the United States House of 
     Representatives, or the seal of the United States 
     Congress,''.
       (b) Section 713 of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
     subsections:
       ``(d) Whoever, except as directed by the United States 
     House of Representatives, or the Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives on its behalf, knowingly uses, manufactures, 
     reproduces, sells or purchases for resale, either separately 
     or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness 
     of the seal of the United States House of Representatives, or 
     any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale 
     of the article for the official use of the Government of the 
     United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned 
     not more than six months, or both.
       ``(e) Whoever, except as directed by the United States 
     Congress, or the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the 
     House of Representatives, acting jointly on its behalf, 
     knowingly uses, manufactures, reproduces, sells or purchases 
     for resale, either separately or appended to any article 
     manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seal of the United 
     States Congress, or any substantial part thereof, except for 
     manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of 
     the Government of the United States, shall be fined under 
     this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or 
     both.''.
       (c) Section 713(f) of title 18, United States Code (as 
     redesignated by subsection (b)(1)), is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (1);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(3) in the case of the seal of the United States of 
     Representatives, upon complaint by the Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       ``(4) in the case of the seal of the United States 
     Congress, upon complaint by the Secretary of the Senate and 
     the Clerk of the House of Representatives, acting jointly.''.
       (d) The heading of section 713 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended by striking ``and the seal of the United 
     States Senate'' and inserting the following: ``the seal of 
     the United States Senate, the seal of the United States House 
     of Representatives, and the seal of the United States 
     Congress''.
       ``(e) The table of sections for chapter 33 of part I of 
     title 18, United States Code, is amended by amending the item 
     relating to section 713 to read as follows:

``713. Use of likenesses of the great seal of the United States, the 
              seals of the President and Vice President, the seal of 
              the United States Senate, the seal of the United States 
              House of Representatives, and the seal of the United 
              States Congress.''.

       Sec. 309. Section 316 of Public Law 101-302 is amended in 
     the first sentence of subsection (a) by striking ``1997'' and 
     inserting ``1998''.
       Sec. 310. (a) Severance Pay.--Section 5595 of title 5, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (D) by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (B) by adding after subparagraph (E) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(F) the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, but only 
     with respect to the United States Senate Restaurants; and'';
       ``(2) in subsection (a)(2)--
       ``(A) in clause (vii) by striking ``or'' after the 
     semicolon;
       ``(B) by redesignating clause (viii) as clause (ix) and 
     inserting after clause (vii) the following:
       ``(viii) an employee of the United States Senate 
     Restaurants of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, 
     who is employed on a temporary when actually employed basis; 
     or''; and
       (3) in subsection (b) by adding at the end the following: 
     ``The Architect of the Capitol may prescribe regulations to 
     effect the application and operation of this section to the 
     agency specified in subsection (a)(1)(F) of this section.''.
       (b) Early Retirement.--(1) This subsection applies to an 
     employee of the United States Senate Restaurants of the 
     Office of the Architect of the Capitol who--
       (A) voluntarily separates from service on or after the date 
     of enactment of this Act and before October 1, 1999; and
       (B) on such date of separation--
       (i) has completed 25 years of service as defined under 
     section 8331(12) or 8401(26) of title 5, United States Code; 
     or
       ``(ii) has completed 20 years of such service and is at 
     least 50 years of age.
       (2) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 83 or 84 of 
     title 5, United States Code, an employee described under 
     paragraph (1) is entitled to an annuity which shall be 
     computed consistent with the provisions of law applicable to 
     annuities under section 8336(d) and 8414(b) of title 5, 
     United States Code.
       (c) Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments.--(1) In this 
     subsection, the term ``employee'' means an employee of the 
     United States Senate Restaurants of the Office of the 
     Architect of the Capitol, serving without limitation, who has 
     been currently employed for a continuous period of at least 
     12 months, except that such term shall not include--
       (A) a reemployed annuitant under subchapter III of chapter 
     83 or chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, or another 
     retirement system for employees of the Government;
       (B) an employee having a disability on the basis of which 
     such employee is or would be eligible for disability 
     retirement under any of the retirement systems referred to in 
     subparagraph (A); or
       (C) an employee who is employed on a temporary when 
     actually employed basis.
       (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to 
     avoid or minimize the need for involuntary separations due to 
     a reduction in force, reorganization, transfer of function, 
     or other similar action affecting the agency, the Architect 
     of the Capitol shall establish a program under which 
     voluntary separation incentive payments may be offered to 
     encourage not more than 50 eligible employees to separate 
     from service voluntarily (whether by retirement or 
     resignation) during the period beginning on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act through September 30, 1999.
       ``(3) Such voluntary separation incentive payments shall be 
     paid in accordance with the provisions of section 5597(d) of 
     title 5, United States Code. Any such payment shall not be a 
     basis of payment, and shall not be included in the 
     computation, of any other type of Government benefit.
       (4)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), an employee who has 
     received a voluntary separation incentive payment under this 
     section and accepts employment with the Government of the 
     United States within 5 years after the date of the separation 
     on which the payment is based shall be required to repay the 
     entire amount of the incentive payment to the agency that 
     paid the incentive payment.
       (B)(i) If the employment is with an Executive agency (as 
     defined by section 105 of title 5, United States Code), the 
     Director of the Office of Personnel Management may, at the 
     request of the head of the agency, waive the repayment if the 
     individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the 
     only qualified applicant available for the position.
       (ii) If the employment is with an entity in the legislative 
     branch, the head of the entity or the appointing official may 
     waive the repayment if the individual involved possesses 
     unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant 
     available for the position.
       (iii) If the employment is with the judicial branch, the 
     Director of the Administrative Office of the United States 
     Courts may waive the repayment if the individual involved 
     possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified 
     applicant available for the position.
       (C) For purposes of subparagraph (A) (but not subparagraph 
     (B)), the term ``employment'' includes employment under a 
     personal services contract with the United States.
       (5) The Architect of the Capitol may prescribe regulations 
     to carry out this subsection.
       (d) Competitive Service Treatment for Certain Employees.--
     (1) This subsection applies to any employee of the United 
     States Senate Restaurants of the Office of the Architect of 
     the Capitol who--
       (A) is involuntarily separated from service on or after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act and before October 1, 1999 
     (except by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or 
     delinquency); and
       (B) has performed any period of service employed in the 
     Office of the Architect of the Capitol (including the United 
     States Senate Restaurants) in a position in the excepted 
     service as defined under section 2103 of title 5, United 
     States Code.
       (2) For purposes of applying for employment for any 
     position in the executive branch (including for purposes of 
     the administration of chapter 33 of title 5, United States 
     Code, with respect to such employment application), any 
     period of service described under paragraph (1)(B) of this 
     subsection shall be deemed a period of service in the 
     competitive service as defined under section 2102 of title 5, 
     United States Code.
       (3) This subsection shall--
       (A) take effect on the date of enactment of this Act; and
       (B) apply only to an employment application submitted by an 
     employee during the 2-year period beginning on the date of 
     such employee's separation from service described under 
     paragraph (1)(A).

[[Page H7586]]

       (e) Retraining, Job Placement, and Counseling Services.--
     (1) In this subsection, the term ``employee''--
       (A) means an employee of the United States Senate 
     Restaurants of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol; 
     and
       (B) shall not include--
       (i) a reemployed annuitant under subchapter III of chapter 
     83 or chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, or another 
     retirement system for employees of the Government; or
       (ii) an employee who is employed on a temporary when 
     actually employed basis.
       (2) The architect of the Capitol may establish a program to 
     provide retraining, job placement, and counseling services to 
     employees and former employees.
       (3) A former employee may not participate in a program 
     established under this subsection, if--
       (A) the former employee was separated from service with the 
     United States Senate Restaurants of the Office of the 
     Architect of the Capitol for more than 1 year; or
       (B) the separation was by removal for cause on charges of 
     misconduct or delinquency.
       (4) Retraining costs for the program established under this 
     subsection may not exceed $5,000 for each employee or former 
     employee.
       (f) Administrative Provisions.--(1) The Architect of the 
     Capitol--
       (A) may use employees of the Office of the Architect of the 
     Capitol to establish and administer programs and carry out 
     the provisions of this section; and
       (B) may procure temporary and intermittent services under 
     section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, to carry out 
     such provisions--
       (i) not subject to the 1 year of service limitation under 
     such section 3109(b); and
       (ii) at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily 
     equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 
     level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such 
     title.
       (2) Funds to carry out subsections (a) and (c) may be 
     expended only from funds available for the basic pay of the 
     employee who is receiving the applicable payment.
       (3) Funds to carry out subsection (e) may be expended from 
     any funds made available to the Architect of the Capitol.
       Sec. 311. (a) Rate of Pay for Director of Engineering.--
     Section 108(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 
     1991 (40 U.S.C. 166b-3b(a)) is amended by striking ``the rate 
     of basic pay payable for level V of the Executive Schedule'' 
     and inserting ``such rate as the Architect considers 
     appropriate, not to exceed 90 percent of the highest total 
     rate of pay for the Senior Executive Service under chapter 53 
     of title 5, United States Code, for the locality involved''.
       (b) Applicable Rate of pay.--Section 108(b)(1) of such Act 
     (40 U.S.C. 166b-3b(b)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking the second sentence; and
       (2) by striking ``the maximum rate allowable for the Senior 
     Executive Service'' each place it appears in subparagraphs 
     (A) and (B) and inserting the following: ``the highest total 
     rate of pay for the Senior Executive Service under chapter 53 
     of title 5, United States Code, for the locality involved''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply with respect to pay periods beginning on or after 
     January 1, 1998.
       And on page 38, line 15 of the House engrossed bill, H.R. 
     2209, strike ``Sec. 309'' and insert ``Sec. 312'' ; and the 
     Senate agree to the same.
     James T. Walsh,
     Bill Young,
     R. Duke Cunningham,
     Zach Wamp,
     Tom Latham,
     Bob Livingston,
     Jose E. Serrano,
     Vic Fazio,
     Marcy Kaptur,
     David Obey,
                                Managers on the Part of the House.

     Robert F. Bennett,
     Ted Stevens,
     Larry E. Craig,
     Thad Cochran,
     Byron L. Dorgan,
     Barbara Boxer,
     Robert Byrd,
                               Managers on the Part of the Senate.

       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF 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. 2209) making 
     appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 1998, 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.
       Amendment No. 1: The Senate deleted several provisions of 
     the House bill and inserted substitute provisions. Several 
     items in both House and Senate bills are identical and are 
     included in the conference agreement without change. With 
     respect to those items in amendment number 1 that differ 
     between House and Senate bills, the conferees have agreed to 
     the following:

                   TITLE I--CONGRESSIONAL OPERATIONS

                                 Senate

       Appropriates $461,055,000 for Senate operations instead of 
     $460,622,000 as proposed by the Senate and contains several 
     administrative provisions. Inasmuch as this item relates 
     solely to the Senate and in accord with long practice under 
     which each body determines its own housekeeping requirements 
     and the other 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.

                        House of Representatives

       The managers on the part of the House have asked the Senate 
     conferees to agree to the addition of three House 
     administrative provisions. The first transfers authority for 
     granting retirement waivers from the Speaker to the Committee 
     on House Oversight; the second authorizes the Chief 
     Administrative Officer to make advance payments for certain 
     goods and services; and the third authorizes available funds 
     to be used for reimbursing the Department of Labor for 
     workmen's compensation payments. Inasmuch as this item 
     relates solely to the House and in accord with long practice 
     under which each body determines its own housekeeping 
     requirements and the other concurs without intervention, the 
     managers on the part of the Senate, at the request of the 
     managers on the part of the House, have receded to the House.

                              JOINT ITEMS

                      Joint Committee on Printing

       Appropriates $804,000 for the Joint Committee on Printing 
     as proposed by the House instead of $807,000 as proposed by 
     the Senate.

                      Joint Committee on Taxation

       Appropriates $5,815,500 for the Joint Committee on Taxation 
     instead of $5,907,000 as proposed by the House and $5,724,000 
     as proposed by the Senate. This level of funding provides 
     resources for an additional 2.5 FTE's over the current level. 
     The conferees agree that the Joint Committee on Taxation, a 
     joint item that supports both the House and the Senate 
     equally, serves a critical role in preparing tax and revenue 
     estimates for Members of Congress. The conferees expect the 
     Joint Committee staff to be fully responsive in assisting 
     with revenue estimates for Members of Congress who are not 
     members of the tax committees. Upon the request of any Member 
     of Congress, the Joint Committee shall expeditiously provide 
     a revenue estimate, describe all assumptions it makes in 
     performing its calculations and provide all primary and 
     secondary source materials to Members or their designees. The 
     Joint Committee shall also state the assumptions and source 
     material in a manner that will allow the calculations for the 
     revenue estimate to be replicated by Members or their 
     designees. The conferees note that such revenue estimates are 
     needed in a timely manner and are critical to the 
     consideration of legislation and amendments. The conferees 
     expect the Joint Committee to be both responsive and timely 
     in its responses to Members of Congress who do not serve on 
     the revenue committees. It is the intent of the conferees to 
     carefully monitor the responsiveness of the Joint Committee 
     to determine if statutory language will be required next 
     year.

                   Office of the Attending Physician

       In the appropriating paragraph for the ``Office of the 
     Attending Physician'', restores a colon inserted by the House 
     and stricken by the Senate, restores the designation ``Office 
     of the Attending Physician'' as proposed by the House and 
     stricken by the Senate instead of ``Attending Physician's 
     Office'' as proposed by the Senate, restores the word 
     ``assistants'' as proposed by the House and stricken by the 
     Senate instead of ``assistance'' as proposed by the Senate 
     and inserts ``applicable appropriation or appropriations from 
     which such salaries, allowances, and other expenses'' as 
     proposed by the Senate instead of similar language as 
     proposed by the House and stricken by the Senate.

                          Capitol Police Board

                             Capitol Police


                                Salaries

       Appropriates $70,955,000 for salaries of officers, members, 
     and employees of the Capitol Police as proposed by the House 
     instead of $73,935,000 as proposed by the Senate, of which 
     $34,118,000 is provided to the Sergeant at Arms of the House 
     of Representatives and $36,837,000 is provided to the 
     Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate. The conferees 
     have agreed to fund 1255 FTE's as proposed by the House 
     instead of 1259 as proposed by the Senate. An amount of 
     $267,000 is provided for ``comparability'' pay and is fenced 
     pending approval of the appropriate authorities. The 
     conferees concur in House report language regarding the need 
     for the police to improve their record keeping.


                            general expenses

       Appropriates $3,099,000 for general expenses of the Capitol 
     Police as proposed by the House instead of $5,401,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.


                       administrative provisions

       Changes section numbers, and makes corrections in 
     capitalization and spelling.

                          Office of Compliance


                         salaries and expenses

       Appropriates $2,479,000 for salaries and expenses, Office 
     of Compliance as proposed by the House instead of $2,600,000 
     as proposed by the Senate.

                      Congressional Budget Office


                         salaries and expenses

       Appropriates $24,797,000 for salaries and expenses, 
     Congressional Budget Office as proposed by the House instead 
     of $24,995,000 as proposed by the Senate.

[[Page H7587]]

                        Architect of the Capitol


                     capitol buildings and grounds

                           capitol buildings

                         salaries and expenses

       In the appropriating paragraph for salaries and expenses, 
     Capitol buildings, Capitol buildings and grounds, Architect 
     of the Capitol, inserts ``for'' as proposed by the Senate, 
     inserts a limitation on travel expenses as proposed by the 
     Senate, and appropriates $36,977,000 instead of $36,827,000 
     as proposed by the House and $39,554,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. Of this amount, $7,500,000 shall remain available 
     until expended as proposed by the Senate instead of 
     $6,450,000 as proposed by the House. With respect to object 
     class and project differences between the House and Senate 
     bills, the conferees have agreed to the following:

1. Personnel compensation and benefits......................$22,690,000
2. Annual maintenance, repairs, and alterations...............5,383,000
3. Supplies, materials, and equipment...........................628,400
4. Conservation of wall paintings...............................100,000
5. Provide infrastructure for security installations............500,000
6. Replace six West Front lower terrace windows.......................0
7. Design to replace legislative call system and clocks...........\1\ 0
8. Study of exterior architectural fixtures and elements..........\1\ 0
9. Electrical renovations to Senate kitchen......................75,000
10. Repairs to East Front bronze doors................................0
11. Cleaning of historical architectural surface......................0
12. Modifications to South Capitol Street Warehouse...................0
13. Conservation and maintenance of exterior sculptures...............0
14. Witness timers in House committee rooms.....................125,000
15. Chemical and explosive storage facility, D.C. Village.............0
16. Completion of canine facility, D.C. Village.................200,000
17. Replace House chamber sound reinforcement system............930,000
18. Provide protection from transformers in open areas............\1\ 0
19. Computer aided facility management................................0
20. Improve lighting for Senate chamber.........................300,000
21. Upgrade electrical system drawings on CAD.........................0
22. CAD Mechanical Database...........................................0
23. Upgrade Rotunda lighting..........................................0
24. Sound systems, House committee and hearing rooms............120,000
25. Design to upgrade air conditioning, East Front................\1\ 0
26. Study for upgrading building systems, Capitol.....................0

\1\ To be done with FY97 funds.

       The conferees understand that several of the unfunded 
     projects can be done with FY 1997 funds, including $75,000 
     for a replacement of a fire pump that was not in 
     disagreement, and direct the Architect to submit a list of 
     those projects to the Committees on Appropriations. To the 
     extent that carryover funds authorized in this bill for the 
     Architect of the Capitol remain unused in this or any other 
     account, the Architect is directed to seek approval from the 
     Committees on Appropriations before expending any balances.


                            capitol grounds

       Appropriates $5,116,000 for care and improvement of grounds 
     surrounding the Capitol, House and Senate office buildings, 
     and the Capitol Power Plant instead of $4,991,000 as proposed 
     by the House and $6,203,000 as proposed by the Senate. Of 
     this amount, $745,000 shall remain available until expended 
     as proposed by the Senate instead of $25,000 as proposed by 
     the House. With respect to object class and project 
     differences between the House and Senate bills, the conferees 
     have agreed to the following:

1. Supplies, materials, and equipment..........................$142,000
2. Replace delta barriers, north and south drives.....................0
3. Renovate and restore Russell courtyard.............................0
4. Design for security improvements, HSOB horseshoe.............125,000
5. Security planters, Capitol square and secured streets..............0
6. Install new hydraulic security barriers............................0
7. CAD database development--site utilities...........................0
8. Upgrade, automate, and expand irrigation system....................0


                        senate office buildings

       Appropriates $52,021,000 instead of $50,922,000 as proposed 
     by the Senate, of which $13,200,000 shall remain available 
     until expended, for the operations of the Senate office 
     buildings. Inasmuch as this item relates solely to the Senate 
     and in accord with long practice under which each body 
     determines its own housekeeping requirements and the other 
     concurs without intervention, the managers of the part of the 
     House, at the request of the managers on the part of the 
     Senate, have receded to the Senate.
       Amendment No. 2: The Senate deleted several provisions of 
     the House bill and inserted substitute provisions. Several 
     items in both House and Senate bills are identical and are 
     included in the conference agreement without change. With 
     respect to those items in amendment number 2 that differ 
     between House and Senate bills, the conferees have agreed to 
     the following:


                         house office buildings

       At the request of the managers on the part of the House, 
     appropriates $36,610,000 for the operations of House office 
     buildings instead of $37,181,000 as proposed by the House and 
     Senate, of which $8,082,000 shall remain available until 
     expended. The reduction is made possible because FY 1997 
     funds will be used for various roof repairs and the purchase 
     of a fire pump. Inasmuch as this item relates solely to the 
     House and in accord with long practice under which each body 
     determines its own housekeeping requirements and the other 
     concurs without intervention, the managers on the part of the 
     Senate, at the request of the managers on the part of the 
     House, have receded to the House.


                          capitol power plant

       In the appropriating paragraph for the Capitol Power Plant, 
     two grammatical changes are made, and $33,932,000 is 
     appropriated for plant operations instead of $32,032,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $33,645,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. Of this amount, $1,650,000 shall remain available 
     until expended as proposed by the Senate instead of $550,000 
     as proposed by the House. With respect to object class and 
     project differences between the House and Senate bills, the 
     conferees have agreed to the following:

1. Purchase of electricity.....................................$925,000
2. Annual maintenance and supplies............................5,060,000
3. East Plant chiller.........................................1,000,000
4. Replace dealkalizer resin..........................................0
5. Distribution system (steam and chilled water)......................0
6. Update CAD drawings for Capitol Power Plant........................0
7. Optimization of plant operations...................................0
8. Additional fuel costs........................................775,000

       The additional fuel costs were not contained in either 
     House or Senate bills and are due to the conversion of coal 
     fired boilers to gas burners for emission control purposes.

                          Library of Congress


                     congressional research service

                         salaries and expenses

       Appropriates $64,603,000 for salaries and expenses, 
     Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress as 
     proposed by the House instead of $65,134,000 as proposed by 
     the Senate.

                       Government Printing Office


                   congressional printing and binding

       Restores a heading contained in the House bill and stricken 
     by the Senate and provides $81,669,000, including a transfer 
     of $11,017,000 from the GPO revolving fund, for Congressional 
     printing and binding as proposed by the House instead of a 
     direct appropriation of $82,269,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. In addition, the conferees have restored a provision 
     of the House bill stricken by the Senate and deleted a 
     provision inserted in the Senate bill regarding billing 
     procedures.
       The conferees remind GPO to observe section 718, title 44, 
     United States Code, in billing and carrying out printing work 
     for Congress.

                       TITLE III--OTHER AGENCIES

                             Botanic Garden


                         salaries and expenses

       Appropriates $3,016,000 for salaries and expenses, Botanic 
     Garden instead of $1,771,000 as proposed by the house and 
     $3,228,000 as proposed by the Senate. With respect to object 
     class and project differences between the House and Senate 
     bills, the conferees have agreed to the following:

1. Personnel compensation and benefits.......................$2,804,000
2. Travel, rent, and communications...............................6,000
3. Annual maintenance, repairs, and alterations..................69,000
4. Supplies, materials, and equipment...........................137,000
5. Bartholdi Park irrigation system...................................0

                          Library of Congress


                         salaries and expenses

       Provides $227,016,000 for salaries and expenses, Library of 
     Congress instead of $223,507,000 as proposed by the House and 
     $229,904,000 as proposed by the Senate. Of this amount, 
     $9,619,000 is to remain available until expended for 
     acquisition of library materials as proposed by the Senate 
     instead of $8,845,000 as proposed by the House. With respect 
     to the integrated library system (ILS), the House report 
     (105-196) directs the Library of Congress to complete a 
     number of key planning activities before awarding a contract. 
     The Library has acted on several items and has developed a 
     schedule for addressing the remaining tasks. The conferees

[[Page H7588]]

     direct that all of these key activities be essentially 
     completed and documented before contract award. Among these 
     are:
      developing detailed transition, data conversion, arrearage 
     reduction, training, and post-deployment human resource 
     utilization plans; and
      implementing a system capable of continuously tracking all 
     ILS-related benefits and costs.
       The conferees also agree with the Senate report regarding 
     the submission of a report on the availability of off-the-
     shelf ILS software and a timeline plan and quarterly reports. 
     The conferees also direct the Library to have approval from 
     the Committees on Appropriations before proceeding with a 
     contract award. With respect to the projected savings and 
     benefits that are the basis of the Library of Congress' 
     justification for investing over $40 million in the 
     Integrated Library System project, the conferees believe that 
     these savings are fully expected to materialize and will 
     result in actual budgetary and resource savings. The 
     conferees do not intend, therefore, that the savings 
     associated with this project will be automatically reinvested 
     in the Library's resource base. Any use of these savings will 
     have to be included in resource increases requested in the 
     usual manner in the annual budget submission. The conferees 
     also endorse the Senate report language regarding a security 
     plan.

                            Copyright Office


                         salaries and expenses

       Provides $34,361,000 for salaries and expenses, Copyright 
     Office as proposed by the House instead of $34,567,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.

             Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped


                         Salaries and Expenses

       Appropriates $46,561,000 for salaries and expenses, books 
     for the blind and physically handicapped instead of 
     $45,936,000 as proposed by the House and $47,870,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate. Of this amount, $12,944,000 shall 
     remain available until expended instead of $12,319,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $14,194,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. The conferees have provided $1,250,000 to begin a 
     program to replace an additional 10,000 playback machines.


                       Furniture and Furnishings

       The conferees agree to the Senate insertion of ``, 
     installation''.


                       Administrative Provisions

       The conferees have corrected a typographical error in 
     section 202 and agree to the Senate bill which added 
     $3,000,000 to the limitation on reimbursable and revolving 
     fund activities. The conferees have also agreed to the 
     language of the Senate bill regarding the establishment of a 
     Cooperative Acquisitions Program Revolving Fund and have also 
     agreed to language in the Senate bill regarding authority to 
     invest gift funds.

                        Architect of the Capitol


                     Library Buildings and Grounds

                     structural and mechanical care

       Appropriates $11,573,000 for structural and mechanical 
     care, Library buildings and grounds, Architect of the Capitol 
     instead of $10,073,000 as proposed by the House and 
     $14,699,000 as proposed by the Senate. Of this amount, 
     $3,910,000 shall remain available until expended as proposed 
     by the Senate instead of $710,000 as proposed by the House. 
     With respect to object class and project differences between 
     the House and Senate bills, the conferees have agreed to the 
     following:

1. Annual maintenance, repairs, and alterations..............$1,191,000
2. Supplies, materials, equipment and land......................615,000
3. Replace HVAC eliminator plate, TJB and JMMB........................0
4. Replace convector controls, Madison Building.......................0
5. Replace copper on roof vertical walls, TJB Building........1,500,000
6. Indoor security improvements--cages and vaults.....................0
7. Design for building security systems upgrades......................0
8. Design for Visitors Center, Thomas Jefferson Building..............0
9. Compact bookstack safety review, Madison Building..................0
10. Install additional readers, Library of Congress Buildings.........0
11. Design for screening/holding facility, Fort Meade.................0
12. Exterior security improvements....................................0
13. HVAC Improvements NW Curtain, TJB.................................0

       The conferees direct that no funds be expended for design 
     of building security system upgrades until approval of the 
     Library's overall security plan by the appropriate committees 
     of the House and Senate.

                       Government Printing Office


                 Office of Superintendent of Documents

                         salaries and expenses

       Appropriates $29,077,000 as proposed by the Senate and 
     makes a punctuation change for salaries and expenses, Office 
     of Superintendent of Documents instead of $29,264,000 as 
     proposed by the House.
       On September 16, 1997, the General Accounting Office (GAO) 
     issued a report related to the Government Printing Office 
     (GPO) inventory reductions during the last quarter of Fiscal 
     Year 1996. GAO found that certain procedures and policies 
     were not followed, which resulted in thousands of volumes 
     being destroyed without the usual prior notification of 
     issuing agencies to determine if they wanted the excess 
     copies. The conferees find the actions of GPO in this matter 
     irresponsible and to have shown a callous disregard for the 
     interest of the taxpayers. GPO has taken or plans to take the 
     following actions to assure that this does not recur:
       Superintendent of Documents policy has been changed to 
     require that certain publications, because of their 
     historical significance, will remain in print and available 
     in the Sales Program indefinitely. Inventory control 
     documents for these publications will indicate this policy.
       GPO will develop a formal system for identifying 
     publications that will remain in the inventory indefinitely.
       GPO has amended its policy to require that no exception can 
     be made to the requirement that excess stocks must be offered 
     to the issuing agency. This revised policy will provide that 
     excess inventory will be charged to surplus publications 
     expense when it is determined to be excess. The excess 
     inventory will be held in GPO's warehouse while issuing 
     agencies are contacted to see if they want the excess 
     publications. The policy to offer issuing agencies excess 
     copies before their disposal cannot be waived.
       GPO has issued a written policy that excess inventory does 
     not have to be physically removed from GPO's warehouse before 
     it can be charged to surplus publications expense.
       GPO's new Integrated Processing System will allow GPO to 
     electronically designate excess inventories and provides a 
     comment box where GPO can designate a publication as not to 
     be excessed, or make other appropriate notations about its 
     disposition. Until the new system is implemented, notations 
     on holding copies indefinitely will be made on records that 
     are maintained manually.
       GPO will modify the form it uses to make recommendations on 
     excess inventory to include consideration of holding costs.
       The conferees direct that GPO implement and monitor the 
     management of the Sales Program vigilantly under these 
     actions in all cases. In addition, the conferees note that 
     GPO has developed a legislative proposal to authorize the 
     transfer or donation of excess publications to schools or 
     similar institutions, if they are not wanted by the issuing 
     agency. The proposal has been submitted to the appropriate 
     congressional committees.


               government printing office revolving fund

       The conferees agree to a technical change in a heading 
     reference and have deleted the Senate language regarding the 
     time reference for calculating full-time equivalent 
     employment.
       The conference agreement provides that the Government 
     Printing Office (GPO) will make available up to $1,500,000 
     from its revolving fund to the General Accounting Office 
     (GAO) for a management audit of selected GPO procedures and 
     operational processes. It is expected that GAO will rely 
     heavily on outside experts and contract assistance for its 
     reviews, and will report the results no later than April 30, 
     1998, to House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Joint 
     Committee on Printing, Committee on House Oversight, and the 
     Senate Rules and Administration Committee. Specific 
     activities that GAO is instructed to assess and make 
     recommendations on are: (1) the Superintendent of Document's 
     sales program and the procedures involved in the management 
     of publication inventories for the program; (2) the 
     Government Printing Office's printing procurement program 
     including the organization, operation, staffing, marketing, 
     and financing of this program as well as procedures for 
     contracting for printing services from private vendors and 
     the process for determining charges for printing and other 
     services provided to Congress and executive branch agencies; 
     (3) the Government Printing Office's in-plant production 
     including ways to improve its efficiency and cost-
     effectiveness, its organization and the mix of its products, 
     its management and staffing, and the processes for 
     determining charges for printing and other services provided 
     to Congress and the executive branch agencies; (4) the 
     appropriate use of GPO personnel (training, deployment, 
     supervisory structure, etc.); and (5) the Government Printing 
     Office's budgeting, accounting and financial reporting 
     systems including their methodology, presentation, clarity, 
     reliability and ease of interpretation. This management audit 
     must include an objective evaluation of each of these 
     activities with specific recommendations which will improve 
     the efficiently and effectiveness of the Government Printing 
     Office in fulfilling its legal responsibilities. GAO is also 
     instructed to update and assess the implementation status of 
     financial and other management-related observations and 
     recommendations identified during the audit of GPO's 
     consolidated financial statement for the year ended September 
     30, 1995. GAO's reviews should not be encumbered by 
     presupposing that GPO's current operations, including in-
     house printing of the Congressional Record and other 
     resource-intensive Congressional and executive branch 
     publications and operating with three shifts, cannot be 
     changed.

[[Page H7589]]

                       General Accounting Office


                         salaries and expenses

       Makes several punctuation and non-substantive language 
     changes as proposed by the Senate and appropriates 
     $339,499,000 for salaries and expenses. General Accounting 
     Office instead of $323,520,000 as proposed by the House and 
     $346,751,000 as proposed by the Senate. With respect to the 
     provision added by the Senate regarding studies and 
     assessments, the conferees have agreed to drop this 
     provision.

                     TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

       In Title III, General Provisions, section numbers have been 
     changed to conform to the conference agreement. The conferees 
     have agreed to the language of the House bill in section 302, 
     have agreed to the provisions in the House bill regarding 
     ``buy American'', the Legislative Branch Financial Managers 
     Council, and the amendment to title 18, United States Code, 
     covering the use of the House and the Congressional seals. 
     The conferees have also agreed to sections 306 and 309 of the 
     Senate bill regarding section 316 of Public Law 101-302 and 
     the Senate restaurant system. The conferees have agreed to 
     delete section 307 of the Senate bill, which amends the 
     National Energy Conservation Policy Act, and section 308 of 
     the Senate bill, regarding residence of Members of Congress. 
     Also, the conferees have added a new provision which adjusts 
     the cap on nine senior positions in the office of the 
     Architect of the Capitol. The conferees intend that the cap 
     adjustment be used for cost-of-living adjustment purposes.

                       Alternative Fuel Vehicles

       The conferees are aware that the Energy Policy Act of 1992 
     calls for the incorporation of alternative fuel vehicles into 
     Federal fleets, Inclusion of such clean fuel vehicles 
     provides needed air quality benefits for the Nation's 
     Capital. The conferees note that Senate report language 
     directs the Architect of the Capitol and the Senate Sergeant 
     at Arms to report to the Senate Committee on Appropriations 
     by January 1, 1998, on how they could incorporate alternative 
     fuel vehicles into their fleets consistent with their needs 
     and requirements. Accordingly, the conferees direct the 
     Comptroller General of the States, the Public Printer, the 
     Capitol Police Board, the Clerk of the House, the Secretary 
     of the Senate, and the Librarian of Congress, as well as the 
     Senate Sergeant of Arms and the Architect of the Capitol to 
     report to their respective Committees on Appropriations on a 
     plan that would incorporate alternative fuel vehicles into 
     their fleets consistent with their needs and requirements and 
     the Energy Policy Act of 1992.

                   CONFERENCE TOTAL--WITH COMPARISONS

       The total new budget (obligational) authority for the 
     fiscal year 1998 recommended by the Committee of Conference, 
     with comparisons to the fiscal year 1997 amount, the 1998 
     budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 1998 
     follow:

New Budget (obligational authority, fiscal year 1997.....$2,202,881,200
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal y2,394,560,000
House bill, fiscal year 1998..............................1,711,417,000
Senate bill, fiscal year 1998.............................2,283,746,000
Conference agreement, fiscal year 1998....................2,248,676,500
     Conference agreement, compared with:
  New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1997.....+45,795,300
  Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal -145,883,500
  House bill, fiscal year 1998.............................+537,259,500
  Senate bill, fiscal year 1998.............................-35,069,500

     James T. Walsh,
     Bill Young,
     R. Duke Cunningham,
     Zach Wamp,
     Tom Latham,
     Bob Livingston,
     Jose E. Serrano,
     Vic Fazio,
     Marcy Kaptur,
     David Obey,
                                Managers on the Part of the House.

     Robert F. Bennett,
     Ted Stevens,
     Larry E. Craig,
     Thad Cochran,
     Byron L. Dorgan,
     Barbara Boxer,
     Robert Byrd,
     Managers on the Part of the Senate.

                          ____________________