[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AMENDING STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 151, submitted 
earlier today by Senators Warner and Ford.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 151) to amend the Standing Rules of 
     the Senate to require the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration to develop, implement, and update as necessary 
     a strategic planning process for the functional and technical 
     infrastructure support of the Senate.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on Rules and 
Administration, it is my job to ensure that our colleagues have the 
support services they need to perform our constitutional 
responsibilities. Almost all of those services rely on information 
technology which must be coordinated between various authorities in the 
Senate. Ultimately, however, it is the Rules Committee that sets the 
overall policies for these services and remains responsible for 
ensuring that the needs of Senators and committees are met.
  With the explosion in information technology, and the increasing 
sophistication of our user community, it is almost a full time job to 
ensure that the Senate keeps up with changes in technology in a timely 
manner. To assist in our responsibilities, the Committee sought the 
advice of outside experts with considerable experience advising both 
governmental entities and private industry in making the information 
technology and infrastructure support delivery decisions.
  The consulting firm of Booz-Allen & Hamilton thoroughly reviewed our 
service delivery systems in the Senate, with considerable cooperation 
and participation by members' offices and the officers of the Senate. 
Booz-Allen has advised the Committee that the implementation of a 
strategic planning process for reviewing and coordinating the 
information technology and infrastructure support services of the 
Senate would enable us to make more cost-effective decisions about how 
to deliver those services.
  The ranking member, Senator Ford, and I agree that this is a business 
practice that can prove very beneficial for the Senate. The resolution 
that we offer establishes that strategic planning process. I urge the 
adoption of the resolution.
  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, the Committee on Rules and Administration 
has the responsibility of ensuring that everything runs smoothly in the 
Senate. We have to stay current on the latest technology to be 
responsive to the needs of Senators and committees, and to make sure 
that we are using taxpayers' dollars wisely. There is a very delicate 
balance to strike between taking care of Members' individual needs and 
ensuring that the overall administration of the Senate functions in a 
coordinated and efficient manner.
  To help the Rules Committee meet our responsibilities under the 
Standing Rules, the Committee solicited the advice of the consulting 
firm of Booz-Allen & Hamilton. Booz-Allen came before the Committee and 
presented their recommendations for how the Committee, and the Senate 
as a whole, can ensure that information technology and infrastructure 
support are more effectively and efficiently delivered in the Senate. 
Their recommendations include applying concepts that have worked in the 
private sector to bring efficiencies to technology and infrastructure 
support delivery. Specifically, Booz-Allen recommends that the Senate 
implement a strategic planning process for the delivery of information 
technology and infrastructure support.
  This resolution provides for the creation of a strategic planning 
process in the Senate. I urge adoption of the resolution.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table; and that any statements relating to the resolution appear at the 
appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 151) was agreed to, as follows:

                              S. Res. 151

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. AMENDMENT TO THE STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE.

       Paragraph 1(n)(2) of rule XXV of the Standing Rules of the 
     Senate is amended--
       (1) in division (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in division (B), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) develop, implement, and update as necessary a 
     strategy planning process and a strategic plan for the 
     functional and technical infrastructure support of the Senate 
     and provide oversight over plans developed by Senate officers 
     and others in accordance with the strategic planning 
     process.''.

     SEC. 2. COOPERATION BY OFFICES OF THE SENATE.

       (a) Secretary of the Senate.--The Secretary of the Senate 
     shall assist the efforts of the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration with respect to the development and 
     implementation of a strategic plan for the functional and 
     technical infrastructure support of the Senate. The Secretary 
     shall prepare for approval by the Committee implementation 
     plans, including proposed budgets, for the areas of 
     infrastructure support for which the Secretary is 
     responsible.
       (b) Sergeant at Arms.--The Sergeant at Arms shall assist 
     the efforts of the Committee on Rules and Administration with 
     respect to the development and implementation of a strategic 
     plan for the functional and technical infrastructure support 
     of the Senate. The Sergeant at Arms shall prepare for 
     approval by the Committee implementation plans, including 
     proposed budgets, for the areas of infrastructure support for 
     which the Sergeant at Arms is responsible.




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