[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 85 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H5332-H5352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 489 and rule
XXIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House
on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 4112.
{time} 1404
In the Committee of the Whole
Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill
(H.R. 4112) making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes, with Mr.
Hansen in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered as having
been read the first time.
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Under the rule, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) and the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh).
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4112, the
Legislative Branch appropriations bill for fiscal year 1999. This is a
good bill for the House, a balanced piece of legislation representing
the views of every member of our subcommittee, and, most importantly,
provides for the needs of the House to conduct its business here in a
responsible and effective manner.
Before I present a general overview, Mr. Chairman, I want to thank
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), the ranking member of the
subcommittee. Never let it be said that upstate and downstate New York
cannot work together. I would like to thank him for his tremendous help
and hard work in producing this legislation. Working with the gentleman
from New York for me is a personal pleasure and one I consider a
distinct honor. This bipartisan legislation is the result of our close
working relationship, and I thank him for all that help. I would also
like to extend a personal thanks to the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Young), the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham), the gentleman
from Iowa (Mr. Latham) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp) on
the majority side and the gentleman from California (Mr. Fazio) and the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) on the minority for their time and
effort in producing this legislation. Also, Mr. Livingston, the
chairman of the committee, and Mr. Obey, the ranking member of the full
committee, participated heartily, and I thank them.
Mr. Chairman, the House and in particular this subcommittee, is
losing one of its key Members at the conclusion of the 105th Congress.
The gentleman from California (Mr. Fazio) has been an outstanding
member of our subcommittee. He formerly chaired the Subcommittee on the
Legislative Branch and has always had the overall interest of the House
first and foremost on his mind. I have benefited from his wisdom and
his counsel this year and last, and I want to publicly thank him for
all the help and guidance that he has provided. The gentleman has been
a great defender of this institution and we will miss him very much.
Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. WALSH. I yield to the gentleman from California.
Mr. FAZIO of California. First of all I want to thank the gentleman
for those very kind comments. I want to say that I was born a Red Sox
fan and have been one my entire 55 years. It grates me greatly to have
to praise two Yankee fans who have worked so well together, but I say
regardless of the issues that come before this committee and however
anyone may vote on this bill, the two of them have established their
own tradition and done an outstanding job on behalf of the institution.
I think all Members of both parties need to recognize their
contribution and appreciate the great work that the two of them have
done for the House of Representatives.
Mr. WALSH. I thank the gentleman very much for his kind words. I
would just suggest to him that I too am a Red Sox fan, although I am
very deeply a Yankees fan. I had a great uncle play baseball for the
Red Sox back about 60 years ago, actually about 80 years ago, and was
with them the last time they won the world series in, I believe it was
1918. He played with Babe Ruth and then the Babe, as we know, went to
New York. The rest is, as they say, history.
Again, I thank the gentleman for all his help in this bill and for
the work that he has done.
Mr. Chairman, a bill like this is not prepared without yeoman effort
on the part of staff. My personal thanks to Ed Lombard for his help and
guidance throughout this process. I think that almost every Member of
the House recognizes Ed's dedication to the Legislative Branch and to
this process each year. He truly is the gem of this bill. Lucy Hand of
the gentleman from New York's staff has again contributed greatly to
the product brought forward here today and I thank her for all of her
help. Tom Martin, on loan to us from the Library of Congress, and
Johanna Kenny of my staff also deserve special recognition for their
hard work.
Mr. Chairman, let me also restate something I mentioned last year
when bringing the Legislative Branch appropriations bill before the
floor. We the members are fortunate to have some of the most loyal and
dedicated people in the world working here with us on a daily basis.
Both those who help maintain our facilities here in the House and those
who work with many of the offices connected to the House deserve the
thanks of every Member who serves here.
Mr. Chairman, just to provide a few specifics about this bill. First
of all, the appropriation level is $1.8 billion for fiscal year 1999.
Compared to last year we are just about $30 million above. I would
remind those who are not familiar with this bill that these are not
funds just for the House of Representatives. This funds the Library of
Congress, the Architect of the Capitol, the General Accounting Office,
the Congressional Budget Office, the Government Printing Office, the
Botanic Garden, the Capitol Hill Police and other agencies. So it is a
rather extensive bill.
What we have provided for is about a 1.7 percent increase in the
budget over last year. I think it is important to note that since all
of our employees will be getting a 3 percent plus, about 3.1 percent
increase, cost of living allowance, that to bring this bill in under 2
percent with a 3 percent across-the-board increase for staff was a real
challenge and I am very proud of the work product.
The outlays is an increase of about $7 million in net outlays, that
is only .45 percent above last year. The savings, if I might, since the
104th Congress when our party became the majority party, is $78 million
below the level that this Legislative Branch was funded at in 1994.
Including the 1999 bill, the cumulative Legislative appropriations
savings have been over a half billion dollars.
Mr. Chairman, I think that people would expect us to lead by our
example in this government downsizing, rightsizing, and I think that we
have done that. I think that this budget, the Legislative Branch
budget, has done more to show leadership in reducing the size of
government, making it more effective, everyone is working faster and
smarter and harder, so I think this is a real tribute to the efforts
and it has been tough. It has been very difficult to get those numbers
down. Because we are talking about people and we are talking about
service to people.
The employment levels. This bill cuts another 438 full-time
equivalent positions, down some 2 percent from last year. Overall since
1994, we are down over 15 percent below 1994 levels of employment. No
other branch of the Federal Government has made that sort of a
commitment to downsizing. What we have done is we have given the
Architect of the Capitol and the Government Printing Office the
opportunity and the statutory ability to manage that downsizing through
a buyout program which gives employees something when they leave office
and it also gives the management some tools to manage that downsizing
to make sure that services continue, or improve even.
Lastly, let me just point out that there are two or three other
aspects that I think are important. One is that the Joint Committee on
Printing is only funded for 3 more months in this bill. The House and
the Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Printing have asked us to
do that because they are going to eliminate this joint committee. Again
the idea of downsizing government. Again I mentioned the buyout
programs.
One interesting feature of this bill will be that we will provide
funding for the Congressional Cemetery which really has no connection
with this body other than a number of members are buried there along
with many other very famous Americans, including the great American
musician and legend John Phillips Sousa is buried there. That has been
declared a historic preservation site. We provide a million dollars of
taxpayers' money to be matched by the Foundation for the National
Historic Trust for Historic Preservation, they will help raise a
million dollars together with the Cemetery Association, and that will
create an endowment for the routine maintenance in
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perpetuity of that beautiful old cemetery right here in the city of
Washington.
I would like to credit Jim Oliver who is the chairman of the board of
the Congressional Cemetery who works right here on the floor of the
House for the work that he has done, using volunteer help, catch as
catch can, to keep that cemetery up in a proper manner. This, Mr.
Chairman, I think, is an effort, a one-shot deal. We will do this and
then we will get out of it. The Architect will stay involved as a
member of the board of trustees to keep our oversight interest in front
of that board, but then we are finished with it. I would like to thank
again all the people who helped to put this bill together, in
particular the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano).
Mr. Chairman, I submit the following details and tabular material for
the Record:
Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, 1999
recommendations for fiscal year 1998
$1.8 billion ($1,804,689,700) in New Obligational authority
of which $1.113 billion ($1,113,521,700) if for Congressional
operations exclusive of Senate items. The balance of the
bill, $691 million ($691,168,000) is for the operations of
the other legislative branch agencies.
Reduction: $129.6 million ($129,592,900) under the budget
reuqest, a 6.7% reduction.
Above 1998 appropriations: $29.8 million ($29,813,900)
above the current fiscal year--1.68%.
Above 1998 Outlays: An increase of $7 million in net
outlays from new budget authority above the amount provided
in FY1998. That's only 4/10ths of 1 percent. Outlays from
prior year authority (which we have no control of in this
bill-- are up $44 million.
components of increase
Mandatory: There is an increase of $45.6 million
($45,126,500) primarily because of the 3.1% staff cola
projected for 1999.
Price Level: $4 million ($4,089,000) for price increases
(travel, utilities, etc.); agencies were held to a 2%
increase.
Program changes: A reduction of $19.4 million ($19,401,600)
in programs--
House is up a net of $2.3 million in program changes
($2,272,400), including $2.8 million primarily to finance
year 2000 fixes and to makeup lost revenue due to migration
of the HIR mainframe to a client/server architecture.
A net $360,000 reduction in program costs of joint items.
Office of compliance: A net $279,000 reduction in program
costs due to a diminished workload.
CBO: A $325,000 reduction in program costs.
Architect of the Capital: A $20,556,000 reduction in
program costs.
Government Printing Office: A $7,204,000 savings generated
by an investment in new technology.
The Library of Congress: A $1,253,000 program increase to
finance the installation of the integrated library system
(ILS) and to bring the library's computers into compliance
with the year 2000.
GAO: A $5,404,000 increase, to makeup for a loss of
building rental receipts.
major items in the bill
House of Representatives--$734,107,000.
Increase of $5,490,000 for staff COLA's in Members'
Offices.
Increase of $4,572,000 for COLA's for committee staff.
Increase of $5,635,000 for the offices of the House.
Clerk's budget reduced $362,000 due to lower costs for
closed captioning and stenographic reporting contracts.
Sergeant at Arms reduced in supplies and equipment,
reflecting one-time purchases in FY 1998.
CAO's operation reduced by 18 FTE's; overall increase of
$6,484,000 relfects increase to cover lost computer time
reimbursements and equipment and furniture purchases for
first session of 106th Congress.
Inspector general and other offices of the House held to
COLA increases.
Allowances and expenses, an increase of $8,712,000, 97% of
it due to increased costs for staff benefits.
Joint Economic Committee--funded at request level, an
increase of $46,000 for committee staff COLA's.
Joint Committee on Printing--three months' funding at
request of Chairman Warner and Vice Chairman Thomas;
provision for additional amount for the Committee on House
Oversight, if legislation increases that committee's
jurisdiction over the Government Printing Office.
Joint Committee on Taxation--$6,018,000, the amount
requested for current programs and to pay for staff COLA's
Attending physician--$1,383,000, current programs plus COLA
costs.
Capitol police--$76,381,000, including $72,615,000 for
salaries (COLA's and ``comparability'' funded) and $3,766,000
for expenses including travel, communications equipment and a
hazardous materials training program ($260,000). All other
expense items held to a 2% increase.
Guides and special services office--$2,110,000, providing
for staff COLA costs. Request for three additional FTE's not
provided.
Office of Compliance--$2,086,000, providing for a lower
staff level. Committee report directs budget formulation for
FY2000 should reflect lowered level of activity, not that the
intensive startup costs for this office are no longer needed.
Congressional Budget Office--$25,671,000, an increase of
$874,000 to pay for staff COLA's. The committee report
directs CBO to report to House and Senate committees--the
earlier of August 30 or before conference on this bill--on
variances between CBO estimates and actual outcomes for
revenue, deficit and expenditure forecasts.
Architect of the Capitol--$136,399,000, a decrease of $18.3
million (18,325,000) from FY1998. Operating budget increase
of $4,808,000 to cover staff COLA's and overall 2% increase
in non-personnel costs. Capital budget at $22,133,000 lower
than FY1998 due to one time costs for urgent work on the
Capitol dome and security for the Capitol square perimeter
which were funded in a fiscal year 1998 supplemental.
Congressional cemetery: Grant provided to establish
permanent endowment, to be matched by private donations, to
cover annual maintenance.
Power plant: Provision included (sec. 308) to provide
authority for architect to use energy savings performance
contracts to refit the east plant chiller.
Audio Visual Conservation Center: Provision to limit
expenditures for capital costs at this new library building
in Culpeper, Virginia and to specify that expenditures shall
be at a 3:1 ratio, private-to-public.
Employeee buyout program: Section 309--authority given to
the Architect of the Capitol to establish a retirement
incentive payment (buyout) program through FY2001. The
Architect will use this program to realign operations, to
eliminate duplicative operations and for other efficiencies.
Congressional Research Service--$66,688,000, providing for
mandatory pay costs for current FTE level of 747. CRS
requested funds for 20 additional staff to be repeated each
year for five years to bring on apprentice staff for
mentoring before the aging workforce retires. At the time of
the hearings (February) and continuing to today, the
committee believes there are ample vacancies at CRS to
carryout this program.
Library of Congress (except CRS)--$291,701,000. This
provides funds for the current employment level, modest (2%
overall) increases in nonpersonnel costs. Funds are provided
to comply with the year 2000 problem and for the integrated
library system.
Routine administrative provisions plus new provision (sec.
207) providing authority for the Library to receive and
credit funds from entities involved with the Global Legal
Information Network (GLIN) program in the law library.
Provides funds for additional 3,766 playback machines for
blind and physically handicapped readers, an increase of 18%
over the past two years.
Government Printing Office--$103,729,000 and 3,416 FTE's, a
decrease of $7,017,000 and 134 FTE's.
Congressional printing and binding--$74,465,000, a decrease
of $7,204,000.
Superintendent of Documents--$29,264,000, an increase of
$187,000 for staff COLA's.
GPO costs too high: GAO management review (Booz-Allen &
Hamilton contract) found costs and staffing levels at
the plant, in the printing procurement program and sales
program too high. They also found a higher percentage of
the workforce eligible to retire than elsewhere in
Government.
GPO employee buyout: The bill includes a provision (sec.
310) providing Public Printer authority to establish a
retirement incentive (buyout) and early out programs to
reduce personnel costs at GPO.
General Accounting Office--$354,238,000 plus authority to
spend $2,000,000 in receipts for audits, an increase of
$14,739,000. This includes $5,404,000 to make up for no
longer available building rental receipts.
Provides funds, including COLA's, for 3,225 FTE's, a slight
increase in the level projected for FY 1998.
Committee report directs GAO to train staff in contract
management skills to increase the agency's ability to utilize
consulting firms and other experts in lieu of internal staff.
General and administrative provisions: Several housekeeping
provisions:
Sec. 101--Remove the Architect from the House page board.
Sec. 102--Increase the authorization for interparliamentary
receptions to $80,000.
Sec. 103--Authorization for training and program
development programs for House leadership offices.
Sec. 104--Technical amendment to conform statutes to
current structure of the Members' representational allowance.
Sec. 105--Provision requested by chairman and ranking
minority member of Ethics Committee to postpone identifying,
in the CAO's statement of disbursements, witnesses appearing
in executive session before the committee.
Sec. 106--Provision authorizing Committee on House
Oversight to prescribe conditions appropriate to non-official
business use of supplies and equipment.
Sec. 107--A provision authorizing 1 consultant each for
Speaker and two leaders and limiting rate of payment to per
diem of committee staff.
Sec. 108--Provision authorizing a transit subsidy program
for staff of the House.
Sec. 109--Provision carried as general provision in last
year's act that provides that
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unspent MRA funds shall be used for deficit reduction.
Routine administration provisions for the Capitol Police
and Library of Congress have been included as well as the new
provision mentioned earlier for the Library and the two
provisions mentioned earlier for the Architect.
interesting comparisons
The 1.68 percent increase is less than inflation.
Outlays for spending in the bill increase $7 million--an
increase of \4/10\ of one percent.
FTE's are reduced by 438. Since 1994, the legislative
branch employment base will be down over 4,300 FTE's. That's
a 15.7 percent reduction.
summary
BA compared to:
1998 operating level: +$29.8 million (+1.68 percent).
1999 request: -$129.6 million (-6.7 percent).
302b: -$17.3 million reduction under our 302b's (Senate
excluded).
Outlays compared to:
1998 operating level: +$51 million (+2.9 percent) increase.
$44 million are in prior year outlays over which we have no
control.
1999 request: -$96 million (5.1 percent decrease).
302b: -$25 million (-1.4 percent) reduction under pro rata
share (Senate excluded).
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Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 4112. To repeat what I said
at the full committee and before the committee, it has been a great
personal pleasure for me to work on this bill with the gentleman from
New York (Mr. Walsh), our chairman. The gentleman from New York is a
friend of mine and I am a longtime fan of his. In fact, the sad part of
this week's baseball game, congressional baseball game, was that since
he and I retired for one year, no one wore that illustrious uniform of
the New York Yankees at this game, something we will take care of when
he gets back in shape and plays next year.
{time} 1415
The other: The gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) has been very kind
to all the Members. He has been very fair, bipartisan. He is a very
knowledgeable chairman, Mr. Chairman, and he is just the kind of person
that I am glad to work with, and one of the main reasons why I support
this bill the way I do was because whatever shortcomings the bill may
have, I know that there are issues that he wanted to deal with and
perhaps fell short in trying to make the perfect bill that he would
have wanted.
The other members of the subcommittee, too, have worked well
together: the gentleman from California (Mr. Fazio), the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) on our side, whose combined knowledge of the
legislative branch is staggering, along with the gentleman from Florida
(Mr. Young), the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham), the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp), the gentleman from Iowa (Mr.
Latham), and the chairman and ranking Democrat of the full committee,
the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Livingston) and the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).
Once again I will do what so many people have done, but I think it
merits mentioning every so often, and that is the fact that this
institution and all of us are going to miss the gentleman from
California (Vic Fazio) very much. Other Members have talked about his
many talents and qualities, his experience, his insight, his wisdom,
his fairness. Let me add that no one has been more consistently devoted
to this place or had more knowledge of its inner workings than the
gentleman from California (Mr. Fazio). His retirement will leave an
enormous gap that we must struggle to fill.
And of course we could not have this bill here before us today if it
was not for the very able staff that we all have. Few can match Ed
Lombard's experience and knowledge or Greg Dahlberg's skill and
expertise. Tom Martin has provided valuable service to the subcommittee
and each Member's own staff, and I would like to take this opportunity
to commend my own staff member, Lucy Hand, for the work that she always
does for the committee.
The gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), the other Members and I
share a belief and commitment to the House as an institution. This is
the People's House where we carry out the governmental roles of
enacting the Nation's laws, overseeing and investigating Federal
programs, and, yes, checking and balancing the executive and judicial
branches. In these historic surroundings and in the presence of the
public, people come to us to petition their government and to see how
their laws are made. Tourists visit the inspiring Capitol building
which is a symbol of our democracy as well as our own workplace.
Mr. Chairman, the congressional complex has been compared to a small
city. It has an infrastructure of buildings and roads, water and sewer,
phones and cables. It offers amenities such as visitors' tours, health
care and public safety. A huge number and variety of people work here
or come to visit. We all want to ensure that the House operates
efficiently to protect and enhance the Capitol and the other buildings
and grounds and to protect the health, safety and security of all.
We must in this bill provide resources sufficient to run an
enterprise of this size and complexity.
Mr. Chairman, this is on balance a good bill, given the constraints
the committee is working under this year and for the last couple of
years. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) has explained the bill
in detail, but I will add a couple of comments:
First of all, the increase of 1.7 is really above last year, is
really less than the expected rate of inflation and less than the
likely 3.1 percent cost of living adjustment. I think that this merits
the respect of the House because it is not easy to come up with this
kind of a bill and still only increase it by the amount we have.
This covers the operations of the House Member and committee offices,
administrative offices and the legislative support activities of the
Congressional Budget Office, Congressional Research Service and the
Architect of the Capitol. The bill also includes dollars for the
Library of Congress, the General Accounting Office and the Government
Printing Office.
And while the bill continues to reduce staffing levels, it provides
buyout authority to the Architect and the GPO so they can manage staff
reductions and restructuring. Buyouts are less expensive, less
disruptive and less harmful to the affected workers than the
alternative reductions in work force.
I repeat that this is a good bill, and I will continue to speak for
the bill, Mr. Chairman, during this debate. I hope that at the end of
it, it will have bipartisan support and that the work that the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) and our committee has done will be
appreciated by all Members.
This covers the operations of House Member and Committee offices,
administrative offices, and the legislative support activities of the
Congressional Budget Office, Congressional Research Service, and the
Architect of the Capitol.
The bill also includes $691 for other agencies such as the Library of
Congress, General Accounting Office, and Government Printing Office.
While the bill continues to reduce staffing levels, it provides
buyout authority to the Architect and the GPO so they can manage staff
reductions and restructuring. Buyouts are less expensive, less
disruptive, and less harmful to the affected workers than the
alternative, reductions-in-force.
Mr. Speaker, I repeat that this is a good bill. However, there are
concerns on our side that must be expressed.
First, however modest the increase in total spending over last year
is--and I believe 1.7% is modest--it is still an increase. Other
appropriations bills contain drastic cuts and even terminations in
programs of great importance to the American people, especially the
most vulnerable Americans.
Second, the bill provides funding for only one quarter for the Joint
Committee on Printing. This was at the request of the Chairmen of the
House Oversight and Senate Rules Committees and assumes that Title 44
reform, including disposition of JCP's functions, will be completed by
the end of 1998. However, there are not many legislative days left in
this session and no legislation has been introduced, so completing
reform seems unlikely.
Third, spending in the 105th Congress out of the Speaker's ``reserve
fund for unanticipated expenses of committees'' was included in the
base used to calculate the fiscal year 1999 ``Committee Employees''
appropriation. We understand that whether there is a slush fund in the
106th Congress will be decided when the new Congress adopts its rules
and its Committee Funding Resolution. And that is the way funds should
be allocated among Committees--by a vote of the House. They should not
be held in reserve to be distributed at the whim of one party's
leadership through a Committee strongly weighted toward that party.
I supported Mr. Hoyer's attempt to have an amendment made in order
that would limit funds available for the disbursements from the reserve
fund.
Sadly, the amendment was not made in order under the rule, and the
House is denied the opportunity to vote on how Committee funds should
be allocated.
I am also sorry that Rules did not waive points of order against
Section 108, as it did for every other provision subject to a point of
order. Section 108 was a Hoyer amendment adopted in Committee, based on
a resolution by Mr. Blumenauer.
The amendment would have required the Oversight Committee to
institute a program through which employing offices, including Members,
could offer transit subsidies to employees who do not have parking
spaces or belong to car pools. It is past time for the House to join
the Senate, the Architect's office, the executive branch, and much of
the private sector.
More than half the Members of the House, of the Appropriations
Committee, even of the
[[Page H5340]]
House Oversight Committee, are cosponsors of Mr. Blumenauer's bill, so
I would have thought a clean vote on whether or not to strike the
provision would have been fair, but as it is, the provision can be
stricken on a point of order.
Other problems facing the bill are not due to the bill itself but to
the atmosphere in the House.
There are numerous ongoing, duplicative, highly partisan
investigations. The Democratic Leader recently released a report that
found that more than $17 million in taxpayers' dollars has been spent
to date on more than 50 investigations involving 15 of the 20 standing
committees of the House.
This is just too much. Congress is wasting time and money on witch
hunts when the business the people expect us to do is undone.
There is also a general disregard for the rights of the minority.
While some of the more egregious offenses I mentioned last year--like
denying Ranking Democrats the right to offer amendments to their
bills--have subsided, there are constant irritations, such as the
uneven division of suspensions between the parties.
And overall, there is a general lack of civility and respect.
Still, Mr. Speaker, Chairman Walsh has done a good job and this is a
good bill. I will vote for it and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Cunningham) a member of the subcommittee.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Walsh) and I would like to thank my good friend, the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano). I serve on another committee, on
the Committee on National Security, and it is a pleasure because of the
bipartisanship. Does not mean that we do not have disagreements from
time to time, but the atmosphere, the friendliness, the working, and
their willingness not to continue with the, as my colleagues know,
bigger government and tax and spend, but to serve by example to reduce
the size to useful government; and the fact that good government does
not have to be an oxymoron. I would like to thank the gentleman from
New York (Mr. Serrano) and I would like to thank the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Walsh) for delivering on those kind of promises and making it
a very desirable committee to serve on.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Doggett).
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate very much the bipartisan
spirit with which this piece of legislation is brought to the floor,
but I regret to inform the House, as I did during the rule debate, that
a bipartisan effort to try to get some attention on the tons of paper
and bottles and cans that go through this building and to see that they
are addressed with the same amount of environmental sensitivity that
families across this country use and that many businesses use in having
a competent recycling program has been totally missing from this House
in the last 3\1/2\ years.
Let me recite the facts:
For 3 of the last 3\1/2\ years that this House has been under
Republican control, there has been no recycling coordinator in this
Congress. Indeed there is no recycling coordinator today. As we debate
today this bill, there is no recycling plan in place. As we debate this
bill there is no recycling of mixed paper in this House; indeed that is
zero, zip, nada, being done with reference to recycling of mixed paper.
Why is that particularly important? Because since there is no
recycling coordinator and no real recycling effort, most people, even
if they have the best of intent with regard to recycling, do not have
correct information about how to recycle in a way that will be
effective, and that is reflected in other facts.
When the House did recycle, it earned 30 cents per ton on the paper
that it recycled. Compare that with the Department of Housing and Urban
Development which earned $60 per ton because it did it properly. From
October 1996 to September 1997 the House did not earn a penny because
its recycling was done in such a poor, incomplete, and contaminated
way.
Since the Republicans have been in charge of this House, the amount
of bottle recycling has gone down 83 percent. The amount of can
recycling has gone down 73 percent. If they just put the cans and the
bottles out here on the sidewalk for the homeless to collect, we could
have done better than has been done by the House leadership with
reference to this recycling program.
Look at the number of trees around this country that are cut down
with the flow of paper through this building. We are talking about
whole forests that go down to generate the tons of paper that go
through this building. As best I can estimate, just the Washington Post
alone delivers 15,000 pounds of newsprint here every week. Most of it
is going right into the landfill instead of being recycled in the way
that so many American families realize is best for the future of this
country.
I believe there is some bipartisan interest in this issue, as was
voiced earlier, and I appreciate the willingness to accept the
amendment of the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr). But it is going
to take far more than a few dollars. It is going to require a
significant change in attitude by the leadership of this House if we
are going to reverse this very serious environmental problem here in
the Congress.
This Congress ought to be leading the way, it ought to be following
the businesses and the schoolchildren and the millions of families
across this country that recycle. Instead the performance of this House
represents a national disgrace on this issue, and it needs to be
corrected immediately.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I really have to rise again and respond to my colleague
from Texas (Mr. Doggett) regarding the recycling program. There is no
question that we are not perfect. But I would submit that we are
probably doing better than a lot of other communities around this
country, and there really is an effort on the part of this committee
and on the part of the Republican leadership to do a better job at
recycling.
I cannot understand for the life of me how anyone can make this a
partisan issue. We are all united, Republicans, Democrats, and the
Independent Member of the Congress are all united in this. What it
requires is some leadership on the part of each Member to sit down with
their staff and say, as my colleagues know, this is mixed paper, this
is fine paper, and this is wet waste, and put labels on the trash cans
and implement this.
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. WALSH. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. DOGGETT. I guess the reason that it becomes an issue that relates
to whether there is a commitment by the Republican leadership to
address this, is our inability to get a recycling coordinator in place
and our inability to even get a copy of the report.
Mr. WALSH. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, the gentleman takes
issue with the fact that there is not a coordinator in place, and
apparently there is a labor dispute between that individual and the
Office of Compliance, and so it has been tied up. But the fact of the
matter is the Architect's Office is responsible for this.
I have a letter here that I would enter into the Record, but
basically it says it is addressed to me from Architect Alan Hantman:
I am writing with respect to the office waste recycling
program in the House. I want to reassure the committee of my
personal commitment to the success of this worthy program. I
want to thank you and the committee for assuring that
sufficient funds and other resources have been made available
to carry out the recycling program over the past several
years,
et cetera, et cetera.
The letter in its entirety is as follows:
The Architect of the Capitol,
Washington, DC, June 24, 1998.
Hon. James T. Walsh,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch Appropriations,
Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing with respect to the office
waste recycling program in the House office buildings. I want
to reassure the Committee of my personal commitment to the
success of this worthy program. Further, I want to thank you
and the Committee for assuring that sufficient funds and
other resources have been made available to carry out the
recycling program over the
[[Page H5341]]
past several years. It is clearly the responsibility of this
office to assure that those resources are used expeditiously
and continuously to make certain the recycling program is a
success.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any
questions on this matter.
Sincerely,
Alan M. Hantman, AIA,
Architect of the Capitol.
Now we have accepted the gentleman from California's amendment (Mr.
Farr). We are about to accept it. And we will do that, but it is a
friendly amendment. Again, it is not a partisan issue. We are working
together to try to resolve these things, and the gentleman from Texas,
I think, misstated or misquoted the facts when he said that we are not
doing anything to recycle waste. In fact, we generated 3,400 tons of
office waste last year, and we recycled almost 2,000 of those. Almost
60 percent of the office waste was recycled. Of the overall waste
stream, we are recycling at least 25 percent. That is as good, if not
better, than most communities in America.
So, as my colleagues know, we are trying to do the best we can. We
can do better, but it is going to require that we all work together in
this, we should not make it a partisan issue. Let us work together, and
I think we can do a better job.
Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Camp).
Mr. CAMP. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding this time
to me and for his leadership.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this bill and for its provision
which would require that Members' unspent office funds go back to the
Treasury to be used to reduce the national debt.
The fiscal year 1999 legislative branch appropriations bill continues
our assault on the national debt and reduces spending by 77 million
over 1995 levels. This majority has achieved in 3 years what has eluded
the Congress for 3 decades, a balanced budget, and we must not rest. We
must remain committed to maintaining a balanced budget and continue
working toward reducing the national debt.
This bill with a provision in it offered by the Representative from
Indiana (Mr. Roemer) and myself will ensure that Members of Congress
can demonstrate their personal commitment to a balanced budget. This
provision requires Members' unspent office funds be used for debt
reduction.
This measure has been proposed for the last 8 years. It was first
adopted by the new majority with a large bipartisan vote 3 years ago,
and for the first time ever has been included in the chairman's draft,
and I thank the chairman for his leadership on this issue.
Requiring unspent office funds for debt reduction allows us to
demonstrate our personal commitment to a truly debt-free Nation by
running our offices in a efficient and frugal manner. What better
example can we set in returning our unspent office funds to the
American people? As taxpayers and Members of Congress, we should do our
part to reduce the debt.
I thank the gentleman again, and I thank the gentleman from Indiana
for his leadership and work on this important provision.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Roemer).
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Roemer).
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer) is recognized
for 3 minutes.
{time} 1430
Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from New York for yielding
me this time.
Mr. Chairman, I rise on an historic day when we will reform the IRS
for the first time in 46 years. We will follow up on a capital gains
tax cut for the American people, and for the first time, in the
underlying bill, we will give Members of Congress a direct opportunity
to return money from their office accounts directly to deficit and/or
debt reduction. This is something that I want to commend the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Walsh) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano)
on.
In previous years I offered this amendment and Committee on Rules
would not allow it to be brought forward. It was called the ``Speaker's
slush fund'' under Democrats and Republicans that this money went to.
Finally, and I give accolades to the Republican majority, we offered
this as an amendment on the House floor and we successfully attached it
to the bill. Three years ago, two years ago, last year, and this year,
for the first time, the very first time, it is included on page 10.
So I am very happy to work with my good friend, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Camp). The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp) and I have
sponsored this legislation through the years and, slowly but surely,
convinced our colleagues that this is a good thing.
I have returned $915,000, close to $1 million, out of my office
funds. I do not think that money should go toward Capitol repair or an
elevator floor made out of marble. I think that money should go to debt
reduction. I think that money should go back to the U.S. Treasury. I do
not think that money should be respent on something here in Washington,
D.C.
So, with that, I would ask the distinguished chairman, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Walsh), if he would engage in a very short colloquy.
Mr. Chairman, as we have been discussing through the years, the
language on page 10 reads that ``Members' representational allowances
shall be allowable only for fiscal year 1999. Any amount remaining
after all payments are made under such allowances for such fiscal years
shall be deposited in the Treasury to be used for deficit reduction.''
Now, this is good strong language because I think, regardless, it
remains in the Treasury under this language. But if in fact, Mr.
Chairman, we have a surplus this year, which it appears we will, and
there is not a deficit, we want to make sure this money goes toward
debt reduction.
Is it the gentleman's interpretation and intention in conference to
clarify this language to include debt reduction?
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. ROEMER. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
Mr. WALSH. The gentleman is correct. It is our understanding,
regardless of the situation presented by the economy or by the budget,
a deficit or surplus, and we have the happy confluence of this
amendment being passed at the same time that we do have a surplus, that
that money stays in the Treasury.
Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the chairman
for that clarification and for that dedication to helping continue in a
bipartisan way, to save the taxpayer money.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will yield further, I would
like to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer) and the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Camp) for their persistence on this issue. I am
happy to include it in the bill.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I yield two minutes to the gentleman from
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague for yielding me
time.
Mr. Chairman, I have been disappointed as a Member of this body to
discover that, unlike most other Federal agencies, unlike what we have
done for thousands of employees in private corporations around America,
that we are unable to extend a transit benefit to our employees. It has
been Federal policy since the early 1990s that we encourage this
balanced approach to transportation. It has been occurring in the
Senate since 1992.
I was pleased when I found that the Committee on Appropriations had
added the provisions of House Resolution 37 that would have extended
this program that were amended into the bill. Evidently there may be
some procedural problem or point of order that is raised that would
pull this item from the bill.
I would hope that it would be possible for the House leadership to
come together to make sure that we ultimately have provisions that have
already been supported by over 230 Members of the House that have
cosponsored the legislation. I would hope that at a time when we are
talking about spending billions of dollars to try and somehow
resuscitate the Washington,
[[Page H5342]]
D.C., area and to fight the congestion in the second-most congested
area in the United States, I would hope that we would be able to adopt
this simple program that is already available to most of the employees
on the Hill, because it is good for the environment, because it is good
for reducing congestion, but, most important, because it extends an
important benefit to some of our lowest-paid employees who want to do
the right thing.
Mr. Chairman, I would hope that my colleagues would join with me, in
the event it is not part of this proposal, that we could make sure that
this is fixed before we adjourn for the year.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield two minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) for the purpose of colloquy.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Chairman, since I have come here, I have seen what
I believe to be a shortfall in the way we treat our Capitol Police, and
I do not think there is any Member that does not support our Capitol
Police. Number one, we never see any headlines, and that is the biggest
compliment we can pay them, and they do guard and secure our Nation's
treasures as well as our human resources.
In that regard, Mr. Chairman, they are not paid at a commensurate
level of other law enforcement entities in our Federal Government,
number one, and, number two, after the extreme background checks and
training and all the money we put into them, they are prime targets to
be recruited by other surrounding law enforcement agencies because they
are, in fact, some of the world's finest and the Nation's finest.
Mr. Chairman, I have sponsored legislation to bring them up to par
with some of these other law enforcement entities, and that would have
required a 7 percent increase in their compensation. I want to thank
and compliment the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) and the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano) who did give and include a 3
percent raise. But that still falls $5 million short of compensating
our police at a level commensurate with other similar types of
enforcement entities.
I want to know under what conditions and if the two gentlemen would
work with me to try and bring our Capitol Police up to that level which
I think would ensure they would be retained here after the tremendous
investment of training and background expenditures we make, and that
would keep our morale up in that department, as it should be.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume to
respond to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant).
Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his comments and concern.
Obviously the gentleman speaks for most Members in his affection and
support of the Capitol Hill Police. They do a marvelous job here.
We in our deliberations have provided the Capitol Hill Police with
funding for a similar increase that other Federal employees will
receive. It is our understanding there is a collective bargaining
process ongoing. If there is indeed a collective bargaining agreement,
the process is then that it would have to be reviewed by the Committee
on House Oversight, chaired by the gentleman from California (Mr.
Thomas), and, before that, by the Police Board. Once those two hurdles
are cleared, if these three occurrences came within the period from now
and when we go to conference, I believe we could deal with that issue
when we got to the conference.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. WALSH. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to reassure the gentleman,
both the chairman and the ranking member and members of the committee
want to do everything possible to make sure that we do take care of the
Capitol Police. That is our intent. We obviously recognize that there
are contractual obligations and proceedings that have to take place,
but the gentleman can rest assured that it is our intent that they get
the best and the fairest deal possible.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will yield, here is the
only real issue that I see. Everybody here will take care of them, and
I think the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) has been a great
friend to the police as well, but our Capitol Police are compensated at
a level lower than other Federal law enforcement entities that we fund.
Even though we are talking about these particular elements of
collective bargaining now, we are bargaining over the same type of pay
raise that exists for all. The only point I am making is there is a
discrepancy in that they are, in my opinion, undercompensated, and I
believe that wrong should be righted.
So I would be willing to meet with any and all groups. I know that
the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) has been a fierce supporter
of the Capitol Police, but I want some assurances that we understand,
that it is on the record here, that I believe they are underpaid,
undercompensated for work similar to other Federal law enforcement
agencies, and I think that is wrong and should be corrected.
Mr. Chairman, with that, I want to thank the gentleman from New York
(Chairman Walsh).
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman
for his comments. We will be happy to work with the gentleman if that
series of events occurs.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I again would ask for support for this bill
in a bipartisan manner.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The CHAIRMAN. All time for general debate has expired.
Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read for amendment under
the 5-minute rule.
The text of H.R. 4112 is as follows:
H.R. 4112
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the Legislative
Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for
other purposes, namely:
TITLE I--CONGRESSIONAL OPERATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Payments to Widows and Heirs of Deceased Members of Congress
For payment to Marcia S. Schiff, widow of Steven H. Schiff,
late a Representative from the State of New Mexico, $136,700.
Salaries and Expenses
For salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives,
$733,971,000, as follows:
house leadership offices
For salaries and expenses, as authorized by law,
$13,117,000, including: Office of the Speaker, $1,686,000,
including $25,000 for official expenses of the Speaker;
Office of the Majority Floor Leader, $1,652,000, including
$10,000 for official expenses of the Majority Leader; Office
of the Minority Floor Leader, $1,675,000, including $10,000
for official expenses of the Minority Leader; Office of the
Majority Whip, including the Chief Deputy Majority Whip,
$1,043,000, including $5,000 for official expenses of the
Majority Whip; Office of the Minority Whip, including the
Chief Deputy Minority Whip, $1,020,000, including $5,000 for
official expenses of the Minority Whip; Speaker's Office for
Legislative Floor Activities, $397,000; Republican Steering
Committee, $738,000; Republican Conference, $1,199,000;
Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, $1,295,000;
Democratic Caucus, $642,000; nine minority employees,
$1,190,000; training and program development--majority,
$290,000; and training and program development--minority,
$290,000.
Members' Representational Allowances
Including Members' Clerk Hire, Official
Expenses of Members, and Official Mail
For Members' representational allowances, including
Members' clerk hire, official expenses, and official mail,
$385,279,000.
Committee Employees
Standing Committees, Special and Select
For salaries and expenses of standing committees, special
and select, authorized by House resolutions, $89,743,000:
Provided, That such amount shall remain available for such
salaries and expenses until December 31, 2000.
Committee on Appropriations
For salaries and expenses of the Committee on
Appropriations, $19,373,000, including studies and
examinations of executive agencies and temporary personal
services for such committee, to be expended in accordance
with section 202(b) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of
1946 and to be available for reimbursement to agencies for
services performed: Provided, That such amount shall remain
available for such salaries and expenses until December 31,
2000.
salaries, officers and employees
For compensation and expenses of officers and employees, as
authorized by law, $89,991,000, including: for salaries and
expenses of the Office of the Clerk, including
[[Page H5343]]
not more than $3,500, of which not more than $2,500 is for
the Family Room, for official representation and reception
expenses, $15,365,000; for salaries and expenses of the
Office of the Sergeant at Arms, including the position of
Superintendent of Garages, and including not more than $750
for official representation and reception expenses,
$3,501,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office of the
Chief Administrative Officer, $57,211,000, including
$24,282,000 for salaries, expenses and temporary personal
services of House Information Resources, of which $23,074,000
is provided herein: Provided, That of the amount provided for
House Information Resources, $7,130,000 shall be for net
expenses of telecommunications: Provided further, That House
Information Resources is authorized to receive reimbursement
from Members of the House of Representatives and other
governmental entities for services provided and such
reimbursement shall be deposited in the Treasury for credit
to this account; for salaries and expenses of the Office of
the Inspector General, $3,953,000; for salaries and expenses
of the Office of General Counsel, $840,000; for the Office of
the Chaplain, $133,000; for salaries and expenses of the
Office of the Parliamentarian, including the Parliamentarian
and $2,000 for preparing the Digest of Rules, $1,106,000; for
salaries and expenses of the Office of the Law Revision
Counsel of the House, $1,912,000; for salaries and expenses
of the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House,
$4,980,000; for salaries and expenses of the Corrections
Calendar Office, $799,000; and for other authorized
employees, $191,000.
allowances and expenses
For allowances and expenses as authorized by House
resolution or law, $136,468,000, including: supplies,
materials, administrative costs and Federal tort claims,
$2,575,000; official mail for committees, leadership offices,
and administrative offices of the House, $410,000; Government
contributions for health, retirement, Social Security, and
other applicable employee benefits, $132,832,000; and
miscellaneous items including purchase, exchange,
maintenance, repair and operation of House motor vehicles,
interparliamentary receptions, and gratuities to heirs of
deceased employees of the House, $651,000.
child care center
For salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives
Child Care Center, such amounts as are deposited in the
account established by section 312(d)(1) of the Legislative
Branch Appropriations Act, 1992 (40 U.S.C. 184g(d)(1)),
subject to the level specified in the budget of the Center,
as submitted to the Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives.
Administrative Provisions
Sec. 101. (a) Section 2(a) of House Resolution 611, Ninety-
seventh Congress, agreed to November 30, 1982, as enacted
into permanent law by section 127 of Public Law 97-377 (2
U.S.C. 88b-3), is amended--
(1) by adding ``and'' at the end of paragraph (1);
(2) by striking ``; and'' at the end of paragraph (2) and
inserting a period; and
(3) by striking paragraph (3).
(b) The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with
respect to the One Hundred Sixth Congress and each succeeding
Congress.
Sec. 102. Subsection (b) of the first section of House
Resolution 1047, Ninety-fifth Congress, agreed to April 4,
1978, as enacted into permanent law by section 111 of the
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1979 (2 U.S.C. 130-
1(b)), is amended by striking ``$55,000'' and inserting
``$80,000''.
Sec. 103. (a) There is hereby established an account in the
House of Representatives for purposes of carrying out
training and program development activities of the Republican
Conference and the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
(b) Subject to the allocation described in subsection (c),
funds in the account established under subsection (a) shall
be paid--
(1) for activities of the Republican Conference in such
amounts, at such times, and under such terms and conditions
as the Speaker of the House of Representatives may direct;
and
(2) for activities of the Democratic Steering and Policy
Committee in such amounts, at such times, and under such
terms and conditions as the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives may direct.
(c) Of the total amount in the account established under
subsection (a)--
(1) 50 percent shall be allocated to the Speaker for
payments for activities of the Republican Conference; and
(2) 50 percent shall be allocated to the Minority Leader
for payments for activities of the Democratic Steering and
Policy Committee.
(d) There are authorized to be appropriated to the account
under this section for fiscal year 1999 and each succeeding
fiscal year such sums as may be necessary for training and
program development activities of the Republican Conference
and the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee during the
fiscal year.
Sec. 104. (a) Section 311(e)(2) of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 59(e)(2)) is amended--
(1) by adding ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a period; and
(3) by striking subparagraph (D).
(b) Section 311(e) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 59e(e)) is amended
by striking paragraph (4).
Sec. 105. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any
other rule or regulation, any information on payments made by
the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House
of Representatives to an individual for attendance as a
witness before the Committee in executive session during a
Congress shall be reported not later than the second
semiannual report filed under section 106 of the House of
Representatives Administrative Reform Technical Corrections
Act (2 U.S.C. 104b) in the following Congress.
Sec. 106. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Committee on House Oversight may prescribe by regulation
appropriate conditions for the incidental use, for other than
official business, of equipment and supplies owned or leased
by, or the cost of which is reimbursed by, the House of
Representatives.
(b) The authority of the Committee on House Oversight to
prescribe regulations pursuant to subsection (a) shall apply
with respect to fiscal year 1999 and each succeeding fiscal
year.
Sec. 107. (a) The Speaker, Majority Leader, and Minority
Leader of the House of Representatives are each authorized to
appoint and fix the compensation of 1 consultant, on a
temporary or intermittent basis, at a daily rate of
compensation not in excess of the per diem equivalent of the
highest gross rate of annual compensation which may be paid
to employees of a standing committee of the House.
(b) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year
1999 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Sec. 108. (a) The House of Representatives shall
participate in State and local government transit programs to
encourage employees of the House to use public transportation
pursuant to section 7905 of title 5, United States Code.
(b) The Committee on House Oversight shall issue
regulations pertaining to the participation of the House of
Representatives in State and local government transit
programs through, and at the discretion of, its Members,
committees, officers, and officials.
Sec. 109. Any amount appropriated in this Act for ``HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES--Salaries and Expenses--Members'
Representational Allowances'' shall be available only for
fiscal year 1999. Any amount remaining after all payments are
made under such allowances for such fiscal year shall be
deposited in the Treasury, to be used for deficit reduction.
JOINT ITEMS
For Joint Committees, as follows:
Joint Economic Committee
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Economic Committee,
$2,796,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate.
Joint Committee on Printing
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on
Printing, $202,000, together with an additional amount of
$150,000 if there is enacted into law legislation which
transfers the legislative and oversight responsibilities of
the Joint Committee on Printing to the Committee on House
Oversight of the House of Representatives: Provided, That
such additional amount shall be transferred to the Committee
on House Oversight of the House of Representatives and made
available beginning January 1, 1999.
Joint Committee on Taxation
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on
Taxation, $6,018,000, to be disbursed by the Chief
Administrative Officer of the House.
For other joint items, as follows:
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 to
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, $1,383,000, 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 employee
benefits, $72,615,000, of which $35,022,000 is provided to
the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, to be
disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House,
and $37,593,000 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
[[Page H5344]]
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 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,
$3,766,000, 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 1999 shall be
paid by the Secretary of the Treasury from funds available to
the Department of the Treasury.
Administrative Provision
Sec. 110. Amounts appropriated for fiscal year 1999 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.
Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office
For salaries and expenses of the Capitol Guide Service and
Special Services Office, $2,110,000, 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 second 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), $2,086,000.
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, $25,671,000: 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,
$40,347,000, of which $6,425,000 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, $5,803,000, of which
$325,000 shall remain available until expended.
house office buildings
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and
operation of the House office buildings, $42,139,000, of
which $11,449,000 shall remain available until expended.
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, $37,145,000, of which $100,000 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 1999.
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, $66,688,000:
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
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, $74,465,000: 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.
administrative provision
Sec. 111. (a) The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act,
1998 (Public Law 105-55; 111 Stat. 1191) is amended in the
item relating to ``congressional printing and binding'' under
the heading ``GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE'' by striking
``$81,669,000'' and all that follows through ``Provided,''
and inserting the following: ``$70,652,000: Provided, That an
additional amount of not more than $11,017,000 may be derived
by transfer from the Government Printing Office revolving
fund under section 309 of title 44, United States Code:
Provided further,''.
(b) The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect
as if included in the enactment of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 1998.
This title may be cited as the ``Congressional Operations
Appropriations Act, 1999''.
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, $3,032,000.
[[Page H5345]]
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, $234,822,000, of which not more than $6,500,000
shall be derived from collections credited to this
appropriation during fiscal year 1999, and shall remain
available until expended, under the Act of June 28, 1902
(chapter 1301; 32 Stat. 480; 2 U.S.C. 150) and not more than
$350,000 shall be derived from collections during fiscal year
1999 and shall remain available until expended for the
development and maintenance of an international legal
information database and activities related thereto:
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 $6,850,000: Provided further, That of the total amount
appropriated, $9,869,000 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,
$3,544,000 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,
$33,897,000, of which not more than $16,000,000, to remain
available until expended, shall be derived from collections
credited to this appropriation during fiscal year 1999 under
17 U.S.C. 708(d): Provided, That the Copyright Office may not
obligate or expend any funds derived from collections under
17 U.S.C. 708(d), in excess of the amount authorized for
obligation or expenditure in appropriations Acts: Provided
further, That not more than $5,170,000 shall be derived from
collections during fiscal year 1999 under 17 U.S.C.
111(d)(2), 119(b)(2), 802(h), and 1005: Provided further,
That the total amount available for obligation shall be
reduced by the amount by which collections are less than
$21,170,000: 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),
$46,824,000, of which $13,744,000 shall remain available
until expended.
Furniture and Furnishings
For necessary expenses for the purchase, installation,
maintenance, 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 the 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 1999, the obligational
authority of the Library of Congress for the activities
described in subsection (b) may not exceed $99,765,100.
(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. Effective October 1, 1998, the Library of
Congress is authorized to receive funds from participants in
and sponsors of an international legal information database
led by the Law Library of Congress, and to credit any such
funds to the Library of Congress appropriations, up to the
extent authorized in appropriations Acts, for the development
and maintenance of the database.
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
Congressional Cemetery
For a grant for the perpetual care and maintenance of the
historic Congressional Cemetery, $1,000,000, to remain
available until expended.
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 grounds, $11,933,000, of which $910,000 shall
remain available until expended.
administrative provisions
Sec. 208. (a) Grant for Care and Maintenance of
Congressional Cemetery.--In order to assist in the perpetual
care and maintenance of the historic Congressional Cemetery,
the Architect of the Capitol shall make a grant to the
National Trust for Historic Preservation (hereafter in this
section referred to as the ``National Trust'') in accordance
with an agreement entered into by the Architect of the
Capitol with the National Trust and the Association for the
Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery (hereafter in
this section referred to as the ``Association'') which
contains the terms and conditions described in subsection (b)
and such other provisions as the Architect may deem necessary
or desirable for the implementation of this section or for
the protection of the interests of the Federal government.
(b) Terms and Conditions of Agreement.--The terms and
conditions described in this subsection are as follows:
(1) Upon receipt of the amounts provided under the grant
made under subsection (a), the National Trust shall deposit
the amounts in a permanently restricted account in its
endowment and shall administer, invest, and manage such grant
funds in the same manner as other National Trust endowment
funds.
(2) The National Trust shall make distributions to the
Association from the amounts deposited in the endowment
pursuant to paragraph (1), in accordance with its regularly
established spending rate, for the care and maintenance of
the Cemetery (other than the cost of personnel), except that
the National Trust may only make such distributions
incrementally and proportionately upon receipt by the
National Trust of contributions from the Association which
incrementally match the amounts provided under the grant made
under subsection (a) and which are to be added to the
permanently restricted account described in paragraph (1).
(3) The Association shall use such distributions from the
endowment and the match for the care and maintenance of
Congressional Cemetery, except that the Association may not
use such distributions for nonroutine restoration or capital
projects.
(4) The Association, or any successor thereto, shall
maintain adequate records and accounts of all financial
transactions and operations carried out with such
distributions, and such records shall be available at all
times for audit and investigation by the Architect of the
Capitol and the Comptroller General.
(c) No Title in United States.--Nothing in this section
shall be construed to vest title to the Congressional
Cemetery in the United States.
Sec. 209. (a) For fiscal year 1999, the amount available
for expenditure by the Architect of the Capitol from the fund
established under section 4 of the Act entitled
[[Page H5346]]
``An Act to authorize acquisition of certain real property
for the Library of Congress, and for other purposes'',
approved December 15, 1997 (Public Law 105-144; 111 Stat.
2688), may not exceed $2,500,000.
(b) The portion of the appropriated funds made available to
the Architect of the Capitol for fiscal year 1999 which the
Architect may expend for improvements to the National Audio
Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virginia (not
including any funds made available from the fund described in
subsection (a)) may not exceed an amount equal to one third
of the amount of funds appropriated from the fund described
in subsection (a) for the fiscal year, except that the
Architect may expend a greater amount for such purposes with
the approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives and the Senate.
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, $29,264,000: 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 1997 and 1998 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 3,416
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.
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 901(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; $354,238,000: Provided, 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 1999: 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 Forum
or to 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 1999
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 of 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 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. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
hereafter the Architect of the Capitol is authorized to enter
into energy savings performance contracts for energy savings
projects in the Capitol Complex under the following
conditions:
(1) the Architect of the Capitol shall obtain the approval
of the Appropriations Committees of the House and Senate
prior to entering into such contracts;
(2) contracts shall conform to the requirements of 42
U.S.C. 8287(a);
(3) the Architect of the Capitol shall compete such
contracts to the extent practicable among energy service
contractors meeting the standards for qualification developed
by the Secretary of Energy under 42 U.S.C. 8287(b);
(4) services offered by the Department of Energy in
connection with energy savings performance contracts shall be
made available to the Architect of the Capitol upon request
to carry out the authority granted under this section; and,
(5) if payment would be required for furnishing similar
services to an executive
[[Page H5347]]
agency, payment therefor shall be made by the Architect by
reimbursement; such payment may be credited to the applicable
appropriations of the Secretary of Energy.
Sec. 309. (a) Severance Pay for All Employees of the
Architect of the Capitol.--Section 5595(a) of title 5, United
States Code, as amended by section 310 of the Legislative
Branch Appropriations Act, 1998, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(F), by striking ``, but only with
respect to the United States Senate Restaurants''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), in clause (viii) in the matter
following subparagraph (B), by striking ``of the United
States Senate Restaurants''.
(b) Early Retirement for All Employees of the Architect of
the Capitol.--Section 310(b)(1) of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 1998 (40 U.S.C. 174j-1(b)(1)) is
amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``of the United States Senate Restaurants''; and
(2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``1999;'' and
inserting ``1999 (or, in the case of an individual who is not
an employee of the United States Senate Restaurants, on or
after the date of the enactment of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 1999 and before October 1, 2001);''.
(c) Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments for All
Employees of the Architect of the Capitol.--Section 310(c) of
the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998 (40 U.S.C.
174j-1(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``of the United States
Senate Restaurants''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``not more than 50'',
(B) by striking ``1999'' and inserting ``1999 (or, in the
case of an individual who is not an employee of the United
States Senate Restaurants, on or after the date of the
enactment of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1999
and before October 1, 2001)'', and
(C) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The
number of employees of the United States Senate Restaurants
to whom voluntary separation incentive payments may be
offered under the program established under the previous
sentence may not exceed 50.''.
(d) Retraining, Job Placement, and Counseling Services for
All Employees of the Architect of the Capitol.--Section
310(e) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998 (40
U.S.C. 174j-1(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``of the United States
Senate Restaurants''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``the United States
Senate Restaurants of ''.
Sec. 310. (a) Severance Pay.--Section 5595 of title 5,
United States Code, as amended by section 310 of the
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)--
(A) in clause (viii), by striking ``or'' after the
semicolon;
(B) by redesignating clause (ix) as clause (x) and
inserting after clause (viii) the following new clause:
``(ix) an employee of the Government Printing Office, who
is employed on a temporary when actually employed basis;
or''; and
(2) in subsection (b) by adding at the end the following:
``The Public Printer may prescribe regulations to effect the
application and operation of this section to the agency
specified in subsection (a)(1)(G) of this section.''.
(b) Early Retirement.--(1) This subsection applies to an
employee of the Government Printing Office who--
(A) voluntarily separates from service on or after the date
of enactment of this Act and before October 1, 2001; 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) or 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
Government Printing Office, 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 Public
Printer shall establish a program under which voluntary
separation incentive payments may be offered to encourage
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, 2001.
(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 Public Printer may prescribe regulations to carry
out this subsection.
(d) Retraining, Job Placement, and Counseling Services.--
(1) In this subsection, the term ``employee''--
(A) means an employee of the Government Printing Office;
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 Public Printer 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
Government Printing Office 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.
(e) Administrative Provisions.--(1) The Public Printer--
(A) may use employees of the Government Printing Office 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 (d) may be expended from
any funds made available to the Public Printer.
This Act may be cited as the ``Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 1999''.
The CHAIRMAN. No amendment is in order unless printed in House Report
105-601. Each amendment may be offered only in the order printed, may
be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be
considered read, debatable for the time specified in the report,
equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, and
shall not be subject to an amendment.
The chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone a request for
recorded vote on any amendment and may reduce to a minimum of 5 minutes
the time for voting on any postponed question that immediately follows
another vote, provided that the time for voting on the first question
shall be a minimum of 15 minutes.
Are there any points of order?
Point of Order
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Chairman, I raise a point of order against section
108 on page 10, lines 1 through 10 of H.R. 4112, on the ground that
this provision violates clause 2 of House rule XXI because it is in
fact legislation included in a general appropriations bill.
[[Page H5348]]
The CHAIRMAN. Are there any other Members who wish to be heard on the
point of order?
Section 108 clearly constitutes legislation on an appropriation bill
in violation of clause 2 of rule XXI by requiring the Committee on
House Oversight to issue regulations .
The Chair sustains the point of order. The section is stricken.
It is now in order to consider Amendment No. 1 printed in House
Report 105-601.
Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Farr of California
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Amendment No. 1 offered by Mr. Farr of California:
In the item relating to ``HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS'' under
the heading ``ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL--Capitol Buildings and
Grounds'', strike the period at the end and insert the
following: ``: Provided, That of the total amount provided
under this heading, not less than $100,000 shall be used
exclusively for waste recycling programs.''.
The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 489, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Farr) and a Member opposed will each control 5 minutes.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I support the gentleman's amendment, and, if
no Member seeks time in opposition, I ask unanimous consent that I be
allocated the time the rule allows reserved for a Member in opposition.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from
New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
(Mr. FARR of California asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), the
chairman of the Subcommittee on Legislative, and the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Serrano), the ranking member.
I think in the dialogue we have heard here today what we recognize is
we do have a serious trash problem here in the United States Congress,
and trash is trash. It is not Republican trash or Democratic trash or
Independent trash, it is something that we have just got to get our
hands on and clean up.
{time} 1445
This amendment I think allows the House to do that. It simply
dictates that of the money in this bill that goes to pay for the
operation and maintenance of the House buildings, $100,000 of that
shall be bracketed, shall be made available to underwrite the recycling
program and only the recycling program.
The amendment, by earmarking specific funds for this program, sets
recycling as a priority for the House. I offer this amendment because
recycling is a program that has been neglected, and consequently has
had very limited success.
Most of the Members of the House do recycle. They support this. But
the level and type of recycling varies from office to office, leaving a
doubt in the end results of those efforts because the program itself is
in such a disarray. The amendment will guarantee that the House has all
the resources that we need to jumpstart this program into high gear.
I am not offering this amendment to fulfill some sort of ecowarrior's
dream to save trees, I am offering this amendment because it is a way
to earn money for the House and for the government by avoiding landfill
costs and by earning revenue on high-grade recyclable material. It is a
way to reduce our dependency on the landfills and take trash out of the
community. It is a way to make the House a good corporate citizen of
the D.C. community, and yes, it is a way to conserve resources.
I urge Members to support my amendment and give the House a chance to
get recycling right.
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. FARR of California. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Chairman, until the gentleman offered his amendment,
despite the months the gentleman has spent in a bipartisan effort to
try to get this disastrous program reshaped, there was not any money
allocated specifically for this purpose in this appropriations bill by
the Republican majority; is that correct?
Mr. FARR of California. Not specifically. The problem is that the
program is broken. It needs a commitment. The gentleman from New York
(Mr. Walsh) certainly has given his commitment to it. I believe that he
is sincere, but we need to get it off the ground.
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Chairman, I commend the gentleman's leadership. I
think it would be really helpful in focusing on what is a disgrace for
the Congress, and perhaps with the adoption of the gentleman's
amendment we can begin to correct this blunder.
Mr. FARR of California. I thank the gentleman. The gentleman from New
York (Mr. Walsh) and I were talking at lunch today, talking about
recycling in our own homes. We said it is our daughters that remind us,
they are sort of the recycling cop in our houses, telling us that you
have to recycle this and that. What this House needs, I think what
every office needs, is a 13-year-old daughter or son to say, put this
in the right place.
Frankly, that is leadership, and it is going to require the Architect
of the Capitol to really get tough with our offices and remind us that
this is a responsibility of each office.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I certainly have no problem. In fact, I support the
gentleman's amendment.
There are two things that we agree on, bipartisanly. One is that we
are committed to recycling. The second is that we do whatever our
daughters tell us when it comes to recycling, and probably some other
things at home.
This is a friendly amendment. This is a good amendment. I know that
the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr) has been a supporter of this
effort. We have, too. We have conducted hearings and several meetings
with the Architect. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano) is
committed to this. This issue has been raised in great detail. The
Architect has the message. It is now up to him, with the cooperation of
all House offices, to make this program work more efficiently. We have
done this in concert with the gentleman and his staff. I commend him
for his interest.
Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Serrano), the distinguished ranking member of the
subcommittee.
Mr. SERRANO. I thank the gentleman from New York, Mr. Chairman. In
spite of the fact that I was not invited to lunch to discuss this
amendment, I do think it is a great amendment. I think it speaks to a
very important issue, certainly one that the gentleman from California
has been working on very diligently. I support it wholeheartedly, and
hope that we can accept it today.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume,
in order to say that we accept the amendment.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, I believe the U.S. House of
Representatives has a great opportunity to save the American taxpayer
money. From the General Services Administration's FY96 Waste Management
Report we have learned the U.S. House of Representatives recycled over
three million pounds of paper and earned $761. The same reports shows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recycled
1996 (lb.) Earned
------------------------------------------------------------------------
USDA.......................................... 1,020,000 $29,730
DOE........................................... 754,000 15,992
HUD........................................... 746,000 22,413
NRC........................................... 458,000 10,728
U.S. House of Representatives................. 3,460,000 761
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The House earned less money because the paper collected from offices
which voluntarily participate in recycling becomes contaminated after
it is collected by the custodial staff. Many Congressional employees
who work late at night can attest that the custodial staff who collect
the waste are not properly equipped with receptors to keep the waste
sorted.
I understand that the House has been trying to implement a voluntary
recycling program since the late 1970's and suggest that perhaps there
needs to be more support and oversight from the committee to implement
the program effectively. With proper oversight and direction the U.S.
House of Representatives
[[Page H5349]]
will not only save money by making money when it recycles, but it will
save money by avoiding the dumping fees on waste that is sent to the
landfills.
Unfortunately, the preliminary indications for FY97 are even worse.
The preliminary numbers being complied by GSA suggest that the House
earned only $7.51 for recycling 4,400,000 pounds of paper.
Congressman Sam Farr's amendment makes the necessary steps to help
solve the recycling problems in the House. I support his efforts and
hope my colleagues will do the same.
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I urge the adoption of the amendment, and after hearing
the analogy of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano) of this being
a city on the Hill, I accept the support of the mayor and the vice-
mayor, here.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Farr).
The amendment was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 2 printed
in House report 105-601.
Amendment No. 2 offered by Mr. Gutierrez
Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Amendment No. 2 printed in House Report 105-601 offered by
Mr. Gutierrez:
In Title III--General Provisions--after the last section
insert the following new section:
Sec. 310. The Architect of the Capitol--
(1) shall develop and implement a cost-effective energy
conservation strategy for all facilities currently
administered by Congress to achieve a net reduction of 20
percent in energy consumption on the congressional campus
compared to fiscal year 1991 consumption levels on a Btu-per-
gross-square-foot basis not later than 7 years after the
adoption of this resolution;
(2) shall submit to Congress no later than 10 months after
the adoption of this resolution a comprehensive energy
conservation and management plan which includes life cycle
costs methods to determine the cost-effectiveness of proposed
energy efficiency projects;
(3) shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations in the
Senate and the House of Representatives a request for the
amount of appropriations necessary to carry out this
resolution;
(4) shall present to Congress annually a report on
congressional energy management and conservation programs
which details energy expenditures for each facility, energy
management and conservation projects, and future priorities
to ensure compliance with the requirements of this
resolution.
(5) shall perform energy surveys of all congressional
buildings and update such surveys as needed;
(6) shall use such surveys to determine the cost and
payback period of energy and water conservation measures
likely to achieve the required energy consumption levels;
(7) shall install energy and water conservation measures
that will achieve the requirements through previously
determined life cycle cost methods and procedures;
(8) may contract with nongovernmental entities and employ
private sector capital to finance energy conservation
projects and achieve energy consumption target;
(9) may develop innovative contracting methods that will
attract private sector funding for the installation of
energy-efficient and renewable energy technology to meet the
requirements of this resolution;
(10) may participate in the Department of Energy's
Financing Renewable Energy and Efficiency (FREE Savings)
contracts program for Federal Government facilities; and
(11) shall produce information packages and ``how-to''
guides for each Member and employing authority of the
Congress that detail simple, cost-effective methods to save
energy and taxpayer dollars.
The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 489, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) and a Member opposed will control 5 minutes
each.
For what purpose does the gentleman from New York rise?
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I support the gentleman's amendment, and if
no Member seeks time in opposition, I ask unanimous consent that I be
allocated the time under the rule otherwise reserved to a Member in
position.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from
New York?
There was no objection.
The CHAIRMAN. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Gutierrez).
Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Chairman, I first want to commend the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Walsh) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jose E. Serrano), the
ranking minority member, for their fine work on the legislation
currently being considered by the House. As we all know, making
Congress work is no easy task. Their efforts, however, have made it
easier for all of us to work more effectively for our constituents.
I would also like to thank the gentleman from New York (Chairman
Solomon) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley) for their
support in the Committee on Rules for my amendment. I am encouraged to
see Members of both parties committed to making Congress a model of
efficiency and innovation.
When the Republicans took control of this institution in 1995, a
number of promises were made regarding the manner in which government
would work and serve the American people. We Democrats had some
agreements with some of them. Nevertheless, we were able to work
together in many important ways to reform congressional practices.
Together, Members of both parties supported and passed the
Congressional Accountability Act, to bring Congress under the laws
mandated for the American people and Federal agencies.
Today I ask for Members' support so we can build on that bipartisan
accord. My amendment would simply oblige Congress to adhere to energy
conservation standards that Congress has required for all Federal
departments. By requiring the development and implementation of a
comprehensive energy conservation plan for the buildings under our
jurisdiction, we would be demonstrating to our people how government
can function more efficiently and save taxpayers a million dollars,
which would be illustrating the benefits of new and cleaner
technologies, innovative contracting agreements, and cooperation
between private and not-for-profit sectors.
The Federal agencies have made significant progress in these areas.
Since President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Federal
agencies have made significant progress in these areas. Federal
agencies have saved taxpayers, and I want to underscore this, more than
$2.5 billion since 1985. This equates to a decrease in energy costs of
44 percent in constant 1995 dollars from $14.5 billion in 1985 to $8
billion in the year 1995. That means that between 1994 and 1995, $286
million was saved. Why should Congress not follow these steps?
While Federal agencies have significantly reduced energy
expenditures, Congress has seen its energy bill rise in each of the
last 7 years. Congress now spends more than $32 million annually on
energy bills. We can and should reverse this trend, and we should do it
without short-term costs to the taxpayers.
My amendment would permit the Architect of the Capitol to enlist
private and not-for-profit resources to develop, plan, and achieve
reduction targets. Currently the Department of Energy has been working
with Federal agencies and private sector partners on innovative
contracting methods that do not cost the taxpayers a cent.
Under the Financing Renewal Energy and Efficiency or FREE savings
contract, energy service companies pay for and install energy saving
technologies and equipment in Federal buildings at no cost to the
taxpayers. In reward, the private partners receive, for a designated
number of years, about 50 percent of the savings when the building's
energy bills go down. I feel strongly that the use of these contracting
methods could help Congress reduce its energy expenditures by more than
20 percent by the year 2005.
Mr. Chairman, in 1995 we agreed Congress should comply with the laws
of the Nation. I am sure we can also agree that Congress should be a
model of how government can function better. A greater commitment by
Congress to cutting its own wasteful spending and to conserving natural
resources is required to achieve this goal.
Support this amendment, support a Congress that lives by the laws it
passes. Support an energy-efficient congressional campus.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from
New
[[Page H5350]]
York (Mr. Serrano), the ranking minority member.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the
time.
Mr. Chairman, the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Gutierrez) as presented, in my opinion, is a good amendment. It
certainly speaks about a very important issue, and one we should be
dealing with in this House. He has very properly presented his
arguments, and we certainly have no problems with it on this side. I
would hope that the gentleman's side would accept the amendment today.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I have no problem with the amendment. The minority
supports it, the majority supports it. The language would require the
Architect of the Capitol to develop a cost-effective strategy to
achieve 20 percent efficiency in energy consumption. It is a worthy
goal. It is an excellent idea. It will save us money, and we support
the amendment.
Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I would just like to say to the chairman and the ranking member, I
thank them both for their consideration of my amendment. Together we
will make the House a more efficient place. I thank them so much.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez).
The amendment was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN. Under the rule, the Committee rises.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Petri) having assumed the chair, Mr. Hansen, Chairman of the Committee
of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported that that
Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4112) making
appropriations for the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1999, and for other purposes, pursuant to House
Resolution 489, he reported the bill back to the House with sundry
amendments adopted by the Committee of the Whole.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is
ordered.
Is a separate vote demanded on any amendment? If not, the Chair will
put them en gros.
The amendments were agreed to.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the engrossment and third
reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was
read the third time.
Motion to Recommit Offered by Mr. Obey
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman opposed to the bill?
Mr. OBEY. I certainly am, Mr. Speaker.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to
recommit.
The Clerk read as follows:
Mr. Obey moves to recommit the bill, H.R. 4112, to the
Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report the
same back to the House forthwith with an amendment to reduce
$8,311,590 from the appropriation for ``Committee Employees,
Standing Committees, Special, and Select.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) is
recognized for 5 minutes to speak on behalf of his motion to recommit.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, many of us remember a few years back when
significant reductions were made in committee staffing, which saved a
significant amount of money in the House budget.
In a very controversial decision, the House majority leadership took
about $8 million of those savings that were not sent back to the
Treasury, but instead, put into a special fund to be controlled by the
House leadership.
The House leadership has been able to spend this slush fund in any
manner they wanted, without further approval of the House. This
windfall spree was thought to be, more or less, a one-time windfall
brought about by the committee staff reductions that have now
stabilized. But I guess the House leadership has gotten hooked on this
free spending, because we find tucked away in this bill extra funds
ostensibly for committee staff which in fact are not meant for the
committee staff at all, but rather, meant to replenish the Speaker's
slush fund.
The subcommittee chairman informed the Committee on Rules yesterday
that the $89 million included in this bill for the committee staff is
based on taking the artificially high levels of 2 years ago, which
included that estimated $7.9 million for the slush fund, and simply
inflated it by 5.21 percent. That works out to over $8.3 million in
this bill that is ostensibly budgeted for committee staff that the
majority has no real intention of using for committee staff.
{time} 1500
The real intention is to be pulling a back-door maneuver to replenish
that slush fund.
Mr. Speaker, if the majority leadership wants to have more play
money, then this House ought to be able to vote on it. They should not
try to hide it through this kind of a back-door shenanigan.
The truth is committees are not expected to spend $89 million to
operate. They can do it with about $8 million less without missing a
beat. I would point out that that is comparable to the level of the
104th Congress second session, which was only $79 million. So the level
we are proposing is still $2 million higher than the level at the end
of the 104th Congress, with no appreciable changes in staff levels.
What would this mean for the total bill? According to CBO, the total
spending increase recommended by the majority is more than 3\1/2\
percent. This reduction of $8.3 million would still leave us with a
total increase over last year of 2.3 percent.
Mr. Speaker, I do not apologize for what this body spends in order to
provide necessary services to our constituents. But in a day when we
are seeing low-income heating assistance programs eliminated, when we
are seeing summer jobs eliminated, when we are seeing cuts in health
care, education, food safety, National Parks and water quality
programs, it seems to me that we ought not to be providing more money
than we in fact expect the committees to spend.
Mr. Speaker, we can save $8 million and not provide the funds that
will otherwise be diverted to the leadership's slush fund.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the motion to recommit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). Is the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Walsh) opposed to the motion to recommit?
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I am.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) is
recognized for 5 minutes in opposition to the motion.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, this amendment will gut the ability of our
committees to do their work, pure and simple. This takes $8.3 million
from the total appropriation of $89.7 million in the bill for committee
funds. That is a 10 percent reduction in all of our committees and
their funding.
Mr. Speaker, it is going to require that we reduce staff, that we
reduce our workload, and more importantly, that we reduce our
oversight. This is tying one hand of the legislative branch's arm
behind its back for no good reason.
This bill was constructed in a bipartisan manner. We have worked
together on this. This is an attempt to politicize an otherwise
nonpartisan bill. There is nowhere near this amount of money in the
bill for unanticipated expenses of the committees.
This idea, this ``slush fund'' word, is very quotable. It is a
quotable quote. It is a good 2-second sound bite. But what we are
talking about here is funding unanticipated expenses of the Congress.
Any construction project, any business worth their salt provides for
contingencies. That is what this does.
The number, this number of $8.3 million, has no basis in reality. I
do not know where the number came from. But the fact of the matter is
it is an attempt to politicize an otherwise well-crafted, nonpartisan
bill.
So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this motion.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is
ordered on the motion to recommit.
[[Page H5351]]
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the noes appeared to have it.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
Pursuant to clause 5 of rule XV, the Chair will reduce to a minimum
of 5 minutes the period of time within which a vote by electronic
device will be taken on the question of passage of the bill.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 192,
nays 222, not voting 19, as follows:
[Roll No. 271]
YEAS--192
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Allen
Andrews
Baesler
Baldacci
Barcia
Barrett (WI)
Becerra
Bentsen
Berry
Bishop
Blagojevich
Blumenauer
Bonior
Borski
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Brown (CA)
Brown (FL)
Brown (OH)
Capps
Cardin
Carson
Clay
Clayton
Clement
Clyburn
Condit
Conyers
Costello
Coyne
Cramer
Cummings
Danner
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Deutsch
Dicks
Dixon
Doggett
Dooley
Doyle
Edwards
Engel
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Farr
Fattah
Fazio
Filner
Ford
Frank (MA)
Frost
Furse
Gejdenson
Gephardt
Green
Gutierrez
Hall (OH)
Hall (TX)
Harman
Hastings (FL)
Hefner
Hilliard
Hinchey
Holden
Hooley
Hoyer
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
John
Johnson (WI)
Johnson, E. B.
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy (MA)
Kennedy (RI)
Kennelly
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kind (WI)
Kleczka
Klink
Kucinich
LaFalce
Lantos
Lee
Levin
Lipinski
Lofgren
Lowey
Luther
Maloney (CT)
Maloney (NY)
Manton
Martinez
Mascara
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
McDermott
McGovern
McHale
McIntyre
McKinney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Menendez
Millender-McDonald
Miller (CA)
Minge
Mink
Mollohan
Moran (VA)
Murtha
Nadler
Neal
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Owens
Pascrell
Pastor
Payne
Pelosi
Peterson (MN)
Pickett
Pomeroy
Poshard
Price (NC)
Rahall
Rangel
Rivers
Rodriguez
Roemer
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Rush
Sabo
Sanchez
Sanders
Sandlin
Sawyer
Schumer
Scott
Serrano
Sherman
Sisisky
Skaggs
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith, Adam
Snyder
Spratt
Stabenow
Stark
Stenholm
Stokes
Strickland
Stupak
Tanner
Tauscher
Taylor (MS)
Thompson
Thurman
Tierney
Torres
Towns
Velazquez
Vento
Visclosky
Waters
Watt (NC)
Waxman
Wexler
Weygand
Wise
Woolsey
Wynn
Yates
NAYS--222
Aderholt
Archer
Armey
Bachus
Baker
Ballenger
Barr
Barrett (NE)
Bartlett
Barton
Bass
Bateman
Bereuter
Berman
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bliley
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bono
Bryant
Bunning
Burr
Burton
Buyer
Callahan
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Canady
Cannon
Castle
Chabot
Chambliss
Chenoweth
Christensen
Coble
Coburn
Collins
Combest
Cook
Cooksey
Cox
Crane
Crapo
Cubin
Cunningham
Davis (VA)
Deal
DeLay
Diaz-Balart
Dickey
Doolittle
Dreier
Duncan
Dunn
Ehlers
Ehrlich
Emerson
English
Ensign
Everett
Ewing
Fawell
Foley
Forbes
Fossella
Fowler
Fox
Franks (NJ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Ganske
Gekas
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gilman
Goode
Goodlatte
Goodling
Goss
Graham
Granger
Greenwood
Gutknecht
Hansen
Hastert
Hastings (WA)
Hayworth
Hefley
Herger
Hill
Hilleary
Hobson
Hoekstra
Horn
Hostettler
Houghton
Hunter
Hyde
Inglis
Istook
Jenkins
Johnson (CT)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Kasich
Kelly
Kim
King (NY)
Kingston
Knollenberg
Kolbe
LaHood
Largent
Latham
LaTourette
Lazio
Leach
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Livingston
LoBiondo
Lucas
Manzullo
McCollum
McCrery
McHugh
McInnis
McIntosh
McKeon
Metcalf
Mica
Miller (FL)
Moran (KS)
Morella
Myrick
Nethercutt
Neumann
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nussle
Oxley
Packard
Pappas
Parker
Paul
Paxon
Pease
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pitts
Pombo
Porter
Portman
Pryce (OH)
Quinn
Radanovich
Ramstad
Redmond
Regula
Riggs
Riley
Rogan
Rogers
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Roukema
Royce
Ryun
Salmon
Sanford
Saxton
Schaefer, Dan
Schaffer, Bob
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Shimkus
Shuster
Skeen
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (OR)
Smith (TX)
Smith, Linda
Snowbarger
Solomon
Souder
Spence
Stearns
Stump
Sununu
Talent
Tauzin
Taylor (NC)
Thomas
Thornberry
Thune
Tiahrt
Traficant
Upton
Walsh
Wamp
Watkins
Watts (OK)
Weldon (FL)
Weller
White
Whitfield
Wicker
Wolf
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NOT VOTING--19
Brady (TX)
Dingell
Gonzalez
Gordon
Hamilton
Hinojosa
Hulshof
Hutchinson
Klug
Lampson
Lewis (GA)
Markey
McDade
Moakley
Pallone
Reyes
Scarborough
Turner
Weldon (PA)
{time} 1523
Messrs. McHUGH, ARMEY, MICA, PAXON, and EWING changed their vote from
``yea'' to ``nay.''
Messrs. JOHN, PRICE of North Carolina, MATSUI, SPRATT, and MALONEY of
Connecticut changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So the motion to recommit was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
personal explanation
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 271 on the motion
to recommit H.R. 4112, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present,
I would have voted ``yes.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). The question is on the passage
of the bill.
Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XV, the yeas and nays are ordered.
This will be a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were-- yeas 235,
nays 179, not voting 19, as follows:
[Roll No. 272]
YEAS--235
Aderholt
Archer
Armey
Bachus
Baesler
Ballenger
Barr
Barrett (NE)
Bartlett
Barton
Bass
Bateman
Bereuter
Berman
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bliley
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonior
Bono
Bryant
Bunning
Burr
Burton
Buyer
Callahan
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Canady
Cannon
Carson
Castle
Chabot
Chambliss
Chenoweth
Christensen
Coble
Coburn
Collins
Combest
Cook
Cooksey
Crapo
Cubin
Cunningham
Danner
Davis (VA)
Deal
DeLay
Diaz-Balart
Dickey
Dicks
Dixon
Doolittle
Dreier
Duncan
Dunn
Ehlers
Ehrlich
Emerson
English
Everett
Ewing
Farr
Fattah
Fawell
Fazio
Foley
Forbes
Fossella
Fowler
Fox
Franks (NJ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Ganske
Gekas
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gilman
Goode
Goodling
Goss
Graham
Granger
Greenwood
Gutierrez
Gutknecht
Hall (OH)
Hall (TX)
Hansen
Hastert
Hastings (WA)
Hayworth
Herger
Hobson
Hoekstra
Horn
Houghton
Hoyer
Hunter
Hyde
Inglis
Istook
Jefferson
Jenkins
John
Johnson (CT)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Kasich
Kelly
Kilpatrick
Kim
King (NY)
Kingston
Knollenberg
Kolbe
LaHood
Largent
Latham
LaTourette
Lazio
Leach
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Livingston
LoBiondo
Lucas
Manzullo
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McCrery
McHugh
McInnis
McKeon
Metcalf
Mica
Miller (FL)
Mink
Mollohan
Morella
Murtha
Myrick
Nethercutt
Neumann
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nussle
Oxley
Packard
Pappas
Parker
Pascrell
Pastor
Paxon
Pease
Peterson (PA)
Pickering
Pickett
Pitts
Pombo
Porter
Portman
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Quinn
Radanovich
Ramstad
Redmond
Regula
Riggs
Riley
Rogan
Rogers
Ros-Lehtinen
Roukema
Ryun
Sabo
Salmon
Saxton
Scarborough
Schaefer, Dan
Serrano
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Shimkus
Shuster
Sisisky
Skaggs
Skeen
Skelton
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (OR)
Smith (TX)
Smith, Adam
Snowbarger
Solomon
Souder
Spence
Stump
Sununu
Talent
Tauzin
Taylor (NC)
Thomas
Thornberry
Thune
Tiahrt
Torres
Traficant
Upton
Visclosky
Walsh
Wamp
[[Page H5352]]
Watkins
Watts (OK)
Weldon (FL)
White
Whitfield
Wicker
Wolf
Woolsey
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NAYS--179
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Allen
Andrews
Baker
Baldacci
Barcia
Barrett (WI)
Becerra
Bentsen
Berry
Bishop
Blagojevich
Blumenauer
Borski
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Brown (CA)
Brown (FL)
Brown (OH)
Capps
Cardin
Clay
Clayton
Clement
Clyburn
Condit
Conyers
Costello
Cox
Coyne
Cramer
Crane
Cummings
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Deutsch
Doggett
Dooley
Doyle
Edwards
Engel
Ensign
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Filner
Ford
Frank (MA)
Frost
Furse
Gejdenson
Gephardt
Goodlatte
Green
Harman
Hastings (FL)
Hefley
Hefner
Hill
Hilleary
Hilliard
Hinchey
Holden
Hooley
Hostettler
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Johnson (WI)
Johnson, E. B.
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy (MA)
Kennedy (RI)
Kennelly
Kildee
Kind (WI)
Kleczka
Klink
Kucinich
LaFalce
Lantos
Lee
Levin
Lipinski
Lofgren
Lowey
Luther
Maloney (CT)
Maloney (NY)
Manton
Martinez
Mascara
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McDermott
McGovern
McHale
McIntyre
McKinney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Menendez
Millender-McDonald
Miller (CA)
Minge
Moran (KS)
Moran (VA)
Nadler
Neal
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Owens
Pallone
Paul
Payne
Pelosi
Peterson (MN)
Petri
Pomeroy
Poshard
Rahall
Rangel
Rivers
Rodriguez
Roemer
Rohrabacher
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Rush
Sanchez
Sanders
Sandlin
Sanford
Sawyer
Schaffer, Bob
Schumer
Scott
Sensenbrenner
Sherman
Slaughter
Smith, Linda
Snyder
Spratt
Stabenow
Stark
Stearns
Stenholm
Stokes
Strickland
Stupak
Tanner
Tauscher
Taylor (MS)
Thompson
Thurman
Tierney
Towns
Velazquez
Vento
Waters
Watt (NC)
Weller
Wexler
Weygand
Wise
Wynn
Yates
NOT VOTING--19
Brady (TX)
Dingell
Gonzalez
Gordon
Hamilton
Hinojosa
Hulshof
Hutchinson
Klug
Lampson
Lewis (GA)
Markey
McDade
McIntosh
Moakley
Reyes
Turner
Waxman
Weldon (PA)
{time} 1533
Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD and Messrs. ROHRABACHER, RANGEL and McINTYRE
changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
Ms. WOOLSEY changed her vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________