[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 107 (Monday, August 3, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H6898-H6899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO CHIEF JUSTICE TO ACCEPT 
                           VOLUNTARY SERVICES

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 2143) to amend chapter 45 of title 28, United States 
Code, to authorize the Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice to 
accept voluntary services, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 2143

     Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICES.

       Section 677 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(c)(1) Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, the 
     Administrative Assistant, with the approval of the Chief 
     Justice, may accept voluntary personal services to assist 
     with public and visitor programs.
       ``(2) No person may volunteer personal services under this 
     subsection unless the person has first agreed, in writing, to 
     waive any claim against the United States arising out of or 
     in connection with such services, other than a claim under 
     chapter 81 of title 5.
       ``(3) No person volunteering personal services under this 
     subsection shall be considered an employee of the United 
     States for any purpose other than for purposes of--
       ``(A) chapter 81 of title 5; or
       ``(B) chapter 171 of this title.
       ``(4) In the administration of this subsection, the 
     Administrative Assistant shall ensure that the acceptance of 
     personal services shall not result in the reduction of pay or 
     displacement of any employee of the Supreme Court.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Coble) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Lofgren) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble).


                             General Leave

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on S. 2143.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill was passed by unanimous consent in the other 
body. It is an innocuous measure that will benefit the Supreme Court in 
its day-to-day operations, as well as the estimated 1 million visitors 
who tour the building annually.
  The Supreme Court, Mr. Speaker, as all of us no doubt know, is 
inundated with visitors. Now, this is perhaps a mixed blessing. On the 
one hand, it is a good thing, because it demonstrates the interest that 
the American people have in the history of our national jurisprudence. 
On the other hand, it means that the small group of men and women who 
conduct tours and deliver lectures at the facility cannot accommodate 
all these visitors in an orderly fashion.
  This bill simply authorizes the Administrative Assistant to the Chief 
Justice of the Supreme Court to accept voluntary personal services to 
assist with public and visitor programs. Importantly, S. 2143, the bill 
before us, contains a proviso to ensure that the acceptance of these 
personal services will not result in the reduction of pay or 
displacement of any employee of the Court. This restriction is similar 
to the one which applies to the operations of the Capitol tour guide 
service.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, over 1 million tourists visit the Supreme Court building 
each year, and, because of budgetary pressures, the Court has asked 
Congress to enact legislation permitting volunteers in the Supreme 
Court Historical Society to conduct public tours of the Court.
  As we know, here at the Capitol, the Capitol Guide Service is 
assisted by 35 volunteers who help with Capitol visitors, and the 
volunteers have expanded the service to increase the number of tours to 
the Capitol by approximately 25 percent.
  As the chairman has indicated, this bill authorizes the Supreme Court 
to accept volunteers to assist the public with the visitor program. The 
volunteers could not be hired unless they waive all claims against the 
Federal Government arising out of their service, and the bill specifies 
that the volunteers would not be considered Federal employees. 
Importantly, the bill prevents paid Supreme Court employees from being 
fired or having their salary reduced as a result of increased volunteer 
services.
  Having said that, I must point out that concern has been raised about 
this bill. If adopted, the Supreme Court could accept the services. 
However, we have not had a hearing on the House side, and I note that 
apparently no hearing was held on the Senate side either. Because of 
that and concerns expressed by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Conyers), the ranking member of the full committee, and the gentleman 
from Massachusetts (Mr.

[[Page H6899]]

Frank), the ranking member of the subcommittee, it is suggested that we 
do have a hearing. There is concern among employees that this might 
have adverse ramifications, despite the language suggesting otherwise.
  So that would be my comment. Should this bill pass anyhow, I would 
strongly urge the administrators at the Court to deliberate 
collaboratively with the employee groups there.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments of the gentlewoman from 
California who, by the way, has been a valued member of the Committee 
on the Judiciary and specifically a valued member of the Subcommittee 
on Courts and Intellectual Property.
  Permit me just to say this, Mr. Speaker, in response. As I said 
before, the bill requires the Administrative Assistant to the Chief 
Justice to ensure that no Supreme Court employee will be displaced or 
have his or her pay reduced. None of the workers at the Court, 
including the police officers, who are members of the Fraternal Order 
of Police, oppose this bill, to my knowledge, and the Chief Justice is 
enthusiastic about its passage.
  I think, Mr. Speaker, and I say to my friend, the gentlewoman from 
California, I think this is an operational problem that can be cured 
without requiring the Court to submit a larger budget request, and I 
urge its passage.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would just note the very courteous remarks of the 
chairman, and should this bill pass, that that consideration and 
administrative deliberation would indeed take place as the chairman has 
expressed.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 2143.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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